Italian anisette cookies or anise cookies are a traditional Italian cookie with a "black licorice" flavor from pure anise extract, a fragrant flavoring made from star anise. These vegan anise cookies are tender with a soft crumb, and have a sweet vanilla anise glaze adorned with rainbow nonpareils. The cookies are often on Italian Christmas cookie tables, but they are made all year round.
📕 The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur
These cookies are one of the new recipes in the 2016 paperback re-release of my first cookbook, The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur. On the outside, the new book has a new cover design featuring one of the original book's classic recipes, Lemon Poppyseed Cookies.
On the inside, the book contains all of your favorite recipes from the hardcover original, along with a foreword written by Natalie Slater of Bake and Destroy, and a new chapter containing 8 new recipes!
Which book to get?
Trying to decide which version of the book to buy? The 2016 paperback has everything the original does, word for word, plus the foreword and new recipes. So, yes, it is worth getting the new book if you already own the original!
Also, the original VCC contains "over 140 recipes" while the new version contains "over 120 recipes." Disregard this—the new book actually has more recipes that the "over 140 recipes" version.
It's currently , and select bookstores. Ask your favorite local indie bookstore to carry it and let them know they can order copies through Perseus Books!
Cats <3 vegan cookbooks too!
New recipes!
As mentioned, there are 8 new recipes in the book. Many of the new recipes utilize chickpea water, or aquafaba, to make a vegan-friendly meringue, a technique we didn't know about until a couple of years ago! I've published several aquafaba-based recipes like Vegan Lucky Charms, Lemon Meringue Pie, Aquafaba Whiskey Sour, and Hawaiian Bread.
It's quite possible that VCC is the first published work to reference aquafaba (don't quote me on that unless you find out that it's true and it probably is)! Aquafaba can be used to make meringue-based desserts like meringue cookies, Swiss buttercream, macaroons, and French macarons. In fact, VCC has a recipe contributed by the Vegan Macaron Queen herself, Charis Mitchell of Floral Frosting.
Okay, now back to the cookies! These anise cookies are so easy to make, and are a unique addition to the dessert table.
Although anise (or black licorice) can be a divisive "love it or hate it" flavor, I find that baking it into a cookie softens the strong flavor. It's easy to pop a few of these cookies in your mouth every time you walk by the cookie tray.
🍪 Ingredients
- Vegan butter
- Vegetable shortening
- Sugar
- Applesauce
- Non-dairy milk (any kind)
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Anise extract
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
- Vegan nonpareils
- Salt
🔪 Instructions
For the cookies:
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Cream together the margarine, shortening, and sugar in a stand mixer or by hand in a large mixing bowl.
Add the applesauce, milk, and anise extract, and stir until combined.
Sift in the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix until a dough forms.
Take 2 tablespoon portions of dough and place on a prepared cookie sheet.
Bake for 12-13 mins or until the tops are firm and the bottoms are golden.
For the glaze:
While the cookies are cooling, make the glaze.
Combine the melted margarine, non-dairy milk, and vanilla extract in a medium-sized bowl.
Stir in the powdered sugar until smooth.
Drizzle a spoonful of glaze over each cookie.
Add a pinch of sprinkles on top. Let the glaze set before serving.
🥗 Pairings
These anise cookies would be fantastic with these recipes:
This vegan kale pesto is blended with fresh garlic, pine nuts, cashew parmesan, and olive oil for a savory, delicious winter-friendly pesto!
This vegan gnocchi is made with Yukon gold potatoes and sweet potatoes, and dyed with spinach and tomato for an all-natural rainbow of pasta!
You can never have too many rainbow cookies! These vegan Italian Rainbow Cookies or "seven layer bars" or "Napoleon cookies" are made of three layers of almond cake spread with apricot jam, and coated in chocolate.
📖 Recipe
Vegan Italian Anise Cookies
Italian anisette cookies or anise cookies are a traditional Italian cookie with a "black licorice" flavor from pure anise extract, a fragrant flavoring made from star anise. These vegan anise cookies are tender with a soft crumb, and have a sweet vanilla anise glaze adorned with rainbow nonpareils.
Ingredients
Cookies:
- ⅓ cup vegan butter
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons applesauce
- ¼ cup non-dairy milk
- 1 teaspoon anise extract
- 2 ¼ cups flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Glaze:
- 1 teaspoon non-hydrogenated margarine, melted
- 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cup powdered sugar
- Sprinkles
Instructions
For the cookies:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Cream together the margarine, shortening, and sugar in a stand mixer or by hand in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the applesauce, milk, and anise extract, and stir until combined.
- Sift in the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix until a dough forms.
- Take 2 tablespoon portions of dough and place on a prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake for 12-13 mins or until the tops are firm and the bottoms are golden.
For the glaze:
- While the cookies are cooling, make the glaze.
- Combine the melted margarine, non-dairy milk, and vanilla extract in a medium-sized bowl.
- Stir in the powdered sugar until smooth.
- Drizzle a spoonful of glaze over each cookie.
- Add a pinch of sprinkles on top. Let the glaze set before serving.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 125Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 105mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 0gSugar: 12gProtein: 1g
All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on seitanbeatsyourmeat.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimates.
If you liked this recipe, consider purchasing a copy of for yourself or for a gift!
This recipe was originally published in 2016 and has been updated for formatting. The recipe has not changed.
Deanne O
I am anxious to try working with aquafaba, I can't wait to make the vanilla macaroons. This book is everything I need right now.
Bridget
I'm looking forward to the new aquafaba recipes and the macaron's; as well. I have the original book and would love to add this one!
Shira
I'd love to try making macarons! I've never had them!
Bryanna
The ginger cookies and peanut butter cookies from the first book are divine - Looking forward to this one!
Cindy
Looks great! I'd love to see the pictures.
isahappyvegan
I have a copy of the original book and look forward to this one! Favorite cookies are Italian wedding!
Angela Dinsmore
I requested Candy Cane cookies be a new recipe in the book, and I was super pumped when Kelly replied that she was adding one! It made me feel like a celebrity, or at least like I new one! 😉 I can't wait to try those! 😀
Jacky
So far I've only made the soft chewy peanut butter chocolate chip cookies because my boyfriend loves them so much he doesn't want to try anything else!
Ashley
I would love to try one of the takes on the classic chocolate chip (my fave!) 🙂
siegalpaula
Key lime pie flavor is my fav being a Floridian
Vera K
Those Italian Anisette Cookies sound pretty good!
southernpurplevegan
I have looked at this book before but never got a chance to buy it, honestly I'm a sucker for trying chocolate cookies haven't had a decent one since I went vegan.
Carolsue Anderson
I'd like to try the pink lemonade cookies
CAROLSUE
DIGICATS@SBCGLOBAL.NET
Anu
I have frozen some aquafaba but have not made anything with it yet. I'm looking forward to trying it 🙂
Deb
Peanut butter cookies - my families favorite!
ET Pruitt
I want to try the snicker doodle recipe.
Rosemary Leicht
These look so yummy!!!! I love sprinkles!!
Diana Cote
I would love to make the macarons, I have been dying to try some but I have not come across any that are vegan. I am always looking for tasty vegan recipes to bake so I know we will make most if not all of these eventually with my daughter. 🙂 by the way, great pictures!
Debra Stephens
The Italian Anisette Cookies sound and look amazing!
Bri
I made these Italian Anise cookies for Christmas, and they were AMAZING. It reminded me of the ones my grandma used to make when I was a child. Thanks for the recipe, I will be making these every holiday season 🙂
Kelly Peloza
Hi Bri, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed them and that they are similar to cookies from childhood! I make them every year as well. 🙂
Ruth
Thankfully I found this recipe using Anise flavoring and being vegan. We loved it even though 'i did not make the icing to put on the cookies as we found it sweet enough! The applesauce gives a nice flavor! Thanks so much. I give it a 5 Star!!
Kelly Peloza
Hello Ruth, I'm so glad you enjoyed the anise cookies! They are one of my favorites. Have a wonderful week.
Kelly