Mary Alice's Easter Cookies

Ingredients

• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup oil
• 6 teaspoon baking powder
• 4-1/4 cups flour
• 1 T. flavoring* (ANISE extract)
• optional coconut or nuts (1 cup)

Directions

With WOODEN spoon cream together eggs, oil, sugar and flavoring. Add baking powder and flour. Mix well.
Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet

Leave plain (my hubby likes them plain with dinner) or frost with powdered sugar, water and drop or two of flavoring glaze. Or this butter cream frosting.

Best Butter Cream Frosting

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 egg yolk ( I use 1 cup dry instant non fat milk instead.)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla + 1 teaspoon any other extract you like, coconut, anise, cherry etc.
• 1 Tablespoon cream

Directions

Cream butter and sugar, add remaining ingredients.
Beat until mixture is thick and creamy. Add more powdered sugar for frosting thick enough for pastry tube decorator. Add food coloring if you like.

* You can use any flavoring you like also add a drop or two of food coloring to frosting. Decorate with M&M's, jelly beans, cinnamon candies etc.

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, Ca.

Answers:

Mary Alice's Easter Cookies

I am an avid cookie baker and love trying new recipes, but am afraid of anise because I have heard it smells like fish bait. Is this true? Am curious of your opinion.

Editor's Note: It is sweet and fragrant with a taste like fennel or a mild licorice. (03/24/2006)

Mary Alice's Easter Cookies

For the reader that asked about Anise. No, it's good, I agree with Mary Alice, it smells and tastes similar (but not too heavy) licorice. I've made cookies with it and there's a lot of Mexican cookie recipes that use Anise. Also, anise tea is used for many purposes.

Go for it. I think you'll like it. :) (03/26/2006)

By PeggyGV