Star Anise Snickerdoodles Recipe | I Can Cook That (2024)

By Kaitlin 10 Comments

Boy did I start my cookie baking late this year! I can’t believe Christmas is just days away. I was recently sent a beautiful carved cinnamon bark box with 3 oz of Vietnam cinnamon by World Vision so I wanted to make a cookie recipe that would feature cinnamon, so I had to make snickerdoodles! This recipe for Star Anise Snickerdoodles from Cooking Light adds ground star anise to traditional sugar cookies for a subtle different take on the classic.

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More after the recipe …

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground star anise (about 2 pods)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

I ground 2 star anise in my Magic Bullet and then measured out 1/2 teaspoon; if you can’t find whole star anise, you can use ground anise as a substitute.

Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, ground star anise, salt, and cream of tartar in a medium sized bowl, whisking to combine.

Add butter to a separate medium bowl and beat with a mixer at medium speed 30 seconds or until smooth.

Add 1 cup sugar and vanilla and beat until well combined.

Add the egg, beating for 1 minute or until well combined.

Add flour mixture and beat at low speed for 30 seconds.

Shape dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill 1 hour.

Preheat your oven to 375°. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Shape the dough into 24 balls. Roll dough balls in cinnamon mixture, coating completely.

Place balls 3 inches apart on 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 11 minutes or until edges are golden, rotating pans after 6 minutes. Cool on pans for 5 minutes.

Remove cookies from pans and cool on wire racks.

Yum! The anise flavor is very subtle but really enhances the snickerdoodles!

I made my boyfriend my guinea pig and had him taste a cookie before I told him the “secret ingredient.” He agreed that they tasted great but you can’t necessarily place anise as the extra flavor you taste. I love this spin on snickerdoodles!

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Star Anise Snickerdoodles

Recipe Type: Dessert, Make Ahead

Author: I Can Cook That

Prep time:

Cook time:

Total time:

Serves: 24

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground star anise (about 2 pods)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. I ground 2 star anise in my Magic Bullet and then measured out 1/2 teaspoon; if you can’t find whole star anise, you can use ground anise as a substitute.
  2. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, ground star anise, salt, and cream of tartar in a medium sized bowl, whisking to combine.
  3. Add butter to a separate medium bowl and beat with a mixer at medium speed 30 seconds or until smooth.
  4. Add 1 cup sugar and vanilla and beat until well combined.
  5. Add the egg, beating for 1 minute or until well combined.
  6. Add flour mixture and beat at low speed for 30 seconds.
  7. Shape dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill 1 hour.
  8. Preheat your oven to 375°. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
  9. Shape the dough into 24 balls. Roll dough balls in cinnamon mixture, coating completely.
  10. Place balls 3 inches apart on 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 11 minutes or until edges are golden, rotating pans after 6 minutes. Cool on pans for 5 minutes.
  11. Remove cookies from pans and cool on wire racks.
Star Anise Snickerdoodles Recipe | I Can Cook That (2024)

FAQs

What is anise good for cooking? ›

Generally speaking, anise is used to flavor a wide variety of foods, both sweet and savory. You'll find anise in a number of types of sausage, various processed meats, soups, stews, and anywhere a licorice flavor might be desired.

How to use star anise in Indian cooking? ›

Whole star anise can also be placed on top of fish prior to cooking when wrapped in foil or baking sheets. When used ground it can be combined with other spice to make a garam masala and is then best used with meat-based curries. The seeds can also be used to make a liquorice tasting tea.

Why do my snickerdoodle cookies get hard? ›

Snickerdoodles might turn out hard if they are overbaked or if the dough is too dry.

Who should not use star anise? ›

anisatum. 4 Given the difficulty of distinguishing between these species, star anise should not be administered to children. In all infants with acute neurological or digestive symptoms with no known cause, we should inquire about the use of star anise in tea or as gripe water.

Can you use star anise in baking? ›

Ground star anise is more potent and can be added in small quantities to dishes and baked goods. It's a common spice in Indian cuisine, used in the spice blend garam masala, as well as chai tea.

How much star anise to use in cooking? ›

Star anise is fairly potent. For me, it is in the same category as cloves, in terms of potency. I would use one "star" for starters. Adjust from there.

What is anise most commonly used for? ›

Anise is used widely as a flavoring in all food categories including alcohols, liqueurs, dairy products, gelatins, puddings, meats, and candies. It is sold as a spice, and the seeds are used as a breath freshener. The essential oil is used medicinally as well as in perfume, soaps, and sachets.

Can I eat star anise raw? ›

Star anise is generally considered safe but may be contaminated with highly toxic Japanese star anise. To ensure the purity of the spice you're buying, always double-check its source to avoid accidental intoxication.

How to toast star anise? ›

Heat a pan or skillet under medium heat. Drizzle 2 ½ tablespoons of oil and wait until it heats up. Add your spices to the pan - stay put. Watch & smell your spices as they toast.

Can you boil star anise? ›

To make star anise tea, boil 2 cups of water in a saucepan and add star anise and cinnamon to it. Boil for about 10 minutes, cover with a lid and let it steep for 3 minutes. Strain the star anise tea and serve.

How to tell when snickerdoodles are cooked? ›

How do you know when the cookies are baked? The snickerdoodle cookies will only take about 10 to 12 minutes to bake, so be sure to keep your eye on them! It's best to rotate the cookies after about 6 minutes so that the cook evenly. The cookies are done when the edges are just set and the centres are soft and cracked.

Why don t my snickerdoodles crack? ›

If yours aren't cracking, your oven may not be hot enough or your ingredients may not be fresh enough! Are snickerdoodles supposed to be undercooked? I always recommend slightly underbaking your cookies and then letting them finish baking through cooling on the pan.

Why are my snickerdoodles spreading so much? ›

Excess Sugar and Fat

Measuring is key in baking. If your cookie contains excess sugar or fat, it will spread while baking.

What meat does star anise go with? ›

Star Anise is sweet and has warming qualities, and pairs beautifully with beef and onions in a braise or stew.

What does star anise taste like in food? ›

Star anise is subtly sweet with a slight licorice taste. “When you add star anise to a dish or drink, it gives it a whole new depth and flavor,” says Biruk Alemayehu, who owns Addis Nola, an Ethiopian restaurant in New Orleans.

How do you use star anise in meat? ›

Add beef to hot pan and brown on all sides. Reduce heat to low and add soy sauce, 3 tablespoons water, sherry, star anise and five-spice powder. Cover and gently simmer meat until it is tender, about two hours, cooking for one hour on one side, and turning to cook after the first hour on the second side.

Can you eat star anise by itself? ›

In most cases, star anise is not eaten by itself but is used as a spice and added to dishes, where it imparts a sweet-licorice-peppery flavor. Whole or ground star anise is an excellent addition to savory recipes like soups, stews, broths, and sweet recipes like pies and ice cream.

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