COOKIES: Italian anise cookies, yummm! The spice and sugar mingle merrily and dance on the taste buds. LoveBakesGoodCakes.com has the perfect recipe for this holiday delight.

You will need FOR THE DOUGH; ¾ cup granulated sugar, 1 stick of melted butter, 2 large eggs, ¼ cup milk, 1 tsp. anise extract, 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, 2 ½ tsp. baking powder, and ¼ tsp. salt. FOR THE GLAZE; 1 cup powdered sugar, 4-5 tsp. milk, and 1 tsp. anise extract. You will also need nonpareils.

To make: Preheat oven to 325°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Beat sugar, butter, eggs, milk and anise extract in a large bowl with a mixer. Then, on low speed, beat in the flour, baking powder and salt. Blend well.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until the bottoms are a light golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Prepare glaze: Whisk powdered sugar, milk and anise extract in a small bowl until smooth.

Dip the tops of the cookies in the glaze, and while the glaze is still wet, sprinkle on the nonpareils. Let sit until the glaze hardens, “When you dip these cookies into the glaze, you’ll want to add the nonpareils right after – this glaze is thick and hardens up fairly quickly,” the author noted.

She advises a regular teaspoon to measure out the cookies, a slightly heaping scoop. For smooth cookies, roll the dough into balls.

She added, “If you’re not really a fan of black licorice, feel free to substitute your favorite extract flavor in place of the anise extract!”