Sugared Anise Rosettes Recipes

ROSETTES I

Steps:

• Combine eggs, sugar and salt; beat well. Add remaining ingredients and beat until smooth.
• Heat a rosette iron in deep, hot oil (375 degrees) for 2 minutes.
• Drain excess oil from iron. Dip in batter to 1/4 inch from the top of the iron, then dip iron immediately into hot oil (375 degrees).
• Fry rosette until golden, about 30 seconds. Lift out; tip upside down to drain. With fork, push rosette off iron onto a rack placed over paper towels.
• Reheat iron 1 minute; make next rosette.
• Sprinkle rosettes with confectioners' sugar.

SUGARED ANISE ROSETTES

Steps:

• In a cleaned electric coffee/spice grinder finely grind anise seeds. In a bowl whisk together anise, flour, and salt and whisk in milk. In a small bowl whisk together eggs and sugar until combined and whisk egg mixture into flour mixture until just combined. (Overmixing will cause blisters on pastries.)
• In a 3-quart heavy kettle heat 2 inches oil over moderate heat until a deep-fat thermometer registers 370°F. Put rosette iron in hot oil 20 seconds and carefully lift iron, letting excess oil drip into kettle. Dip bottom and side of oiled iron into batter 3 seconds, being careful not to let batter get onto top of iron. Immerse coated iron in oil and fry until pastry is golden and crisp, about 30 seconds. Lift iron, letting excess oil drip into kettle and, using a fork, loosen pastry, letting it drop onto brown paper or paper towels. Turn pastry over and drain on paper. Make more pastries in same manner, returning oil to 370°F. between batches and heating iron in hot oil each time 10 seconds before dipping into batter. (Pastries may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, layered between paper towels, in an airtight container. Before serving, reheat pastries in one layer on a baking sheet in a 225°F. oven 10 minutes.)
• Dust pastries with confectioners' sugar.

SCANDINAVIAN ROSETTES

Steps:

• Whisk together eggs, granulated sugar, milk, and vanilla in a large bowl, then add flour and salt, whisking, until just combined (do not overmix, or cookies will blister).
• Heat oil in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan with rosette iron in it until thermometer registers 370 to 375°F. Carefully lift out iron, letting oil drip off into pan. Dip all but top edge of iron into batter 3 seconds, then submerge iron in oil and fry (batter adhering to iron) until golden, 35 to 40 seconds (do not let go of iron; cookie will shatter if it hits bottom of saucepan). Lift out iron, letting oil drip off, and, working over paper towels, carefully pry off rosette with a fork. Let rosette drain, hollow side down, on paper towels, then make more rosettes in same manner, heating iron in oil 10 seconds before dipping it into batter each time.
• Dust rosettes with confectioners sugar before serving.
• Available at some specialty bakeware shops and Sweet Celebrations (800-328-6722).

ITALIAN ANISETTE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In large bowl, mix flour, baking powder and white sugar. Make a well in the center and add oil, milk, 1 tablespoon anise extract, and eggs. Mix together until dough is sticky.
• Oil fingers and pinch off dough in 1 inch pieces. Roll into a ball and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet, 1 inch apart, flatten top slightly. Bake for 8 minutes. Dip cookies in Icing while warm.
• To Make Icing: Blend in 1 teaspoon anise extract and enough hot water to 1 cup confectioner's sugar to form a smooth icing.