Holiday Chef's Corner: Mancini's Italian Sesame Seed Cookies

If you like to keep busy in the kitchen during the holidays, we have some fun new recipes for you to try out this week thanks to members of Alexandria's culinary community. 

Barbara Mancini's, owner of Mancini's Cafe and Bakery in Del Ray, sent in this recipe for her Italian sesame seed cookies.

Mancini's Italian Sesame Seed Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons anise extract
• 2½ cups all-purpose flower
• ¼ spoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup of milk, or as needed
• 1 cup sesame seeds

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and anise extract until well blended. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt; stir into the butter mixture until well incorporated. If you are using a stand mixer, let the dough mix for another minute to add lightness to the dough. The dough will be soft, but will hand roll easily.

3. Pinch off pieces of dough slightly smaller than a walnut, and roll them into small logs. Dip in milk, then roll in sesame seeds. Place cookies one inch apart on a cookie sheet. Cookies will not spread very much.

4. Bake for 17 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until bottom and sides of cookies are lightly toasted. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.