Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon anise extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon anise seeds
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

1. Cream butter until light, about 2 minutes. Add sugar and beat for another 2 minutes. Stir in anise extract, salt, and anise seeds. Mix in flour until all ingredients are combined.
2. Gather dough into a ball and cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease or spray cookie sheets.
4. Break off small pieces of dough and roll into 1-inch balls. Set 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Oil a cookie stamp and press lightly into dough on each cookie to make a design.
5. Bake cookies in the center of the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until firm. Let stand on cookie sheets for 2 to 3 minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool.