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Every Easter we make what we call "Easter Cookies." They are an old family recipe of my Dad's, and it wouldn't be Easter in our family without them.  My Dad was an incredible fellow, passionate, brilliant, and a born leader.  So when he discovered a similar recipe on a cook show on PBS, he called a family bake off, and here's how it went...

When my parents were married, my Irish Mom wanted to learn the Italian recipes from my Father's family. But the recipes weren't written down, so what she got was not very detailed!

But being a nutritionist, my Mom experimented and came up with the recipe we loved every year.  Then, my Dad was watching a show on Italian cookies on PBS, and they made a cookie that was similar to our Easter cookies.  So, he decided to call the family together and have a bake off, since he was convinced the new cookies were the "real" recipe. (Note the bake-off started with a 6 minute video of the show!)

Since Dad called the shots, my sister and I dutifully made both recipes, and asked everyone to choose their favorite of the two. Unanimously everyone picked our original recipe! My Dad was holding out for my husband Sean; he was convinced Sean would side with my him. (Dad claimed to like the new recipe cookie)  When Sean tried the cookies he chose our original recipe!!! Here it is so you can start an Easter tradition too!!

Easter Cookies

1/3 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

4 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

Pinch of salt

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp. anise extract

2 Tbsp. anise seeds 

Cream butter and add sugar. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together and add to bowl, mixing until blended.  Add milk, anise seeds and extract flavoring. Roll into 8" strips and then knot each strip. Bake at 350 for approximately 10-12 minutes. 

Top with buttercream icing when cool: 

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

4-5 Tbsps. milk

A few drops of your favorite food coloring (we sometimes divide the icing for several spring colors) 

Cream butter, add sugar, then add vanilla and milk. When icing is finished, add a few drops of food coloring.  Ice the cookies with the buttercream icing and top with sugar sprinkles.  

Enjoy!!