Author Notes: These cookies came to the U.S. with immigrants from the Puglia Region of Italy where my husband’s grandmother grew up. Also known as “Taralli Baresi” the cookies are a cross between an anise/fennel-flavored a pretzel, and a bagel. They are to be enjoyed with a glass of wine, coffee or by itself! —WeLike2Cook
Makes: 5 dozen
Ingredients
-
1/2
packet dry active yeast
-
1/2
cup warm water
-
2
eggs
-
1
teaspoon sugar
-
1
teaspoon salt
-
3
tablespoons margarine, melted
-
3 1/2
cups flour
-
1/2
teaspoon black pepper, ground
-
1/2
teaspoon anise extract
-
1-2
tablespoons anise or fennel seeds
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425o F.
- Melt margarine and let cool.
- Put yeast and water in a cup and set aside to bubble.
- Cream together eggs, sugar, salt and cooled margarine. Add in remaining ingredients and mix, then add yeast mixture and mix again.
- Place on floured surface and knead well. Set aside 10-20 minutes.
- Roll into thin logs and form into pretzel shapes. Drop in boiling water.
- When they rise to the surface, drain on clean towel to cool and dry briefly (a few minutes.)
- Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.