Italian Cookies with Anise

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

Step 2
Beat butter and sugar for dough together in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, vanilla extract, and anise extract and blend. Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl; stir into butter mixture until blended.

Step 3
Take a ping pong-sized ball of dough and roll between your hands to form a rope. Connect the ends and twist into a figure 8 shape. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.

Step 4
Bake in batches in the preheated oven until edges are golden, about 10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 5
Mix milk into confectioners' sugar for icing, stirring slowly. Add the anise extract and vanilla extract.

Step 6
Dip cooled cookies into the icing face-down and lay on wax paper or a wire rack.