Licorice tends to separate the men from the boys.
There’s the red vs. black debate. Which, in my mind, is no debate after all. There’s licorice, which is black. And then there is that other red stuff.
Don’t get me wrong, the red sugar candy is good, but it isn’t licorice.
People either love black licorice or they hate it. Me? I am a black licorice lover. (I am one of the weirdos who buys the bags of black jelly beans.)
Just 5 minutes ago, I’d have told you that anise and licorice were, if not the same plant, then at least related.
I’d have lied to you.
It is not related to anise, star anise, or fennel, which are the sources of similar-tasting flavouring compounds.
Wikipedia wouldn’t lie.
Licorice is a legume, while anise is an herbaceous plant….blahblahblah. Does it matter? They taste very similar and if you like one, you’ll probably like the other.
And if you like one, you’ll probably LOVE these cookies.
Cookies that, friends, have both anise and licorice in them.
I’ve made these cookies several times. Needing to perfect the recipe, and in the name of science, I could only change one variable (ingredient) at a time.
Which left me with a lot of these cookies to eat.
The things I do for you. (And science.)
The batch above was nearly perfect, but I didn’t like the looks of them. They never flattened, so I tried a little tweak, and…well, not to toot my own horn, but let’s just say that perfection ensued.
Anise Licorice Cookies (Makes about 1 dozen cookies)
- 50 grams sorghum flour (about 1/3 cup)
- 50 grams brown rice flour (about 1/3 cup)
- 50 grams tapioca flour (about 1/3 cup)
- 1/2 tsp licorice powder*
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 T anise extract*
- 1/4 cup margarine
- 2/3 cup sugar (I used xylitol)
- 1 large egg
Preheat oven to 350.
Combine margarine, extract, sugar and egg and beat until creamy. Add in flours and dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet, flatten dough slightly and bake for 8-10 minutes.
*Both anise extract and licorice powder can be found at any well-stocked grocery store. My local Walmart carries the anise extract, in fact.
I love that these cookies have little flecks of the licorice powder in them. I’m not really sure how much a difference it makes in the taste, but I am sure you’d be okay without it.
Black licorice: Yah or nay?
Red vines or Twizzlers?
Those cookies are my nightmare
. I really really hate licorice. I don’t even like the smell! I like Twizzlers okay but wouldn’t seek them out.
I hate to say this…but I’m not a black licorice fan :X I’d avoid the jelly beans like the plague! BUT! I can talk anise cookies. My mom makes Anisette cookies around christmas time and I do remember liking those, so I’d be willing to give these a shot
I love your GF cookie recipes!
Oh you continue to rock my world on a daily basis woman!!!
I’m a black licorice fan so much so that I would take only the black jelly beans and leave the rest.
I haven’t had anything licorice in a long time either. and those are gorgeous..:)
(always thought that fennel/anise/licorice were the same thing too!)
I love licorice in all its forms! These are going on my to do list but I’m trying to avoid any more cookie disasters (cf. my inedible tahini experiment) so I’m checking _everything_ first
Thusly: I can probably improvise my way around the powder and anise extract (haven’t seen those in my part of the world but I do have substitutes that should work), but do you have any good gf substitution suggestions for sorghum flour? I’m not even sure what it is (yes I’m too lazy to google…), and the one time I’ve seen it in a shop it cost an arm and a leg.
You are awesome!! This: “the red sugar candy is good, but it isn’t licorice.” – amen, sister! I adore black licorice but only the stuff made with real licorice (so not the waxy black Twizzlers crap). I love black panda licorice. These cookies sound amazing! I’ve seen anise extract before but never licorice powder… I’ll have to go find me some!
Before I stopped eating candy ionce stole and then lied (and later apologized) about eating a bag of my son’s Twizzlers. Twizzlers all the way!
I do not like black licorice — I’m actually not a licorice fan at all (unless you consider Twizzlers Pull N Peels real licorice!).
I’m not a big red or black licorice fan. Can we split a bag of jelly beans?!?
mmmm i really love licorice! see i’m just too lazy to bake. i think i need to commission you as my gluten free baker! they look amazing!
Ok we can’t be friends anymore b/c i dont really love black licorice. Red, yes! But that’s just fake processed HFCS. No wonder i like it
seriously tho, great job even tho i love fennel, I dont like black licorice…weird, huh
Black licorice? Yay.
Yes Please.
Black jellybeans?
Blech.
Yeah, never been a fan of the licorice/anise flavors. I will make an exception for aquavit, but that’s only because I’m Scandinavian and it’s the liquor of my people (thus, I was weaned on the stuff). I actually think the first batch of cookies look awesome! I’m a sucker for a chewy/puffy cookie, though.
Chocolate licorice for me please!! My grandfather LOVED black licorice, but I can only stand a bite or two.
funny I am not a fan of licorice but do love fennel which has a licorise like taste haha man I am weird
licorice. ew. just, ew.