Anise Pierniki (Polish Christmas Cookies Recipe) (2024)

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A little bit of patience and a lot of sprinkles will get you the most memorable Christmas experience when you whip up a batch of myNana’s Anise Pierniki!

Anise Pierniki (Polish Christmas Cookies Recipe) (1)

This is the one folks. The recipe I’ve been most excited to share with you this week.

These are my absolute very favorite Christmas cookies of all time. They’re so simple, and they’re nothing too fancy to look at, but they hold so much meaning to me that even as a food blogger (who has to fancy things up to keep her OCD in check,) I couldn’t bear to present them any other way than how I made them with my Nana.

I may have taken some liberties with my sprinkle ratio, however (she tended to be a little less heavy-handed.)

This page includes step by step instructions, as well as tips and notes. If you’d like to skip all that, feel free to scroll down to the full, printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

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If you love traditional Christmas cookies, and you enjoya bit of anise (some would describe it as a mild licorice flavor – think a mild Ouzo or Sambuca,) then please bake up a batch of these for your family and friends and neighbors and co-workers and mailman and Santa.

They’ll first seethe beauty of a cutout cookie, then be surprised at the crispy texture and delicate flavors of this Polish classic.

After some research, I couldn’t really find the technical name for these, nor did I find any recipe exactly like it (there are actually 2 recipes for pierniki in the cookbook that are nothing like this.) All Iknow is that they’re “Stella’s” Christmas Cookies, and every year come holiday time,I helped Nana bake and decorate them.

Whoever Stella was, I’m grateful that she passed this recipe along.

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My Nana was an incredible woman. She went from 20-something wife, mother, and homemaker to factory worker during World War II to make ends meet. In her 70s, I came along and she did it again – raising me solo from baby to 21 on her Social Security check and credit cards.

Much different time, the 80s-90s were, but still.

Her favorite place was in the kitchen, cooking meals and surprising the family with her cookies and cakes – many of which arefound in her cookbook that is now a regular part of my kitchen adventures.

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This year marks my third Christmas as a blogger, and I’ve meant to share these every.single.year.

Why did it take me this long? No idea. I make them annually and have had plenty of chances to shoot them.

They’re cookies I share with everyone I know – I always make a double or triple-batch just to have enough to spread Nana’s spirit through as many people as I can.

So why have I held out on sharing the Christmas cookie recipe with you, my favorite faceless internet friends?

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Not that it matters, because they’re here, and now anyone who’s ever had the pleasure of trying one can make a whole batch to eat all by themselves by the light of their twinkling Christmas lights share with the ones they love.

I guessI’m now passing Nana’s spirit on to a much bigger audience – the world – through a very special Christmas cookies recipe.

I think she’d love that.

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Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. I love you guys.

  • Nana’s Russian Tea Cakes (AKA “Nut Balls”)
  • Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Lofthouse-Style Soft Sugar Cookies with Frosting
  • Bakery Style Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Anise Pierniki (Polish Christmas Cookies Recipe) (7)

Nana’s Anise Pierniki (Polish Christmas Cookies)

A little bit of patience and a lot of sprinkles will get you the most memorable Christmas experience when you whip up a batch of my Nana’s Anise Pierniki!

4.54 from 91 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Polish

Keyword: pierniki, polish christmas cookies

Prep Time: 1 hour hour

Cook Time: 7 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 7 minutes minutes

Servings: 36 cookies

Calories: 93kcal

Author: Erica

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour plus more for rolling
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons milk
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon anise extract or oil

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3-4 Tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Assorted sprinkles

Instructions

  • In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, ~3 minutes. Add anise, egg yolk, and milk, beating to combine. In a separate bowl, sift baking powder and salt into flour, then add to wet ingredients, mixing until incorporated. Dough will be sticky but thick.

  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-24 hours.

  • When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon liners. Set up a station with flour, rolling pin, cookie cutters, and prepared baking sheets.

  • Flour your workstation moderately, as well as your hands. Take half of the dough and dust it with flour, knead it into a ball, then roll it out as thinly as possible (or as desired,) dusting with flour sparingly but as needed to prevent sticking. Cut into desired shapes. Transfer to baking sheets, leaving a bit of space between each cookie (they don’t spread much at all.)

  • Bake for 7-10 minutes, until edges are barely golden (these are very pale finished cookies.*) Remove from oven and cool on pans for 3-4 minutes, then remove to cooling rack with a metal spatula.

  • Return scraps to bowl and repeat the steps with the remaining cold ball of dough. Repeat a third time with scraps from first two rounds, being sure not to overwork the dough or add too much flour to it as you work.**

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

  • Combine ingredients in a small bowl and beat until a fluffy buttercream consistency is reached, adding milk or sugar as necessary (I like my frosting fluffy, but you may prefer it thinner.)

  • Gently spread frosting on each cookie and decorate with sprinkles as desired. This is a fun project for little ones to help with! Allow cookies to dry overnight before packaging and storing.

Video

Notes

* These are very pale finished cookies, with only the edges being barely browned. I recommend testing a couple in your oven until you find the right amount of baking time. The cookbook calls for a 10 minute bake time, but my oven is near the 6-7 minute mark.
** It is important not to use too much flour on your work space, or to overwork the dough. It’s very sensitive, and can lead to altered taste if abused.

Nutrition

Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 25mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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Anise Pierniki (Polish Christmas Cookies Recipe) (8)

Anise Pierniki (Polish Christmas Cookies Recipe) (9)
Anise Pierniki (Polish Christmas Cookies Recipe) (10)
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DAY ONE | German Chocolate Cookie Cups
DAY TWO | Bakery Style Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies
DAY THREE | Salted Caramel Coconut Biscotti
DAY FOUR |Chocolate Cheesecake Cookies
DAY FIVE |Nana’s Anise Pierniki (Polish Christmas Cookies)

Anise Pierniki (Polish Christmas Cookies Recipe) (13)
Anise Pierniki (Polish Christmas Cookies Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is the number 1 Christmas cookie? ›

Based on this data from General Mills, Peanut Butter Blossoms are the most popular Christmas cookie in the country; it's the most-visited cookie recipe in seven states, which means it's the most common favorite cookie in the U.S. That's a pretty high honor!

What was the first Christmas cookie? ›

History. Modern Christmas cookies can trace their history to recipes from Medieval Europe biscuits, when many modern ingredients such as cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, almonds and dried fruit were introduced into the west.

Is anise a Christmas flavor? ›

Anise cookies are the perfect addition to every Christmas feast, embodying the essence of the season with their distinctive taste. They have a way of summoning warm memories of family gatherings, and the joy of sharing homemade delights with loved ones.

How early to bake Christmas cookies? ›

If you want to make Christmas cookies in advance, make sure that you are timing them so they won't go stale. Aim to make them about two weeks in advance if you keep them at room temperature. Making them one week or a few days in advance is even better if you are going for the freshest possible cookies.

What is the least popular Christmas cookie? ›

On the naughty list of cookies, Americans gave the lowest win records to anise cookies, which only won 29% of its matchups.

What is the number one selling cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

What flavor is similar to anise? ›

When we speak of anise flavor, a few other herbs come into play: fennel and licorice. These three herbs have similar aromas and tastes due to a few shared chemical constituents. And these three herbs are used to describe the flavor profiles of some other well-known herbs.

What is the difference between anise and star anise? ›

Both seasonings contain anethole, the licorice flavoring found in minor amounts in other plants such as fennel and caraway. The major culinary difference between anise and star anise is that anise seed is potent, with an almost spicy flavor, while star anise is subtly milder.

What is the difference between licorice and anise flavor? ›

Anise and licorice have a similar flavor and smell, but they do have differences in taste. Anise tends to be spicy and a little sweet. Licorice, on the other hand, can be bitter, salty, and even sour. They smell similarly because they both have anethole, which is an organic flavoring compound.

What Christmas cookies stay fresh the longest? ›

Shortbread and Spritz Cookies

Cookies like shortbread and spritz are great candidates if you want cookies that'll last a while. In the freezer: You can keep shortbread and spritz in the freezer for up to six months.

Should you refrigerate Christmas cookies? ›

Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months.

How do you keep Christmas cookies moist? ›

Stick with room temp

“If you store cookies in the fridge, they will dry out,” Amanda says. The dry, cold air sucks the moisture right out of them. Instead, keep your cookies at room temperature, or freeze them for later.

What is the most popular cookie for Santa? ›

Chocolate Chip cookies

You can never go wrong with these classic, delicious cookies. Santa himself lists these as his favorites, and he prefers them soft and gooey with lots of chocolate chips. If you decide to leave these out for him, make sure there's a glass of cold milk nearby!

What is America's favorite holiday cookie? ›

Among those who can make a single choice, frosted sugar cookies lead the list (32%), with gingerbread (12%) and chocolate chip (11%) rounding out the top three. Snickerdoodles (6%) come in fourth place, followed by butter (4%), peanut butter (4%), and chocolate (4%) tying for fifth.

What is the #1 cookie in the United States? ›

1 Chocolate Chip Cookie (No Further Description Necessary)

America's favorite cookie and the one dubbed “the American cookie” is the Chocolate chip cookie.

What is the most popular Christmas candy? ›

According to America's Favorite Christmas Candy by State Report, a comprehensive study by research firm HubScore that delved into a survey of the top 20 favorite Christmas candies, Kit Kat ranked top in 13 states followed by a tie between Skittles and candy canes, both ranked top in six states.

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