Italian Cookies with Anise

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

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.

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.

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.

Mix milk into confectioners' sugar for icing, stirring slowly.

Add the anise extract and vanilla extract.

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