Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon anise extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon anise seeds, for topping
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, for glaze
- 2 tablespoons milk, for glaze
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and mix until fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, anise extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, and mix until fully combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and milk to make the glaze.
- When the cake is done, let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack. Drizzle with the glaze and sprinkle with anise seeds. Enjoy!
Interesting Facts
- Anise is a popular spice in many Mediterranean cuisines, including Italian, Greek, and Middle Eastern.
- Chombolini is a traditional Italian anise-flavored cake that is served during the holidays.
- Anise seeds have a sweet, licorice-like flavor and are often used in baking.
