Hartshorn German Christmas Cookies

Ingredients

400 gr sugar
1 gr salt
220 gr shortening
2 eggs
240 ml milk
1 hartshorn
120 ml boiling water
9 gr vanilla
1 flour to stiffen
14 gr anise seeds

Instructions

* Hartshorn can be obtained at your pharmacy. It is ammonium crystals

1. Mix sugar, salt, shortening, eggs,and milk.

2. In a separate bowl, dissolve the Hartshorn in the boiling water. Make sure it is completely dissolved.

3. Add vanilla and anise seeds to the sugar mixture.

4. Add hartshorn mixture to sugar mixture.

5. Add enough flour to the sugar mixture to stiffen and not to be sticky. It may require 4-5 pounds!

6. Roll out dough on floured surface, and cut with cookie cutters.

7. Bake immediately after mixing in a moderate oven (325-350F) for 10-15 minutes.

This entire recipe will make between 180-220 cookies. One half the recipe is suggested (up to 100 cookies). But, they are great!