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Chinese Five-Spice Cookies

These Chinese five-spice cookies get their kick from the traditional components of five-spice powder, which may include ginger, cinnamon, star anise, fennel, Szechuan peppercorns, and cloves. (Yes, that's six spices, not five. What can we say? We're overachievers.) Say hello to your newest holiday tradition.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 40 mins
Servings: 20 cookies
Calories: 94 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup superfine sugar (or just blitz granulated sugar in a blender until finely ground but not powdery)
  • 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Dump the flour, Chinese five-spice powder, and salt in a small bowl and whisk thoroughly.
  2. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and butter in a large bowl until creamy and well combined. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until fluffy, about 1 minute more.
  3. Stir in the flour mixture, combing just until everything is incorporated and a soft dough forms. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  4. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and adjust the rack to the center position.
  5. Unwrap the dough, place it on a fresh piece of plastic wrap, and roll the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Slide the wrap and the dough onto a baking sheet and place the whole shebang in the freezer for 5 minutes to firm it slightly.
  6. Remove the dough from the freezer and quickly cut out the spice cookies with a 2 1/2-inch round cookie biscuit cutter (or if it's the holidays, your favorite cookie cutter) spacing them 1/2-inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until the edges are golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Immediately transfer the spice cookies to a wire rack to cool. (The cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week.) Find more information on storing and freezing your cookies here.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1cookie Calories 94kcal (5%) Carbohydrates 11g (4%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 5g (8%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Monounsaturated Fat 1g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 21mg (7%) Sodium 34mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 5g (10%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 20cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 94

% Daily Value*

Serving 1cookie
Calories 94kcal 5%
Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 5g 8%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 21mg 7%
Sodium 34mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 5g 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.