How to Make Italian Anise Bread - A Step-by-Step Guide

Italian Anise Bread, known in Italian as 'pane all'anice', is a traditional Italian bread that is flavored with anise seeds. Anise seeds have a subtle licorice-like flavor that adds a unique taste to this bread. This bread is often enjoyed as a snack with a cup of coffee or tea, and is also commonly served at Italian weddings and other special occasions.

Making Italian Anise Bread at home is a wonderful way to bring the flavors of Italy into your kitchen. The process of making this br...

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Ingredients

  • 12 ⅜ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 5 tablespoons anise seed
  • ½ cup warm water
  • 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
  • 2 cups warm milk
  • 8 eggs, at room temperature
  • ½ cup butter, melted

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 45 mins
  • Additional Time: 9 hrs
  • Total Time: 10 hrs
  • Servings: 20
  • Yield: 6 loaves

  • Combine flour, sugar, and anise seed together in a very large bowl; create a well in the center.
  • Mix warm water and yeast together in a bowl. Let stand until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 10 minutes.
  • Beat warm milk, eggs, and butter together in a bowl; stir into yeast mixture. Add milk mixture to the well in the flour mixture. Knead flour-milk mixture using your hands until dough and your hands are no longer sticky. Cover dough with a clean cotton cloth and let rise, 8 hours to overnight.
  • Grease and flour 6 loaf pans.
  • Punch dough down and divide into 6 portions. Mold each portion into a round shape and place each in a prepared pan. Cover pans and let rise for 1 hour more.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Bake in the preheated oven until bread is cooked through, 45 to 50 minutes.
  • Nutrition

    448 cal.

    • Total Fat: 8g
    • Saturated Fat: 4g
    • Cholesterol: 89mg
    • Sodium: 73mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 81g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 22g
    • Protein: 12g
    • Vitamin C: 0mg
    • Calcium: 64mg
    • Iron: 5mg
    • Potassium: 186mg