Anise-Flavored "Doughnuts

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; stir with a whisk until sugar dissolves.

Add egg; stir with a whisk until smooth. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.

Add flour mixture to sugar mixture; stir until smooth. Cover and chill 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 30

Coat baking sheets with cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Shape 1 1/2 teaspoons of dough into a 2-inch log. Connect ends of log together, forming a ring; place on prepared baking sheets. Repeat procedure with remaining dough, placing 1 inch apart.

Bake at 300 for 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

Remove cookies from pans; cool on wire racks.

Sprinkle cookies evenly with powdered sugar while still warm.

Stir into coffee.

Heat, mix with powdered sugar, and drizzle over warm pound cake.

Add a splash to steaming liquid for shellfish like mussels or clams.