These are one of my favorite Christmas cookies, with a distinct anise flavor provided by a bit of anise extract plus whole anise seeds. Anise has the flavor of licorice but is far removed from artificially flavored licorice candies. Springerle, a German word meaning �little jumper� or �little knight� is a centuries old cookie. The cookie is either pressed into a carved cookie mold or rolled with a carved Springerle rolling pin; either method produces a cookie with an embossed design. The unbaked cookies are laid on pan a sprinkled with anise seeds and left to dry overnight or up to 24 hours. This drying time gives Springerle its distinctive texture and helps to set the design so it is still visible after baking. When baked, these scrumptious cookies puff up like little pillows. You can still make Springerle if you don�t have Springerle cookie molds or rolling pin; simply roll out the dough with a smooth rolling pin and cut the dough into small rectangles or other shapes; you will have a delicious cookie, just without the embossed design.