Anise bread (penia)

Ingredients

• 6 eggs
• 200 grams of sugar
• 120 g of melted butter
• 25 g of fresh baker’s yeast
• 60 ml of warm water
• 2 lemons (zest and juice)
• 30 ml of anise extract
• 6 tablespoons of anise seeds
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• Approximately 700g of flour

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water and set aside.

Whip the eggs until they are frothy, then add the sugar and continue to whip.

Add the melted butter, then the salt, lemon juice and zest, anise extract, and seeds.

Add the dissolved yeast, then the flour, until a dough forms.

Knead the dough for a long time, until it regains its elasticity when you press it with your finger.

Let it ferment for 12 hours, until it doubles in volume.

Divide it into 7 portions and shape each one into a doll-like form.

Let it rise for another 2 to 3 hours, then bake in the oven at 150 °C for 15 to 20 minutes.