Perfection Springerle Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 teaspoon Baker's Ammonia (Hartshorn) or baking powder
• 2 tablespoons Milk
• 6 Eggs, large room temperature
• 6 cups Confectioners Sugar 1 & 1/2 pounds
• 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter softened, not melted
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Anise see note on substitutions below
• 2 pounds Cake Flour, sifted (1 box Swansdown or Softasilk)
• 1 Orange or Lemon Zest optional; enhances traditional anise flavor
• Cake Flour additional as needed
• 2 tablespoons Anise Seed optional