Ingredients

• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon anise seed, finely crushed
• 1 pinch salt
• ½ cup pecans, finely chopped

Directions

• Directions
• Heat oven to 350 F. Beat ¾ cup of the sugar, butter and lard in large bowl of electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy; about 3 minutes. Add egg yolks and vanilla; beat until smooth. Beat in flour, cinnamon, anise seed and salt until well mixed. Stir in pecans.
• Roll walnut size pieces of dough between palms to make round balls. Put remaining ¼ cup sugar in pie plate; roll dough balls in sugar. Place balls 5 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press each ball with bottom of a glass dipped in sugar to about ¼ inch thickness.
• Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven to 300 F and continue baking until lightly browned 12 to 15 minutes. Remove to cooling rack.