preheat oven to 350°.

cream together butter & sugar until light & fluffy, about 5 minutes

add eggs one at a time,mixing after each addition . add anise extract

blend flour &baking power. start by adding a third of the dry ingredients to the butter /sugar mixture, then add 1tbsp of milk add another third of the flour mixture & another tbsp of milk .. finally mix in enough of the remaining mixture & another tbsp of milk until your dough is like a Brownie batter

use hands to make a simple round drop cookies (flour fingers if dough is to sticky )

bake cookies 10-15 minutes (they won't be brown but the insides will be soft & cake like )

For icing : mix powdered sugar. 3 tbsp milk and anise extract together to make glaze. put cookies on drying rack or plate & paint cookies with a spatula immediately top with sprinkles before glaze dries.