Marianito Recipes

MARRANITOS (MEXICAN PIG-SHAPED COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, cream together brown sugar and shortening until smooth. Mix in 1 egg, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Stir in the baking soda, cinnamon, and molasses. Mix in flour until the dough is stiff enough to roll out.
• Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into cookies using a pig shaped cookie cutter. Place cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Brush the remaining beaten egg over the tops of the cookies.
• Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the centers of the cookies appear dry and edges are lightly browned.

MARRANITOS

Steps:

• Place water, piloncillo, cinnamon, clove, and star anise in a medium saucepot set to medium heat. Simmer slowly and stir until the piloncillo dissolves. Continue to simmer until the mixture has the consistency of natural maple syrup. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Strain. (For this recipe we will only be using 1/2 cup of the piloncillo syrup. You can save the rest to use later.)
• In a large bowl, combine the whole wheat and all-purpose flours, baking powder, and baking soda.
• Combine 1/2 cup of the piloncillo syrup with the melted butter and mix well.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon until the dough begin to comes together.
• Use your hands to incorporate the dough together and form a ball. The dough will be on the wet side. If the dough is too dry add a bit more of the piloncillo syrup.
• Cover in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 - 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Remove the dough from the fridge and roll out on a floured surface to 1/3 inch thickness.
• Use a large pig-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the dough and place them on a parchment-lined sheet tray.
• Reform the dough scraps into a ball and roll out again to cut out more marranitos. Repeat this process until you cannot cut out any more.
• Combine the plant milk and maple syrup in a small bowl to make your "egg wash". Brush marranitos with "egg wash".
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the marranitos are golden brown on the bottom.
• Remove from oven and let cool slightly.

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN MARRANITOS (MOLASSES GINGERBREAD PIGS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir together brown sugar, shortening, baking soda, cinnamon and vanilla until the mixture forms a firm paste.
• Add, mixing after each addition until blended, the molasses, egg and milk.
• Gradually add the flour, mixing to form a dough; Roll dough out to about 1/4 inch thick; cut with a large pig-shaped cutter; Place each marranito on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
• In a cup or small bowl, beat egg; Using a pastry brush, paint tops of marranitos lightly with beaten egg.
• Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until browned.