Polvorones Traditional Colorful Mexican Cookies Recipes

POLVORONES (MEXICAN PINK SUGAR COOKIES)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment beat together the shortening, white granulated sugar, and vanilla extract for 2 full minutes on medium speed, until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, then turn the mixer to low and gradually add the flour mixture, one cup at a time, until it's all fully combined.
• At this point divide the dough into as many colors as you want, then add food coloring and mix with your hands or the stand mixer. Once the dough is dyed, wrap it in plastic and set it in the fridge to rest for an hour.
• While the dough is resting, preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a couple baking sheets with parchment paper.
• When the dough has rested scoop out 1/4 cup size balls of dough (I just use a standard ice cream scoop) and roll them into a smooth ball before rolling in the cane sugar. Place 5 balls of dough on a baking sheet and flatten slightly with the back of a measuring cup, sprinkle a bit more sugar on each cookie then bake for 12-14 minutes one sheet at a time until the cookies have spread out and cracked but haven't browned at all.
• Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely. Repeat the process with the rest of the dough until all the cookies are baked.

POLVORONES - TRADITIONAL COLORFUL MEXICAN COOKIES

Steps:

• In your mixer or large bowl, combine/cream shortening & powdered sugar on low until it's nice & smooth.
• With the mixer on low speed, add the egg, vanilla & baking soda.
• In small batches, add AP flour. You'll end up with a dough that is soft, holds shape, & feels like play-doh. If it is too sticky, add a tiny bit more flour.
• Divide dough into 3 equal parts (I use a scale) into bowls. To 2 bowls, add a few drops of food coloring (pink & yellow) until you get desired color. To the third bowl, combine cocoa powder until really well blended. Here is when you can combine any extra flavors/zests/grounded cinnamon.
• On a flat surface (if dough is sticky, flour surface), roll dough into a log shape - about 1 foot long. Place 2 of the dough logs side-by-side on a large sheet of plastic wrap. Place the 3rd color on top, resting on top of the other two. Use your hands & try to form dough into a triangle shape.
• Cover tightly with plastic & pat firmly so that the colors fuse together & stick. Make sure everything is well covered because you don't want to dry your dough.
• Chill for 30 minutes & start preheating your oven to 350ºF
• When ready, unwrap & slice to about 3/4 inch pieces. Place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Bakeoven for ~12/13 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Don't overcook! As they cool, they will hold their shape. Be super gentle w/ them when they are warm.
• Option to sprinkle w/ cinnamon sugar, or powdered sugar if you'd like.
• Enjoy

POLVORONES (MEXICAN WEDDING COOKIES)

Steps:

• Put 1/2 cup of the walnuts and the salt in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Roughly chop the remaining 1 cup walnuts.
• Position two oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat in the flour, then the ground and chopped walnuts. Divide the dough in half, forming each half into a ball. Wrap separately in plastic and chill until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Put the confectioners' sugar in a large bowl.
• Working with half of the chilled dough at a time and keeping the rest in the fridge, roll the dough by 2 teaspoonfuls between your palms into balls. Arrange the balls on a large baking sheet, spacing them 1/2 inch apart.
• Bake the cookies until golden brown on the bottom and just pale golden on top, about 18 minutes. Cool the cookies for 5 minutes on the baking sheet. Toss the warm cookies in the powdered sugar. Transfer the sugar-coated cookies to a rack to cool completely. The cookies can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container. You need to make sure they are cooled before storing them, otherwise they will get soggy. Sift additional powdered sugar and cinnamon over the cookies if desired before serving.

POLVORONES - MEXICAN COOKIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together the butter and shortening until creamy. Add 1 1/2 cups of the confectioners' sugar, the orange zest, and the orange juice and beat until blended.
• In another bowl, stir together the flour, nuts, and sea salt. Add the flour mixture 1 tablespoon at a time to the butter mixture, beating until thoroughly incorporated. The dough will be crumbly. Transfer the dough to a large sheet of plastic wrap and press the dough into a ball. Wrap and then refrigerate for 1 - 2 hours.
• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F Line a baking sheet with parchment (baking) paper or with a silicone baking mat.
• Using your hands, roll or squeeze small pieces of the dough into 3/4-inch (2cm) balls. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart and gently pressing them to flatten slightly.
• Bake the cookies until the eges turn pale gold, 10-15 minutes (my oven takes slightly longer).
• Meanwhile, place the remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar in a shallow bowl. When the cookies are ready, remove the baking sheet from the oven. While they are still hot, using a spatula, remove the cookies one at a time and carefully roll them in the sugar. Set aside on a rack and let cool completely, then roll them again in the sugar, shaking off any excess.
• Serve the cookies at once, or layer between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

POLVORONES DE CANELE (CINNAMON COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
• In a medium bowl, cream together 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar and butter until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Combine flour, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture to form a stiff dough. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Mix together 1 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon; roll balls in cinnamon mixture.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in preheated oven, or until nicely browned. Cool cookies on wire racks.