Traditional Pan De Polvo Cinnamon Sugar Cookies Recipes

TRADITIONAL PAN DE POLVO (CINNAMON SUGAR COOKIES)

Steps:

• Make the tea by combining the stick of cinnamon with the water, and boiling for approximately 4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C) Combine the 5 cups of the flour, and the sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and shortening or lard in a large mixing bowl. Add 3/4 cup (180ml) of the cinnamon tea. Mix well using an electric mixer, until the dough is smooth. Use the extra cup of flour to hand knead into the dough if it is too sticky. The dough should have a smooth surface, but not be too firm. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to a ¼" thickness (64cm) and cut into 2" (5cm) wide shapes. Place the cookies on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden. While the cookies are baking, combine the sugar and ground cinnamon for the topping in a shallow bowl. Remove the cookies from the oven, allow to cool briefly, and roll the warm cookies through the sugar topping mixture. Set aside to cool completely. Roll again in the sugar mixture, if desired.

PAN DE POLVO

Steps:

• First make tea. Use 1 cup of water and 1 tbsp of Anise seed. Let it cool and set aside.
• Second get 1 tbsp of Anise seeds and crush in a mortar, set aside.
• Third make cinnamon sugar mix to dip hot cookies in, set aside.
• You are going to need 2 large bowls.
• In a large bowl, mix flour, salt and baking powder, set aside.
• In another large bowl, mix sugar, lard, crushed Anise seeds, and Anise tea until smooth. (may not need all of the tea, just eyeball it).
• Add flour mix, one cup at a time. Dough should be soft.
• SUGGESTION: Let dough rest for couple of hours or overnight. The Anise seeds will create a wonderful flavor!
• Lightly flour rolling surface. Roll out dough about 1/4 inch thickness. Use a heart shape cookie cutter or any small cookie cutter you like.
• Preheat oven to 400. Bake in an ungreased cookie sheet or stone for about 10 minutes or until edges are light brown.
• Remove from cookie sheet, let cookies cool about 2 minutes then roll warm cookie in cinnamon-sugar mix. (careful not to break cookie).
• *lard is recommended but you can use Mrs. Tucker's shortening, it works just as well. DO NOT USE OIL.

PAN DE POLVO (MEXICAN SHORTBREAD)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Cut shortening into flour until mixture resemble coarse corn meal.
• Add hot cinnamon and 1/4 cup anise tea and kneed dough until smooth.
• This will take a while.
• Roll dough into 1 inch diameter logs about 12 inch long.
• Cut logs into 1/4 in thick circles.
• Place close together on cookie sheet, but not touching.
• They spread very little to not at all.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until bottom side of cookie become lightly golden brown, and when cookie is cut in half, it looks baked all the way through.
• Combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon.
• While cookies are still hot, roll each one in sugar and cinnamon coating with a fork until well coated.
• Place the cookies on cooling rack and cool completely.

PAN DE POLVO

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, place the flour and cinnamon. Whisk together until thoroughly blended. Set aside.
• In the work bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl with a handheld mixer, beat the shortening and sugar on medium-high speed until well blended and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of water and beat until thoroughly combined.
• Add the flour mixture and blend on medium-low just until completely blended. Press the dough into 2 equal disks. Place each disk between 2 sheets of wax paper. Use a rolling pin to roll out each disk to 1/8 inch thick, lifting and smoothing the top sheet of wax paper if necessary. Slide the two sheets of rolled dough onto a baking sheet. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes in the refrigerator or 10 minutes in the freezer.
• Preheat the oven to 300°F.
• Place one rolled dough on the work surface. Lift off and replace the top sheet of wax paper. Flip the dough over and lift off and set aside the sheet of wax paper. Use a 1 1/2-inch or smaller cookie cutter to cut into desired shapes. Transfer the cookies to an ungreased baking sheet, placing about 1 inch apart. Gather the scraps, reroll them between the sheets of wax paper, and refrigerate until firm. Repeat with the other sheet of dough.
• Bake until firm when gently touched, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool 3 minutes on the cookie sheet. Use a thin spatula to transfer them to cooling racks to cool completely.
• To prepare the sugar coating, place the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish. Stir with a fork until completely combined. Roll the cooled cookies in the sugar and serve.
• Store in a tightly covered container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.