Pan de Polvo (Mexican Shortbread)
Cook Time: 2 hours
Prep Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 3 hours
Description:
Pan de Polvo is a beloved Mexican delicacy, traditionally served during festive occasions like Christmas, weddings, and Quinceañeras. This recipe, cherished by my family during the holiday season, is sure to become a favorite in your home as well.
Recipe Category: Dessert
Keywords: Cookie & Brownie, Mexican, Christmas, Weeknight, < 4 Hours
Aggregated Rating: 4 stars
Review Count: 10
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):
- Calories: 163.4
- Fat Content: 7.8g
- Saturated Fat Content: 2.2g
- Cholesterol Content: 0mg
- Sodium Content: 0.7mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 22.1g
- Fiber Content: 0.7g
- Sugar Content: 10g
- Protein Content: 1.7g
Recipe Yield: Approximately 60 cookies
Recipe Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup vegetable shortening
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 4 tablespoons anise seeds
- 2 cups hot water
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup ground cinnamon
Recipe Instructions:
-
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
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Prepare the Dough:
- Cut the vegetable shortening into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
- In a separate bowl, prepare the anise tea by steeping the cinnamon sticks and anise seeds in hot water. Allow it to cool slightly.
- Add 1/4 cup of the hot cinnamon and anise tea to the flour mixture.
- Knead the dough until it becomes smooth. This may take some time, so be patient with the process.
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Shape the Cookies:
- Roll the dough into 1-inch diameter logs, each about 12 inches long.
- Cut the logs into 1/4-inch thick circles.
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Baking:
- Place the cookies close together on a cookie sheet, ensuring they are not touching as they will spread very little, if at all during baking.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the bottom side of the cookies becomes lightly golden brown. To ensure they are fully baked, cut one cookie in half; it should look baked all the way through.
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Coating:
- While the cookies are still hot, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a bowl.
- Roll each cookie in the sugar and cinnamon mixture, coating them evenly. You can use a fork to assist with this process.
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Cooling:
- Place the coated cookies on a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely before serving.
These delightful Pan de Polvo cookies are a perfect blend of sweet and spicy flavors, making them an irresistible treat for any occasion. Enjoy them with a cup of hot chocolate or your favorite beverage for a truly authentic Mexican dessert experience.
