December 4th is Nationwide Cookie Day. One thing that I didn’t know till a few weeks in the past. I’m undecided that December wants a delegated day to rejoice cookies for the reason that entire month is about cookies.
Nonetheless, it’s a good time to begin excited about what vacation cookies you wish to make with—and for—your family and friends this yr. My favourite cookie of 2021 is little doubt, The Ten-Year Chocolate Chip Cookie created by my proficient buddy, Anthony Underwood. If you wish to see him make the cookies himself, tune into GMA on December 15.
My subsequent favourite cookie is one that’s new to me. I found it the weekend earlier than Thanksgiving throughout a go to to San Antonio, Texas, for a pre-holiday vacation. Town is enjoyable, colourful and scrumptious.
The Mexican affect is in all places—particularly within the native meals—as roughly 60% of the inhabitants is of Mexican descent. Among the many fabulous meals that we ate have been the all time breakfast tacos from Pete’s Tako House. I selected bacon, egg, and cheese as a result of that’s my standing order, however what made them excellent have been the tortillas. They have been contemporary made-from-scratch “Grandma’s Flour Tortillas” that have been mild and fluffy and never pasty—undoubtedly the very best flour tortillas that I’ve ever tasted.
After breakfast, a buddy gave us massive pink cookies. At first, I used to be a bit skeptical of the thick pink cookie with a crackle crust. However then I took a chew, and it was dense and barely chewy inside and crisp on the surface. It had simply sufficient sugar to make it candy, and every now and then, a little bit of salt to make you wish to take one other chew. Earlier than I knew it, I wished one other cookie.
My tastebuds and my baking genes have been curious. Now I wanted to study these cookies, and make them for myself. The primary individual I requested knew precisely what the large pink cookie was as they’re extremely popular in San Antonio, and as ubiquitous there because the sugar cookies that I grew up with. The pink cookies have been Polvorones Rosas, or Mexican Pink Sugar Cookies.
I searched the net and skim the recipes, and the cookies that appeared essentially the most like what I had loved in San Antonio got here from Estaban Castillo’s weblog, ChicanoEats.
The rolled, sugared and flattened cookies are as fairly earlier than you bake them as they’re whenever you … [+]
Elizabeth Karmel
The cookies are easy to make, and I had every thing I wanted readily available—even the gel meals coloring which is the one ingredient that’s not an on a regular basis pantry merchandise. I made a decision to make the normal pink in addition to pink and inexperienced cookies in honor of the Christmas vacation. Dividing the dough and coloring it was enjoyable; like baking and crafting multi functional. Evidently, these cookies can be nice for baking with children.
The cookies that I baked utilizing Estaban’s recipe have been even higher than those I tasted in San Antonio. They’re mild and crispy on the surface and delicate and ethereal inside just like the cookie model of the very best flaky biscuit. Evenly candy, they’re rolled in sugar earlier than baking and wish that additional little bit of sugar on the surface to steadiness the dense vanilla cookie—plus it makes the cookies sparkle!
A few of the bakeries in San Antonio roll the cookies in cinnamon sugar, however I saved it plain just like the recipe acknowledged. The one substantial addition I made was including a bit almond extract to the dough as a result of I like an almondy sugar cookie. As somebody who’s new to this cookie, I believe that they’d even be good with lemon or orange extract, however in case you are a vanilla purist, or somebody who loves the normal Polvorones, it is best to omit the additional flavorings.
In case you are not a baker, however nonetheless wish to embellish cookies for the vacations, there are a number of corporations that promote Christmas (and Chanukah) cookie adorning kits. I just like the Vacation Minimize-Out Decorating Kit by Cheryl’s Cookies which comes with individually wrapped vanilla-cake cookies, inexperienced and white buttercream icing, ornamental items and a bottle of sprinkles. It’s base for adorning however you would possibly wish to add a number of extra bottles of coloured sugar and/or sprinkles.
And if cookies aren’t your factor, Chicago-based Eli’s Cheesecake sells a DIY Winter Wonderland Cheesecake Cuties Kit –bite-sized squares of Eli’s cheesecake—to dip in Belgium chocolate and embellish with blue and white sprinkles which are good all winter lengthy.
The Polvorones unfold throughout baking so solely six cookies will match on an ordinary half-sheet pan.
Elizabeth Karmel
Polvorones
These Mexican Sugar Cookies are tailored from Esteban Castillo, founding father of ChicanoEats.com. There are a few issues that folks could also be tempted to substitute within the recipe similar to butter as a substitute of shortening, or liquid meals coloring as a substitute of gel colour. Esteban cautions that the outcomes received’t be the identical and also you received’t get the coveted cracked tops when you make these substitutions which enhance the quantity of liquid within the dough.
Makes 20-22 giant cookies
4 1/3 cups All-Function Flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 3/4 cups vegetable shortening
1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond or lemon extract, optionally available
2 giant eggs
Gel meals coloring, your alternative of colour
1/2 cup granulated white sugar to roll cookies in
In a big bowl, whisk collectively the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Put aside.
Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment beat collectively the shortening, white granulated sugar, and vanilla extract for two full minutes on medium velocity, till mild and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one by one, then flip the mixer to low and regularly add the flour combination, one cup at a time, till it’s all absolutely mixed.
At this level divide the dough into as many colours as you need, then add meals coloring and blend along with your arms or the stand mixer. Notice: As somebody who doesn’t use gel or liquid meals coloring fairly often, I used to be shocked at how a lot gel I wanted to paint the dough and the way a lot I needed to combine it earlier than it was persistently the identical colour. I wore nitrile gloves to combine the dough in order that my arms wouldn’t turn out to be dyed.
As soon as the dough is dyed, wrap it in plastic and set it within the fridge to relaxation for an hour. Whereas the dough is resting, preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a pair baking sheets with parchment paper.
When the dough has rested scoop out giant balls of dough (Esteban Castillo recommends an ordinary ice cream scoop, or about ¼ cup) and roll them right into a easy ball earlier than rolling within the sugar. Notice: You may make the cookies smaller, however the tops received’t crack in the identical method and you will want to shorten the baking time.
Place 6 balls of dough on a baking sheet and flatten barely with the flat backside of a glass or again of a measuring cup. Sprinkle a bit extra sugar on every cookie then bake for 12-14 minutes one sheet at a time till the cookies have unfold out and cracked however haven’t browned in any respect.
Take away the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool for five minutes earlier than transferring to a cooling rack to chill fully. Repeat the method with the remainder of the dough till all of the cookies are baked.
This Polvorones recipe is customized from Esteban Castillo, ChicanoEats.com
