Marranitos, also known as puerquitos or cochinitos, are traditional Mexican cookies shaped like little pigs. They are often flavored with molasses or piloncillo, which gives them a rich, distinctive taste. Here’s a recipe to make these delightful cookies at home:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup molasses (or piloncillo syrup)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat and Prepare:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them.
- Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar:
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients:
- Add the egg, molasses (or piloncillo syrup), and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat until well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms. You may need to use your hands to knead the dough slightly to ensure it is fully combined.
- Roll and Cut:
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
- Use a pig-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the cookies. Place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake:
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve:
- Enjoy your marranitos with a cup of coffee or milk.
Tips:
- If you can’t find a pig-shaped cookie cutter, you can use any other shape you prefer.
- For an extra touch, you can sprinkle a little sugar on top of the cookies before baking.
Enjoy making and eating these delicious, traditional cookies!
