Marranitos, also known as puerquitos or cochinitos, are traditional Mexican gingerbread cookies shaped like little pigs. Here’s a recipe for you to try:
Ingredients:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup piloncillo (Mexican unrefined brown sugar) or dark brown sugar, grated or chopped
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
- Melt Piloncillo:
- In a medium saucepan, combine the piloncillo and water. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until the piloncillo is dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Mix Wet Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, combine the piloncillo mixture, molasses, and butter. Stir until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Let it cool slightly before adding the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix well.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a dough forms. The dough will be sticky.
- Roll Out the Dough:
- Divide the dough in half. On a floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use a pig-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the cookies. Transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Bake the Cookies:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. The cookies will still be soft in the center but will firm up as they cool.
- Cool and Serve:
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
Enjoy your delicious Marranitos with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate!
Feel free to ask if you need any more details or tips for making these cookies.
