Bizcochitos

Photo Courtesy of Renee

Here is a trivia question for you: What state was first to have an official state cookie?

If you guessed New Mexico, you would be correct!  

I love New Mexico and was fortunate to live there for a month in 2011. Early Spanish-speaking settlers from Mexico created the bizcochito.  It is a shortbread type cookie made with lard or shortening instead of butter and flavored with cinnamon and anise.  

My friend Renee has lived all over the United States and is a serious foodie and cook.  She shared her friend Yolanda's family recipe and her 2013 Christmas batch that she made for a community bake sale.  Many thanks to Renee -and Yolanda and her aunts- for this yummy recipe.

Bizcochitos

Ingredients:

1 cup of lard or shortening. (I've used shortening and it's okay, lard is traditional.)

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

3 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon anise seed

3 tablespoons of sweet wine (I've used white German wine.)

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Method:

1.   Cream lard and sugar until very creamy. Add egg and beat until very fluffy.

2.   Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Stir in wine and anise seed.

3.   Roll out dough on a floured board until 1/4 inch thick. Cut into fancy shapes. I used a snowflake cookie cutter and small Christmas tree cutter, but my aunts used to cut them in hearts, diamonds, spades, and clovers like playing cards suits.

4.   Combine 1/4 cup sugar and the tablespoon of cinnamon and sprinkle on top of the cut cookies.

5.   Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Put them out on your Christmas Even buffet with your tamales. Don't forget the hot chocolate! You can freeze these cookies.

 

Source: Yolanda via Renee

DIETS:
Diabetic:  no
Gluten Free:  no
Nightshade Family Free:  yes
Paleo:  no
SugarBusters:  no
Sugar Free:  no
Vegan:  no
Vegetarian:  yes* (only if you use vegetable shortening instead of lard)
Wheat Free:  no
200 Calories or Under:  no

Notice:  Be sure to check with your doctor and nutritionist about the safety of any eating plan for you.  Also, check ingredients as different brands and products may have different ingredients or have changed them since this post.  Some calories are estimates based on packaging.