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Traditional Marranitos Recipe

With this Marranitos recipe you will make some authentic Mexican pig cookies. Marranitos are also called Puerquitos, Cochinitos or Mexican gingerbread cookies - although there is no ginger in the dough. Their name is due to their traditional shape which is...you guessed it...a pig!

If you do not have a pig cookie cutter, this is not a problem. You can use any shape but I would strongly recommend using a larger cookie cutter rather than a smaller one.

If you were to go to Mexico to buy your Marranitos there, you would soon find out that the bakers make their own molasses syrup by taking brown sugar shaped into cones - called piloncillos. They then boiled it with some water. Once the piloncillo/water mix has turned into syrup, it is then added to the dough for the Marranitos.

You will however skip that step by using molasses...although you are welcome to make the syrup!

Go ahead and make a batch of these Mexican pig cookies and then it would be wonderful if you took the time to come back and leave a review.

Mexican Marranitos ~ Comments and reviews.

Picture from krautundcracker.wordpress.com

Recipe for Marranitos: Ingredients

3/4 cup of dark brown sugar - although "light" works as well

1/4 cup of shortening

3/4 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon of ground anise seed

1/2 cup of unsulfured molasses

1 large egg

1/4 cup of milk

3 cups of all purpose flour

For an optional egg wash: 1 large egg - beaten

Recipe for Marranitos: Method

In a large bowl and with a whisk, blend together the brown sugar and the shortening. This mixture will turn a light brown.

Add the spices, the egg and the molasses and mix again.

Add the baking soda, flour and milk and combine well. At some point, you will need to use your hands. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and roll to 1/4 inch thick. Cut with a large pig cookie cutter - or another shape. You can at this point brush some egg on top to make them shiny.

Place each pig cookie onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 F for 13 to 15 minutes. Do not try to transfer them to a cookie rack until you have waited about 5 minutes or they will be too soft and break. They will harden as they cool.

Depending on the size of your cookie cutter this recipe makes about 12 Marranitos.

Marranitos Recipe: Reviews

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What Other Visitors Have Said

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Hi, quick question...
I'd really love to make marranitos for Thanksgiving this year, and I'm trying to make as many things ahead of time as I can, so I wondered: Can these be ...

How was it?
Since we love PIG Cookies, how did yours turn out?

I haven't gotten mine baked yet.

Thanks for all your work and effort, God Bless YOU!

For ...