POLVORONES

A polvorón is a type of Spanish shortbread, it is heavy soft and crumbly. It is call also mantecados. These sweets are traditional in Spain, Latin America and the Philippines. Polvorones are popular Christmas delicacies in all of Spain. There are a lot of flavours and varieties but the main one is with almonds.
Polvorones were brought to Spain by the Arabs and there is a possible Levantine origin as there is a similar sweet known as ghurayba.

 
INGREDIENTS:

• 300gr Flour.
  
• 300gr Lard.
  
• 300gr Sugar.
  
• 100gr Ground almond.
  
• 75gr Chopped almond.
  
• 1 Egg.
  
• A pinch of salt.
  
• Cinnamon to your taste.
  
•  Icing Sugar.

METHOD:

• Toast the Flour, the ground almond and the chopped almond separate. You can do it either in a pan or in the oven. In a pan toast on medium-heat until it gets toast (the flour will get darker but not too much, and the almonds will get slightly more yellow or golden. To toast it in the oven spread it in a tray with  baking parchment paper at 200 degrees.

• When the Flour, the ground almond and the chopped almond gets cold,sieve the Flour and put everything in a bowl. Then, add the salt, the cinnamon and the sugar.

• Make a hole in the middle of the mix and put inside the egg and the lard.

• Knead  energetically and carefully with the hands from inside the hole to outside in circular movements until you get a soft and uniform dough.

• Cool down the dough for 30 minutes if it is a bit sticky and warm.

• Preheat the oven at 180 degrees.

•  Roll out the dough to 1.5cm or more if you wish.

• Cut and shape the dough with the classic round mold or  with your favourites molds.
  

• Cook the polvorones for 10-12 minutes or more if it is needed.

• Sprinkle the Polvorones with icing sugar.

• Enjoy this super delicious cookies!!