Spanish-style Christmas cookies (Polvorones-inspired) // Christmas food
🌱😋🎄Christmas is just around the corner, it is officially time to bake my favorite holiday plant-based treats! This yummy plant-based recipe is inspired by “Polvorones” one of the most popular Spanish Christmas cookies. These cookies will crumble to dust in your mouth when you eat them! Discover delicious soft and crumbly cookies made with a handful of simple, yet flavorful ingredients and enjoy them all season long. Ready, set, and bake!
INGREDIENTS
400g all-purpose flour (toasted)
200g vegan butter (at room temperature)
150g icing/powdered unrefined sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
A bunch of sesame seeds (optional)
Powdered/icing sugar (dusted)
*approx. 2 baking trays. Vegan butter is often replaced with vegetable oil.
METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C for around 30 minutes.
2. Put the flour in a pan over medium-high heat, whisking constantly.
3. Cook for around ten minutes until the flour is dark golden brown. Let cool completely before using.
4. Add the toasted flour, vegan butter, ground cinnamon (optional), and powdered sugar to a large mixing bowl.
5. Mix all ingredients and knead the dough for around 10 minutes into the shape of a ball.
6. Take a portion of the dough and make a ball with your hands. Repeat until you have no more dough.
7. Carefully place each ball on a baking sheet with a little space between each one and flatten them slightly. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top (optional).
8. Reduce the oven temperature to 150°C. Bake the cookies for 30 minutes, until you see the edges starting to turn golden. Allow the cookies to completely cool on the baking tray.
9. Once the cookies have cooled completely, dust them with powdered sugar and serve at room temperature.
💚 Grandma Sita’s tips:
*Toasted flour has a nutty flavor and a smooth, silky texture. You can also toast the flour in the oven before using.
*Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can freeze the cookies after baking for up to 3 months.
➡️ Polvorones are named after polvo, the Spanish word for “powder.” More strictly speaking, they’re named after the generous dusting of powdered sugar on top. Polvorones are a type of mantecados typically served at Christmas in Spain. Mantecados is a type of Spanish cookie made with lard (manteca), and they have a deliciously crumbly, melt-in-the-mouth texture. They are often sold at Christmas markets or supermarkets and are less common in restaurants.
📗Polvorones originated in Spain and were brought to Mexico and the Philippines by the Spaniards. They’re now popular in all of these countries!
🌍 It is becoming more popular to incorporate plant-based meals into festive celebrations worldwide. Each of us can take action at home to reduce waste and transition our diets to be more planet-friendly before, during, and after any festive season. Every bit counts. Happy Holidays!