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Hey, friends!
Christmas is just around the corner, and you know what that means—time for some sweet treats!
Today, I’m excited to share a special recipe for Puerto Rican Christmas cookies.
These little gems are packed with flavor and holiday cheer.
Trust me, they’ll bring a smile to your face and fill your home with amazing scents.
Let’s get into the festive spirit and bake up a batch together!
| Preparation Time | 15-20 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 20-25 minutes |
| Total Time | 35-45 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Medium |
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup shortening or lard
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract (or vanilla)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- Sprinkles (for decoration)
- Maraschino cherries (for decoration)
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare the Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).
This ensures your oven is at the right temperature when you’re ready to bake the cookies.
Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a stand mixer, combine ½ cup of unsalted butter and ½ cup of vegetable shortening.
Blend on medium-low speed until smooth and well combined.
Gradually add ½ cup of sugar and beat on medium-high until thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add 1 teaspoon of almond extract and mix until fully incorporated.
Step 3: Incorporate the Dry Ingredients
Gradually add ½ of the 2 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour and ½ teaspoon of salt to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until the flour begins to incorporate.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the remaining flour.
Continue mixing on low until fully incorporated, resulting in a moist yet slightly crumbly dough.
Step 4: Shape the Cookies
Take about 1 ½ tablespoons of dough, squeeze it together firmly, and roll it into a smooth ball.
Flatten the ball between your palms to form a disk.
Use your thumb to create an indentation in the center of each disk.
Arrange the shaped cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 5: Decorate and Bake
Decorate the cookies as desired, using maraschino cherries or festive sprinkles in the indentations.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, turn the trays to ensure even baking and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cookies start to brown around the edges.
Step 6: Cool and Enjoy
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes, or until firm enough to handle.
Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Enjoy your delicious mantecaditos!
