Marranitos (Mexican Pig-Shaped Cookies)

Marranitos (or cochinos, or puerquitos, as are they are called in some Mexican-American communities) are often called 'Gingerbread Pigs,' although they don't actually have ginger in them - and no cinnamon either. In fact, traditional marranitos get their delicious spicy-brown goodness from molasses. This recipe is a trans-pecos region variation, it uses the non-traditional addition of cinnamon. You may wish to try also adding a bit of dry ground ginger, and you may use a milk wash instead of an egg wash.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 359 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ cups packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup milk
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• ¼ cup shortening
• 1 cup unsulfured molasses

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a large bowl, cream together brown sugar and shortening until smooth. Mix in 1 egg, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Stir in the baking soda, cinnamon, and molasses. Mix in flour until the dough is stiff enough to roll out.

Step 3

Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into cookies using a pig shaped cookie cutter. Place cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Brush the remaining beaten egg over the tops of the cookies.

Step 4

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the centers of the cookies appear dry and edges are lightly browned.