Hojarascas (Mexican Shortbread Cookies)

Hojarascas, pan de polvo, or Mexican shortbread cookies. What do you call these cookies?

I grew up calling them “pan de polvo,” but my good friend Sonia from La Pina en la Cocina is from Monterey. She calls them Hojarascas, and well, that’s what I’ve started calling them.

Her recipe is different since it uses lard. Here is an adapted version that is 100% vegan and equally yummy.

Also check out more traditional Mexican desserts.

These are the ingredients that you need to make these Mexican cookies.

• Shortening
• Vanilla
• Flour
• Sugar
• Ground Cinnamon
• Salt
• Cinnamon Tea (see below)

Lard adds flavor and texture to the cookies. You very well can use butter too. In this case, use shortening to make these Mexican vegan cookies.

More Mexican Vegan Desserts: Pineapple Empanadas and Sweet Tamales.

• In a small pot, add water and whole cinnamon.
• Bring to a boil. Turn off the heat.
• Let sit until completely cool.

Some people will use whole cloves or anise seeds in making the spice tea. You can use just cinnamon, two, or all of three to make the tea.

Please note: The tea needs to be completely cool before adding to the mixture.

These spices are commonly used to make other authentic Mexican desserts like Capirotada and Arroz con Leche.

• Add sugar and shortening to the KitchenAid mixer.
• Mix well to combine.
• Then add vanilla.

You can also use a hand mixer to accomplish this.

Swap Out Option: For an extra special touch, use scrape out the beans from two vanilla pods instead.

• Next add salt and ground cinnamon to the mixer.
• Add half of the flour. Mix only until everything is incorporated. Don’t over-mix.
• Add flour in stages.

Over mixing will result in dense cookies.

If you add the flour all at once and turn on the KitchenAid, it will fly everywhere.

Word to the Wise: Add the flour little by little to get everything fully incorporated, and your kitchen doesn’t get covered in flour.

Scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl with a spatula.

This will help in making sure everything is completely mixed in.

• Add ¼ cup cinnamon tea. Mix.
• Add ¼ cup more of the tea. Mix again.

You want to do this in stages, using ONLY the amount of tea necessary to bring the dough together.

• Add flour to a clean surface.
• Remove the dough from the mixer and place it on the flour.
• Dust the rolling pin with flour.
• Roll out the dough.

The dough will be slightly sticky.

Do not add too much flour. Only the amount necessary to roll out and cut out the cookies. Adding too much flour will result in tough hojarascas.

Pro Tip: Be sure to roll out the dough evenly. This will ensure that the cookies bake properly.

• Using a cookie cutter, cut out the cookies.
• Gather up any leftover scraps. Roll out and cut out again.

Hojarascas come in all shapes and sizes. Look for a shape that is not difficult to remove from the dough.

• Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake at degrees for minutes.

You can place the unbaked hojarascas on wax paper to prevent them from sticking.

In the meantime, mix sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.

This is the same mixture used in Buñuelos, or Mexican Fritters.

FYI: Hojarascas are sometimes referred to as “Cinnamon Shortbread Cookies” because of all the cinnamon used in the recipe.

• Place the baked Hojarascas on a cooling rack.
• Once they are cool to the touch, cover them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

The Hojarascas are very fragile.

Word to the Wise: Let them cool completely before covering with the sugar cinnamon mixture, or they will break apart on you.

Like most Mexican desserts, these cookies are not overly sweet.

Hojarascas are very delicate and soft cookies. They literally melt in your mouth. YUM!

What do they eat for dessert in Mexico?

• Flan
• Pan Dulce like Conchas
• Pastel de Tres Leches
• Toast covered in Cajeta
• etc.

How to Freeze These Cookies

• Add the cookies in a freezer container. Use wax paper to separate.
• Don’t pack them too tight, or they will break.
• Or, freeze raw dough. Thaw for 1-2 hours before using. Bake immediately after thawing.
• Frozen baked cookies need to be thawed for several hours before consuming.

Serve with champurrado, or in the morning, with some cafe de la olla. Hope you enjoy these Mexican cookies.

Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!

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