Marranitos (Puerquitos) + VIDEO

Marranitos are are amongst the most popular Mexican sweet bread, or pan dulce. 

Soft like a cake, slightly chewy, and hard enough to be considered a cookie. 

At the bakery, you’ll see them named Puerquitos, Mexican piggy cookies, Mexican gingerbread pig cookies, and cochinitos.

All referring to these yummy “little pigs” that are so hard to resist!

🐷 Ingredients

The traditional recipe for marranitos uses a syrup that is made with piloncillo and the spices. No molasses is used. 

The recipe I’m showing you here is EASIER and has fewer steps.

Piloncillo does not come grated. Grate the piloncillo in order for it to mix well with the other ingredients. 

Can’t find it at the store? Buy piloncillo online or swap out for dark brown sugar.

🥣 Instructions

• Cream the unsalted butter with an electric mixer. 
• Scrape down the sides. 
• Add the grated piloncillo, spices, and orange zest. 
• Mix to combine. 

We do not need the juice of the orange, just the zest. It will add lots of flavor to the cookie. 

Notice how there is NO GINGER in this recipe. Some people will add ground ginger, but it’s not part of the original recipe.

People call these cookies “Mexican gingerbread pigs” because they resemble American gingerbread cookies. 

• Add large eggs and molasses. 
• Add the flour little by little until a small dough forms. 

👩🏼‍🍳 Pro Tips

Stop the Kitchen Aid mixer or hand mixer every once in awhile, and scrape down the sides. You want everything to be mixed well. 

Once the dough forms, TOUCH IT. Your hands should not stick to the dough. 

If you’re working in warm weather, the dough might not come together easily. Slowly add a ¼ cup more of flour at a time until the dough forms.

• Divide the dough into two. 
• Place one of the dough pieces to the center of a plastic wrap. 
• Wrap to form a small disk. Repeat with the second dough. 
• Place the dough pieces in the fridge for 2 hours. 

Is refrigerating cookie dough necessary? In this case, YES! Refrigerating cookie dough will help in holding the shape better. This is especially important for cut-out cookies like this one. When it’s cold, the fat solidifies and the cookies won’t spread. 

• Remove the dough from the fridge. 
• Roll out to about ¼ inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
• Cut out the marranitos.

Work with the dough quickly. Do not let it get warm. If you see it getting warm, return to the fridge.  

Keep the other dough piece in the fridge as you work with the other one. 

Cookie Cutter – this can be easily found on Amazon. 

• Place the cut out piggy cookies on a baking sheet.
• Brush with egg wash. 

Egg wash is made with a combination of egg and water. Some people will use milk instead of water. Whatever you prefer is fine.

It will create a smooth look on the top of the cookie once it’s baked. 

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 
• Bake for 11-13 minutes. 

Once they are ready, place on a wire rack to COOL. 

As tempting as they will look, the piggy cookies need to cool completely before eating. 

🍰 More Mexican Pan Dulce Recipes

• Conchas
• Orejas
• Mantecadas
• Pumpkin Empanadas
• Fruit Tartlets

Marranitos (or Puerquitos) are delicious Mexican piggy cookies that are perfect for breakfast or as an after school treat. 

Dunk into milk or a big cup of café de olla. They’re a joy to eat. 

😋 Hungry for More?

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