Bizcochitos Food

BISCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Put the flour, 3/4 cup of the sugar, the baking powder, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the anise in a large bowl and whisk to blend.
• In a small bowl, cut the butter into pea-sized pieces.
• Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal.
• Add the egg yolk, vanilla, and ice water and mix with your fingers just until the dough comes together into a ball.
• Working on a lightly floured surface, take egg-sized pieces of the dough and smear them away from you with the heel of your hand into 6-inch streaks. (This step helps to achieve the layered texture of the authentic cookie without using lard).
• Scrape up all the streaks of dough and pile them on top of one another to form a disk.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• On a portable (this will be refrigerated again), lightly floured surface, roll the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch.
• Refrigerate for 30 miutes, or until firm.
• Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375°F.
• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or use a non-stick cookie sheet.
• With a cookie cutter, cut out 2 1/2-inch circles (I use stars), and place them on the cookie sheets about 2-inches apart.
• Chill the cookies 10 minutes before baking.
• Reroll the scraps of dough and cut out more cookies, chilling before baking.
• Meanwhile, mix the remaining 1 Tablespoon ground anise and 2 Tablespoon sugar together in a small bowl.
• Sprinkle a thin layer of the sugar mixture over the cookies.
• Bake for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges.
• Cool on the pan on a wire rack.
• May be store at room temperature, well-wrapped, for up to 5 days.

BIZCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Cream fat and sugar until quite creamy.
• Add egg and beat until very fluffy.
• Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture.
• Stir in wine and anise seed.
• Roll dough to 1/4" thick and cut in plain squares or fancy shapes.
• Combine topping ingredients and sprinkle on top of each cookie.
• Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 15-20 minutes or until light brown.
• Freezes well.

BISCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Beat lard in mixer until creamy. Add 2/3 cup sugar, beat until light and fluffy. Add the egg and rum and mix until blended. Add the flour, baking powder, anise seed and salt. Beat until a smooth dough is formed.
• Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut the dough into desired shapes. In a shallow bowl, combine cinnamon and remaining sugar. Dredge 1 side of cookie in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place cookie, sugared side up, on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8 to10 minutes or until golden brown, rotating the baking sheets halfway through the cooking time. Allow cookies to cool on a cooling rack.

BIZCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat the shortening in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until fluffy. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in 2/3 cup sugar, then the egg. Add 2 tablespoons wine and the anise seeds and beat until combined. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. If the dough is too dry, mix in up to 2 more tablespoons wine. Cover and refrigerate 15 minutes.
• Mix the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and the cinnamon in a shallow bowl. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out cookies with a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter. Press the top of each cookie in the cinnamon sugar to coat, then arrange on the prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Bake until the edges are golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool about 3 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer the cookies to racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

BISCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Cream the lard with sugar and anise seed on medium speed. In a separate bowl. beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add beaten eggs to creamed mixture. Mix together well, adding wine to form a stiff-like dough, add more wine, if necessary.
• Refrigerate dough overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove dough from refrigerator and let stand for a while, until dough is soft enough to roll. Divide dough in quarters and roll to about 1/16 to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutter and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until bottom of cookie is golden brown. Meanwhile, mix together the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Drop the baked cookies into sugar and cinnamon mixture and set aside to cool.

ANISE SEED-CINNAMON COOKIES: BISCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheets.
• In a small bowl combine sugar, orange zest, and sherry, and set aside to let flavors infuse the sugar. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine flour, baking powder, anise seed, and salt. In another bowl, beat the lard with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add lard and infused sugar to flour mixture and knead until it forms a cohesive mass. On a floured surface, roll dough to a thickness of 1/4-inch. Cut into rectangles and pinch 1 of the short sides into deditos (little toes) which will spread apart when baking.
• For the topping, combine cinnamon with sugar in a small bowl. Brush rectangles with beaten egg and sprinkle with topping. Transfer cookies with a spatula to baking sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes until crispy and edges are just beginning to turn golden. Serve with cota tea or atole.

BISCOCHITOS

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix 1 cup sugar and the lard on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg; beat to combine. Add vanilla, Grand Marnier, and zest; beat to combine.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually beat flour mixture into sugar mixture on low speed. Beat in anise seeds. On medium, gradually add 2 tablespoons water or more to form a ball. Divide dough in half; shape into disks. Wrap each disk in plastic; chill 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in center. Combine cinnamon and remaining 3/4 cup sugar in a small bowl.
• On a floured surface, roll the dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut dough into moons, stars, or shapes you like with a 2-inch cutter; lightly sift cinnamon-sugar over each shape. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, 10 to 12 minutes; cookies should be set but not brown. Transfer the cookies and parchment to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with the remaining batches.

BISCOCHITOS I

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
• Sift flour with baking powder and salt. Cream shortening with sugar and anise seeds until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Mix in flour and brandy until well blended.
• Turn dough out on a floured board and pat or roll to 1/4 or 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into shapes (the fleur-de-lys is traditional). Dust with a mixture of 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

LEMON BIZCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Sift flour and baking powder into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat 1 1/2 cups sugar and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs, lemon juice, aniseed and peel; beat to blend. Stir in dry ingredients. Gathering dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic; chill until firm, about 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 2 large baking sheets. Mix in cinnamon and 1 tablespoon sugar in small bowl. Roll out dough on floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Using cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over. Transfer cookies to sheets. Bake until golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer to racks; cool. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight.)

BIZCOCHO DE CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Line an 8" square baking pan with parchment.
• Finely grind the almonds, 6 ounces of the chocolate (reserve the rest of the chocolate for the glaze), the orange zest and 2 teaspoons of the cinnamon in the food processor.
• In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with 3 tablespoons of the sugar until pale yellow and thick.
• Fold in the nut mixture; the batter will be very thick.
• In another large bowl, beat the egg whites and the salt until frothy.
• Gradually add the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar, continuing to beat until peaks form.
• Fold half the beaten egg whites into the almond mixture to lighten it, then gently fold in the other half.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
• Bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, turn out onto a rack , peel off the parchment paper, and cool completely.
• To make the glaze, heat the cream and butter over medium low heat until steam rises from the surface.
• Remove from the heat, and stir in the remaining three ounces of chocolate and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, until the chocolate is fully melted and incorporated.
• Cool for 15 minutes, or until the glaze is lukewarm.
• Pour over the cake, letting it drip down the sides.

EASY BIZCOCHITOS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine cookie mix, flour, orange zest and aniseed. Stir in melted butter, egg and vanilla until blended., Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 375°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-in. cookie cutter., Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. In a small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over cookies. Bake 6-9 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.

BISCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Cream lard and butter.
• Add sugar and beat until fluffy.
• Add eggs, anise seed, salt, baking powder and brandy, mix.
• Add flour gradually, til dough is firm, shape into a log and wrap in clear wrap.
• Chill, then slice in 3/4" slices.
• Mix cinnamon sugar, press uncooked cookie slice into mixture to coat one side and flatten slightly.
• Bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned.

BISCOCHITOS TRADITIONAL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl, and set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the lard and 1 1/2 cups sugar until smooth. Mix in the anise seed, and beat until fluffy. Stir in the eggs one at a time. Add the sifted ingredients and brandy, and stir until well blended.
• On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/2 or 1/4 inch thickness, and cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. The traditional is fleur-de-lis. Place cookies onto baking sheets. Mix together the 1/4 cup of sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the tops of the cookies.
• Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bottoms are lightly browned.

BIZCOCHOS (MEXICAN HOLIDAY COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Beat the lard until creamy.
• Mix the wine or fruit juice with 1 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon and anise seeds; add to lard and mix with a wooden spoon.
• Add the egg yolks; mixing well.
• Add enough flour to make soft dough; roll out to 1/2-inch thick and cut in desired shapes and place on greased cookie sheet.
• Bake 15 minutes; checking often to prevent burning.
• Mix the remaining 1 cup of sugar and 4 teaspoons cinnamon; dredge cookies in the cinnamon sugar mixture while still warm.

MI TIERRA BISCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Put the flour, baking powder, salt, the 1 1/2 cups sugar, and the anise seed in the bowl of an electric mixer and blend at low speed. Add the lard in small batches, increasing the mixer speed to medium until the lard is well incorporated. Reduce the speed to low and add the beaten eggs and the brandy.
• Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• When ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F. Form the dough into Ping-Pong-ball-sized pieces. Place 12 balls on each of four cookie sheets. Dip a fork in dry flour and press the balls twice to form a crisscross pattern. The resulting cookie should be only about 1/4 inch high. Bake for 12 minutes or until the edges and bottoms are golden brown.
• Remove from the oven. Using a spatula and spoon, drop the baked cookies one by one into the sugar and cinnamon mixture and roll gently to coat. Set aside to cool.