Cherry Biscochitos Recipes

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.

CHERRY ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Stir dried cherries and amaretto liqueur together in a saucepan over medium heat until the amaretto comes to a simmer; drain, reserving 2 tablespoons of the liquid for later use.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together onto a sheet of waxed paper. Beat butter with 1 cup sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat 3 eggs into butter-sugar mixture, one at a time, blending in each egg before adding the next. Stir reserved cherry liquid and vanilla extract into the wet ingredients.
• Beat butter with 1 cup sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat 3 eggs into butter-sugar mixture, one at a time, blending in each egg before adding the next. Stir reserved cherry liquid and vanilla extract into the wet ingredients.
• Stir flour mixture into the wet ingredients a little at a time to form a smooth dough. Gently fold cherries and almonds into dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface, divide in half, and form each half into a log 12 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide. Gently press the logs with your fingers to flatten to a thickness of 3/4 inch. Transfer loaves to the prepared baking sheets, brush with beaten egg, and sprinkle each with 1 1/2 tablespoon white sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the loaves are golden brown, about 35 minutes. Transfer loaves to wire racks and cool for 20 minutes. Use a sharp knife to slice each loaf on the diagonal into 16 pieces. Transfer the biscotti to baking sheets. Reduce oven heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Bake in the oven for 8 minutes; flip biscotti and bake until crisp and lightly browned, about 8 more minutes.

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.

CHERRY BISCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, cherry juice and extract. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in cranberries and cherries., Divide dough in half; shape each into a disk. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-in. star-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets., Bake 7-9 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove from oven and immediately dust with confectioners' sugar. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool., Freeze option: Freeze cookies, layered between waxed paper, in freezer containers. To use, thaw before serving or, if desired, reheat on a baking sheet in a preheated 350° oven until warmed.

BISCOCHITOS

Steps:

• Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter and shortening together in a large bowl with an electric mixer set to medium speed. When the mixture is very creamy, add add 3/4 cup sugar, the egg, the anise, and the vanilla, then beat to combine.
• Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, then turn mixer to low and beat in the dry ingredients until just incorporated-don't over-mix, the dough will be crumbly.
• With mixer still on low, beat in 1/4 cup of brandy. If necessary, continue adding brandy 1 tablespoon at a time to make a firm, cohesive dough.
• Divide the dough into 2 equal portions and wrap each with plastic wrap. Chill for 30 minutes (or up to 1 day).
• Preheat the oven 350 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.
• Working with 1 portion of dough at at time, roll out to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured work surface. Cut with a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter.** Arrange cut-out cookies 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake 10 to 16 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack set on a large rimmed baking sheet (or any surface that's easy to clean).
• While cookies are still hot, stir together the remaining 1/3 cup sugar and the cinnamon. Dust the hot cookies with the cinnamon sugar mixture, then let the cookies cool.
• Uneaten cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.