Mexican Ojarascas Cookies Recipes

HOJARASCAS RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the shortening until light and fluffy.
• Add the sugar, cinnamon, and pinch of salt. Mix until well blended.
• Gently stir in ¼ of the flour and mix. Add another ¼ of the flour and mix. Continue the process until all the flour has been incorporated.
• Refrigerate the dough wrapped in plastic for at least 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them with shortening.
• To shape the cookies, divide the dough and, using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to a 1/3-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. (I prefer to roll out the dough over parchment paper to easily remove the already shaped cookies) Cut out the cookies using a cookie cutter, or just make small balls with the dough and then press them down with your hand
• or the bottom of a glass. Transfer to the already lined baking sheets, leaving about a one-inch space between each cookie.
• Bake for about 20 minutes until the edges are turning light gold. The cookies will be very fragile, so let them cool on the baking sheets before you move them. If you try to move them right away, they will crumble.
• Meanwhile, mix sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl or in a ziplock bag. Dust the cookies with the mixture of sugar and cinnamon and enjoy with a glass of milk.

MEXICAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES (OJARASCAS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Measure ¼ cup of water in a measuring glass. Add anise extract. Stir to combine and set aside.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, shortening, sugar, and cinnamon together on medium speed for about 2 minutes.
• Turn your mixer to low speed, then starting and ending with the flour, alternately add 1 cup of flour, half of the anise water, 1 cup of flour, and the remaining anise water. The dough will begin to pull away from the sides, but if the dough is still sticky, add more flour ½ cup at a time. Do not overmix or add too much flour or your dough will be tough and crumbly.
• Using your hands, shape 1 inch balls of dough and transfer to a baking sheet. Using the bottom of a cup or another flat surface, gently press on top of each ball to slightly flatten.
• Bake for 12 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies turn slightly brown on the edges.
• In a small bowl, add 3 teaspoons of cinnamon to 1 cup of sugar and stir to combine. Once you remove the cookies from the oven, let them cool slightly so you can pick them up (you want them to be warm though) and toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Transfer to parchment paper to cool completely.
• Store in an airtight container for up to one week.

HOJARASCAS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix sugar, cinnamon and salt.
• Apart, combine the evaporated milk with water and pour over sugar mix and dissolve.
• Add shortening and mix well, add flour and vanilla and form a ball, leave apart 1 hours.
• Roll out dough and cut in desired shapes with your favorite cookie cutters.
• Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes or until golden.
• Immediately cover with sugar and cinnamon, and enjoy!