Polvorones are one of the most popular Spanish Christmas cookies! Their crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth texture is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. This 5-ingredient Spanish almond cookie recipe is perfect to try this Christmas season.
If youre looking for other Spanish Christmas recipes, be sure to try my recipes for mantecados and the popular Epiphany bread, roscón de reyes.
Here in Spain, we love sugar–especially in our coffee! Not surprisingly, theres an abundance of delightful Christmas treats in Spain, and a favorite is polvorones.
These crumbly, shortbread-like almond cookies are made with almonds and lard (manteca). Theyre part of the mantecado family of lard-based cookies. Eating these cookies and other pork products was historically associated with demonstrating ones Catholic faith.
Curious about what ingredients you need to make your first batch of Spanish polvorones? Like most Spanish recipes, it only takes a handful of simple, yet flavorful ingredients. Lets talk about what youll need!
If you’d like to see the full ingredients and instructions, scroll to the bottom of the post for the printable recipe card.
Polvorones originated in Spain, and were brought to Mexico and the Philippines by the Spaniards. Theyre now popular in all of these countries!
Mantecados are a type of Spanish cookie made with lard (manteca), and they have a deliciously crumbly, melt-in-the-mouth texture. Polvorones are a type of mantecados typically served at Christmas in Spain.
Polvorones are named after polvo, the Spanish word for “powder.” These cookies will crumble to dust in your mouth when you eat them! More strictly speaking, theyre named after the generous dusting of powdered sugar on top.
Leftover polvorones will keep at room temperature for 3-5 days. You can freeze the cookies before or after baking for up to 3 months.
Polvorones are usually enjoyed on their own, or perhaps with a cup of coffee (like this Spanish café con leche) or eggnog. Although its not a traditional combination, the delicate texture of the polvorones would contrast nicely with the richness of Spanish hot chocolate.
If youd like to serve polvorones along with other Spanish desserts, youd enjoy trying tarta de Santiago (Spanish almond cake), gateau Basque, buñuelos, or ensaimadas.
A polvorón (From polvo, the Spanish word for powder, or dust) is a type of heavy, soft, and very crumbly Spanish shortbread made of flour, sugar, milk, and nuts (especially almonds).
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POLVORONES MEXICAN WEDDING COOKIES The EASIEST Melt in your Mouth Shortbread Cookies RECIPE
FAQ
What is the ingredients of polvoron?
Is polvoron Filipino or Spanish?
Why is polvoron healthy?
What does polvoron taste like?
What are polvorones made of?
Made with simple ingredients such as flour, almonds, butter or lard, sugar, and a hint of cinnamon, they are easy to prepare and a perfect addition to any festive gathering. The origin of polvorones dates back centuries, with some sources suggesting Moorish culinary traditions influenced them.
Where are polvorones made?
A polvorón (From polvo, the Spanish word for powder, or dust) is a type of heavy, soft, and very crumbly Spanish shortbread made of flour, sugar, milk, and nuts (especially almonds). They are mostly produced in Andalusia, where there are about 70 factories that are part of a syndicate that produces polvorones and mantecados.
What are the different types of polvorones?
One of the classic variations of polvorones includes almonds as a critical ingredient. In this version, raw almonds are toasted and ground, then mixed with flour, sugar, lard or butter, and cinnamon. Some recipes also add a touch of vanilla extract to enhance the flavor. Another popular variation of the polvorones recipe is the lemon polvorones.
What is a Spanish polvoron?
Spelled polvorones, there is the sugar cookie version, as well as the Mexican wedding cookie, a tender shortbread dusted with powdered sugar. The Spanish polvorón, which inspired this recipe, is nearly indistinguishable from shortbread, with a toasted all-purpose flour and ground almond mixture and just enough butter to hold everything together.