Piggies
Piggies can be found in many places under different names: marranitos, puerquitos, cerditos, cochinitos. All these words are used to describe a Piggie in endearing ways. In some places, they are given different animal shapes, but still called in one way or another “Piggie”. That may be because that was their original shape.
- Prep time
- 14 min
- Cook time
- 7 min
- Yield
- 30 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
- 12 oz piloncillo (chopped or grated, or substitute for 1 3/4 cup packed brown sugar)
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 true or ceylon cinnamon stick (about 2-inch to 3-inch length)
- 2 sticks or 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 tbsp honey
- 4+1/4 cup all-purpose flour (may need a bit more)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 eggs at room temperature (lightly beaten)
- Butter to grease cookie/baking sheet
- 2 to 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (to roll out the dough)
- 1 egg lightly beaten (to be used as glaze)
- Confectioners' sugar to sprinkle on top (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a saucepan, combine the grated piloncillo or dark brown sugar with the water and cinnamon. Heat over medium heat, once it simmers, adjust and lower heat to keep it at a low-medium simmer for about 15 minutes, or until it thickens to a light syrup consistency. Turn off the heat and remove the cinnamon stick. You should have now about 1 1/4 cups piloncillo liquid. Add the butter and the honey into the hot liquid, and stir until it dissolves.
- 2
In a mixing bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Make a whole in the center and pour the piloncillo mixture. With a spatula mix it all together in a circular motion until it is well incorporated. Lightly beat 2 eggs and incorporate them into the dough. The dough will be sticky and gooey.
- 3
Place enough plastic wrap in the bottom of a mixing bowl to have wings on the sides. With a spatula, push the dough onto the plastic wrap, wrap the dough, and refrigerate anywhere from 3 hours to overnight.
- 4
When ready to make the cookies, preheat oven to 375℉ degrees. Grease a couple cookie/baking sheets with butter. If using one sheet you may need to do a couple batches.
- 5
Remove dough from the refrigerator. On a counter top, sprinkle a couple tablespoons of flour. Rub a bit of flour on the rolling pin as well. Roll dough until you have about 1/4" thickness. Using piggy cookie cutters (or other shapes, but then you may need to change the name!), press down on dough, moving a bit on the counter top, to make it easier to lift the shaped dough.
- 6
Place Piggies on the baking sheet as you shape them along. Gently brush cookie tops with the lightly beaten egg. Roll the extra already used dough, wrap with plastic wrap, and place in the freezer for at least 10 minutes before using again, or it will be too soft and sticky. Repeat to make remaining cookies.
- 7
Bake cookies in the middle rack of the oven anywhere from 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack. You may sprinkle confectioner's sugar on top. Keep them covered so they remain soft.
- 8
Kids love to eat them with a tall glass of milk, I like them with a hot cup of coffee.