Marranitos


I made it! It's our final week of cookies and I wanted to make a cookie that had great memories attached to it . I chose to make Marranitos (Little Piggies).
Growing up, my mother would go grocery shopping and return with these sweet, spicy, molasses cookies in the shape of little pigs. I loved them. You can still find them at local mexican bakeries but I wanted to try them out myself.
They are kinda like gingerbread but with a little kick. I could not find a pig cookie cutter anywhere so I free-handed them. OMG! I made about four of them then gave in and made little christmas trees with a real cookie cutter :) I just gave them a wreath around their neck to get them into the spirit.
They make me think of my mom and I am missing her this Christmas. I think she would of loved these little piggies. 

1 1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c shortening
1 egg
1/3 c milk
1 tsp ginger
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 c unsulfured molasses
5 c flour
1 egg beaten or a little milk (for the wash)
Preheat oven to 350º. Line sheets with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, cream brown sugar and shortening until smooth. Mix in 1 egg, milk and vanilla until blended. Stir in baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and molasses. Add your flour and mix until dough is stiff enough to roll out.
Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to about 1/4" thickness. Cut into shapes using cookie cutters and place 2" apart on prepared cookie sheet.
Brush tops of cookies with your egg or milk to give them a little sheen.
Bake 15-17 min until centers appear dry and edges are browned.

Week 12 Twelve Weeks of Christmas:

Comments

Lisa said…
I love these little piggies. I buy them often at Mexican bakeries but have always wondered how to make my own. Thank you for sharing this recipe. Now I'll be able to do it myself. I'd never know your pigs were made without a cutter- they came out cute and perfectly shaped.
Unknown said…
These are adorable! I've never heard of them before, thanks for sharing. And, you are my hero for making these sans a cutter.
Catalina said…
Oh my gosh :) You're so talented! I know how hard it is to make cookies without cookie cutters and your piggies are just magnificent - so cute and lovely :) I love the geer wreath around their neck, it's a beautiful contrast to the brown color of the piggies :) Great work, really!
Manu said…
So cute!
Love childhood memories recipes!
Have a bless week!!!
Barbara Bakes said…
I'm missing my mom this Christmas too. I know these cute little delicious piggies would make your mom smile!
how creative is this?! i need to get myself into the kitchen and start baking something festive for the holidays!
Lee Ann said…
Oh, my! I hadn't seen these since I was growing up.. we lived in a very small town and a family owned rest/bakery made these and my mom just loved them... I will have to make these for her!
Pam said…
How adorable! You did an amazing job doing them freehand - I would have never been so brave! Its been great baking along with you!
Mrsblocko said…
I made a similar recipe to this for the first time this Christmas and they turned out wonderful. I think the ironic thing is that the only cookie cutter I had at the time was a pig cookie cutter. Where it came from I have no idea!