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: