Polvorones "Mexican" Shortbread Cookies

One of my favorite cookies from the local Mexican bakery, La Panaderia. As a kid it was fun to imagine that the cookies, with their bright colors had different and fun flavors! But, now as an adult, I have come to appreciate the subtle flavors of apple pie spice in each cookie. Fall always reminds me of warm cookies coming out of the oven. With a nice hot cup of cafe con leche and a plate full of bright colored polvorones. My first real job was at a Mexican bakery, so this brings back great memories.

Ingredients:

1 cup of butter, softened

½ cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon apple pie spice

½ teaspoon salt

2¼ cups of all-purpose flour

½ cup sugar, set aside

Red and yellow food coloring

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º F. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the sugar, baking soda, apple pie spice and salt. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the remaining flour. If dough is crumbly, gently knead the dough with your hands.

2. Divide dough in half. Add a couple of drops of red food coloring and work into dough with your hands until desired color of pink. Do the same with the second half of dough using the yellow food coloring.

3. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll balls in the ½ cup of sugar. Place the balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets and gently flatten with the bottom of a glass.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 13 to 15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool completely, store in airtight container. Makes about 24 cookies.

Other recipes by Sonia:

Beef Chili
Buñuelos
Cheesy Chorizo Bread
Dulce de Leche and Chocolate Chip Chimichangas
Pork Chile Colorado
Shrimp-Stuffed Little Chiles
Pork Chile Verde
Lemon Pepper Chicken Fajitas
Simply Seasoned Shrimp

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