piggy cookies

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Piggies: Cinnamon and Piloncillo Cookies

Piggies: Cinnamon and Piloncillo Cookies

Chochinitos: Galletas de Piloncillo y Canela

Recipe Yield

30 medium-sized cookies (with a 4-inch cookie cutter)

Cooking time

2 hours 47 minutes

Rate this recipe

4.72 from 7 votes

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 3″ long
  • 2 stick, or 1 cup, unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour you 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 a cookie/baking sheet
  • 2 to 3 tbsp all-purpose flour you may need a bit more or less, to roll out the dough
  • 1 egg lightly beaten to be used as a glaze
  • Confectioners' sugar to sprinkle on top optional

To Prepare

  • In a saucepan, combine grated piloncillo or dark brown sugar with water and cinnamon. Place over medium heat, once it simmers, lower the heat to keep it at a medium-low simmer for about 15 minutes, 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, need not be exact! Add butter and honey into the hot liquid and stir until it dissolves.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Make a hole in the center and pour in the piloncillo mixture. Mix it all together with a spatula until it is well incorporated. Combine the eggs into the dough, which will be sticky and gooey. Seriously: it will be GOOEY and that is OK.
  • Place 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 2 hours to a couple days.
  • When you are ready to make the cookies, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a couple cookie or baking sheets with butter.
  • Remove the dough from the refrigerator and sprinkle a couple tablespoons of flour on a countertop. Rub a bit of flour on the rolling pin as well. Roll out the dough which will now be firmer, until you have about 1/4 -inch thickness. Using piggie cookie cutters (or other shapes, but then you may need to change the name!) press down on the dough, moving it a bit on the counter top, to make it easier to lift the shaped dough.
  • Place the piggies on the baking sheet as you shape them along. Gently brush the cookie tops with the remaining egg. Roll the leftover dough into a ball, wrap it with the plastic wrap, and place it in the freezer for at least 10 minutes before using it again, or it will be too soft and sticky. Repeat to make the remaining cookies.
  • Bake the cookies anywhere from 7 to 9 minutes. Remove them from the oven and place on a cooking rack. You may sprinkle confectioners’ sugar on top. Keep them covered so they remain soft.
  • My boys love to eat them with a tall glass of milk, I like them with a hot cup of coffee.

Comments

32comments inPiggies: Cinnamon and Piloncillo Cookies

  1. Martha

    Dec 21

    These came out delicious! My husband loved them. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!

    1. Pati Jinich

      Jan 13

      My pleasure Martha, so happy to hear!

  2. HORTENCIA RODRIGUEZ

    Aug 11

    CAN I USE PILONCILLO SURUP IBOUGHT A12 0Z BOTTLE AND IT IS INFUESD WITH CINNAMON

    1. Pati Jinich

      Sep 04

      Absolutely Hortencia, let me know how the cookies come out with this syrup!

  3. Angela

    Nov 26

    What size is the piggie cookie cutter

    1. Pati Jinich

      Jan 02

      It really doesn’t matter, I think mine is around 3 inches long 😉

  4. Lisa W

    Apr 17

    Warm and not overly sweet, this is one of my favorite cookies!

    1. Pati Jinich

      Apr 19

      Mine as well, enjoy them Lisa!

  5. Mary Jane Rangel

    May 14

    Pati, I love your show and recipes, remind me of my grandma. Could you please tell me where to get the 4 inch piggy cookie cutter?
    Thank you.
    Mary Jane

    1. Pati Jinich

      May 23

      I got mine on Amazon Mary Jane, enjoy!

  6. Kathy Torres

    Jan 23

    Are these the same “maranito” cookies that you find at local panaderias? My husband and my grandson absolutely love them and so I’d like to try making these for them as a surprise.

    1. Pati Jinich

      Feb 10

      Yes Kathy, it sounds to me that we are talking about the same cookies, enjoy!

  7. Leticia

    Dec 20

    What can I use as replacement for cinnamon stick?

    1. Pati Jinich

      Dec 21

      Just use some powdered cinnamon to your taste Leticia 😉

  8. Brenda

    Dec 18

    Pati
    Where can one buy a piggie cookie cutter?

    1. Pati Jinich

      Dec 21

      Online is your best bet Brenda, I know they sell them on Amazon 😉

  9. Joan

    Dec 18

    Got addicted to these at HEB so now back in N.E., have to make my own.

    1. Pati Jinich

      Dec 21

      Glad you like them Joan!

  10. Dusti Herrera

    Feb 26

    Do you know if anyone has done this with keto friendly ingredients like almond flour and monkfurit?

    1. Pati

      Feb 27

      I don’t…but give it a go and let me know how it goes, Dusti.

  11. Roberta Benitez

    Jan 15

    Where can I buy a piggie cookie cutter? I have looked and looked and have had no luck. My girls love them.

    1. Pati

      Jan 16

      Oh I got mine so long ago…have you tried looking online, maybe? I hope you find one soon, Roberta!

    2. Joanne

      Jan 19

      Google piggy cookie cutter … Etsy has them

  12. Lupe H.

    Jan 15

    Thank you Pati my husband loves these I will have to make them.

    1. Pati

      Jan 16

      Yay! I hope you guys enjoy them.

  13. Lily

    Jan 02

    Thank you for sharing this recipe! This is one of my favorites!

    1. Pati

      Jan 02

      So happy they are your favorites, Lily!

  14. Anonymous

    Dec 16

    Why dobyou refrigerate dough 2 hrs?

    1. Pati

      Dec 23

      The dough needs to be refrigerated because it is very very gooey and sticky. Putting it in the fridge make it hard, so that it can be rolled out and cut into shapes.

  15. Ivonne A

    Dec 07

    Can I use wheat flower..??😬

    1. Pati

      Jan 05

      Oh all purpose flour is wheat flour…

      1. Ivan

        Jan 01

        A mi se me hace que quiso preguntar “whole” wheat o harina integral…

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