Authentic Mexican Sugar Cookies Recipe | Easy & Delicious

Mexican sugar cookies, also known as Polvorones, are a beloved holiday classic south of the border. These tender yet crispy cookies get their name from the Spanish word for dust or powdered sugar, Polvo. They are coated in a thick blanket of powdered sugar, which provides a sweet counterpoint to the subtle hints of cinnamon and vanilla in the buttery dough.

Polvorones have a very special place in Mexican Christmas celebrations. Their crumbly texture and sweet flavor represent the love and care that goes into making them. Friends and families will gather together to mix up batch after batch, carefully cutting out shapes of trees, wreaths, stars, poinsettias, and more. The cookies are then lovingly arranged on platters to be gifted to loved ones as part of the festivities.

What truly sets Mexican sugar cookies apart is their melt-in-your-mouth texture, which comes from using lard or vegetable shortening in the dough. It provides an incredible softness and allows them to dissolve on your tongue practically. Every tender bite surrounds you in cozy holiday spices and warmth. These cookies may have humble ingredients, but generations of Mexican families can’t imagine Navidad without a cookie tin stuffed full of these treasured Polvorones.

Their simplicity allows their texture and flavors to shine truly. I’m so excited to share my family’s traditional Mexican sugar cookies recipe so you can experience these cookies that have made Christmas magical for me since childhood. Explore a wide range of cookie recipes, each with its unique charm and flavor, in our comprehensive Cookies Category.

Procedure

• In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, lard, or shortening, 1 cup powdered sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. 
• Slowly incorporate the flour 1⁄2 cup at a time until a smooth dough forms. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill for 30 minutes. 
• Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment. Lightly dust your work surface with flour and roll out the chilled dough to 1⁄4 inch thickness.  
• Use Christmas-themed cookie cutters to cut out shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Reroll scraps to cut additional cookies.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden on the edges. Allow cookies to cool on a baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. 
• Once cookies are completely cool, place powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Gently toss several cookies at a time in the powdered sugar until thickly coated. Feel free to coat twice for an extra sugary shell.
• Decorate by gently pressing sprinkles into the powdered sugar coating before the layer sets if desired.
• Store fully cooled and coated cookies in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment, for up to 1 week.

Tips and Tricks

Over the years, I’ve discovered some key tips and tricks for taking these melt-in-your-mouth Mexican sugar cookies to the next level:

• Letting the dough chill is crucial for easy rolling and cutting out shapes that hold their form without spreading. Don’t be tempted to skip this step!
• When rolling, make sure your work surface and rolling pin are well-floured to prevent sticking. Periodically lift and rotate the dough as you roll for an even thickness. 
• Cut shapes close together to minimize scraps, then gather and reroll them to cut more cookies. Let rerolled dough discs chill again before cutting if soft.
• Check cookies for 12 minutes, then watch carefully to prevent burning. Every oven is different, so adjust the baking time as needed.
• Cool cookies completely before coating. Warm cookies will melt powdered sugar. Allowing cookies to cool for a few minutes on a baking sheet helps set the shape before moving them. 
• When coating, toss in batches for full coverage, then tap gently to remove excess powdered sugar. Retoss in fresh powdered sugar for a second coat and an extra crunchy sweet shell if desired!
• Decorating Mexican sugar cookies with sprinkles or sanding sugar adds festive cheer. Gently press them into powdered sugar coating before fully set, or they won’t adhere. Work fast once the cookies are coated!

FAQs

What does the name Polvorones mean?

Polvorones gets its name from the Spanish word “Polvo,” meaning dust or powder, referring to the generous powdered sugar coating on these cookies.

Can I make Mexican sugar cookies without lard/shortening? 

You can attempt them with only butter, but the texture will not have the iconic crumbly, flaky quality. The lard or hydrogenated fat is important for authentic melt-in-your-mouth Polvorones.

How long do coated Mexican sugar cookies last?

Properly stored in an airtight container with parchment between layers, these cookies will last about 1 week at room temperature. Freeze for longer storage.

What shape cookie cutters work best? 

Traditional Mexican sugar cookies are often cut into round, star, and Christmas tree shapes. Heart, flower, or animal shapes also work wonderfully.

What’s the difference between Mexican sugar cookies and wedding cookies?

While they are both tender, buttery cookies coated in powdered sugar, wedding cookies use nuts in the dough. Polvorones have a more crumbly, dissolving texture with subtle spice flavors.

Conclusion

Mexican sugar cookies, or Polvorones, have been gracing holiday tables for generations thanks to their melt-in-your-mouth texture and sweet coating of powdered sugar. What makes them so special is the combination of buttery, rich dough featuring lard or shortening layered with a crisp, sugary blanket on the outside. 

Cutting these tender cookies into festive shapes and gifting trays of them to friends and family is a cherished tradition. As you bite into one, you’ll find hints of cinnamon and vanilla giving way to a cookie that nearly dissolves on your tongue. It’s no wonder Mexican families eagerly await baking tray after tray leading up to Navidad each year!

Now, you can recreate this treasured family mexican sugar cookies recipe with my tips for foolproof, buttery Polvorones. Shape them into beautiful wreaths, poinsettias, and trees before coating them liberally in powdered sugar for dreamy texture and flavor in every bite.

I hope these cookies melt into your heart this holiday season. For more delightful treats to sweeten your celebrations, dive into our Dessert Section, where we share an array of tempting dessert recipes.