Saturday, June 4, 2011

Mantecaditos: Sugar Cookies - Cuban Style


I am copying this recipe directly from Authentic Cuban Cuisine by Martha Abreu Cortina.


2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
3/4 cups sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
Guava paste (optional)

Mix all of the ingredients together completely. Make a roll and cut 1/2 inch thick slices to form the cookies. Press down on the slices with the plam of your hand. Dent the center of the cookie with your thumb and fill with guava paste if desired. Bake at 350F degrees for 20 minutes.

The only problem I had with this recipe is that I had to add more shortening. The recipe may be correct and my measuring skills may be off since it is very difficult to get shortening into a measuring cup without making a complete mess. If you have trouble getting the dough to stick, add another 1/4 cup of shortening. Also I wasn't ready to bake yet, so I wrapped my roll in plastic wrap and refrigerated for a couple of hours.  The cookies were a hit.


5 comments:

  1. um que ricas con una tazita de cafe!

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  2. this looks like "Torticas de Moron" a type of short-bread cookie, with a piece of guava also placed on it :) they probably are teh same just different name :) their from Moron, Cuba. A city in Camaguey or so the story I heard. They look yummy

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  3. Did you know Crisco also comes in sticks with measures on the side (like butter)? You just cut off what you need and can forget the measuring cup!

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  4. Wow, April, I've never seen that. I'll have to look for it in the supermarket. Thanks for the tip!

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  5. Ivonne,
    Just a shout out (not to critique and i don't look down on Crisco or anythin, jus like for makin informed decisions) like I don't recommend using using "shortening"/ "vegetable shortening" because they often times contain trans-fatty acids/ trans-fat which are very very bad for you because they lower your good cholesterol (HDL/ High-density lipoprotiens) and higher your bad cholesterol LDL (low-density lipoprotiens) like they are very artery clogging.

    Like even stuff like shortening that say's "trans-fat free" if u see partially hydrogenated or fully hydrogenated oil in the ingredeints list avoid it because legally if it has less than 0.5 grams like let's say it has 0.4 grams trans fat per serving it can be rounded to 0 grams.

    Yes I know saturated fat should be limited like not consumed in excess but it's more natural and yes it can higher cholesterol but highers both HDL and LDL together, and in a balanced diet isn't so bad. Like I recommend using real butter instead or lard instead of shortening. And some health stores like as an alternative have shortening made from palm-oil that isnt hydrogenated or coconut oil (because these are naturally solids at room temperature and can do the same thing as regular crisco)

    Just research the topic a bit if your interested.

    Of course everything in moderation and one must enjoy food too :)

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