Hazelnut Cinnamon Mexican Wedding Cookies
Mexican wedding cookies are beloved for their crumbly texture and delicate sweetness, but did you know they go by several other names? Often called “polvorones” or “biscochitos,” Russian tea cakes, or snowballs.
Mexican wedding cookies trace back to medieval Arab culinary influences that spread to Spain during the Moors’ presence. Over time, these recipes crossed the Atlantic with Spanish colonizers, becoming integral to Mexican celebrations, particularly weddings.
The name “polvorones” comes from the Spanish word “polvo,” meaning powder or dust, a nod to the cookie’s delicate, crumbly texture. These cookies blended seamlessly into the country’s diverse culinary traditions in Mexico, making them a staple in festive gatherings and special occasions like weddings and Christmas.
This version, made with toasted hazelnuts and cinnamon, is one of my favorite cookies to bake during the holiday season and when the weather cools off.
- Yield: about 40 to 42 cookies
Ingredients
3 1/4 oz/90 g whole hazelnuts with skin
8 oz/230 g unsalted butter, cubed
1/2 cup/60 g confectioner’s sugar
1/2 tsp hazelnut extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 1/4 cups/315 g all-purpose flour
For Coating the Cookies
1/2 cup/60 g confectioner’s sugar
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 325F/165C. Place the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and roast them in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until fragrant and light brown. Remove from the oven, cool for 5 minutes, and transfer to a food processor fitted with a blade. Pulse for a few seconds at intervals to get a fine granular powder.
- Add the butter, sugar, hazelnut extract, and cinnamon. Pulse for a few seconds at intervals until the mixture gets whipped and creamy. Scrape the sides of the food processor down. Add the flour and pulse until combined; there should be no dry flecks of flour. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl. If any dry flecks of flour are still present, mix by hand and press together to form a dough. Cover the bowl with a lid or cling film and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. The mixture can also be refrigerated overnight and baked the next day.
- When ready to bake, heat the oven to 325F/165C. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a 1 Tbsp scoop or teaspoon, scoop out the dough into your palms and shape into small balls. Place each ball on the baking sheet, leaving about 1 in/2.5 cm space between them. Bake the cookies for 15 minutes until they start to turn a very light golden brown. Rotate the baking sheets halfway through during cooking. Remove the sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet; transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
- Add the remaining confectioner’s sugar to toss the cookies in a medium bowl. Work in batches. Transfer 3 to 4 cookies to the bowl and toss gently to coat well. Transfer the cookies to an airtight container and store them for up to 2 weeks. They can also be frozen for up to a month. I like to add a few tablespoons of confectioner’s sugar to the storage container to keep the cookies coated.
Notes
- Hazelnut meal or flour can be used in place of whole hazelnuts. Toast the flour until fragrant for 5 to 8 minutes. Because it’s finely ground, it can burn easily, so watch it carefully.
- Vanilla can be used in place of hazelnut extract.
2 Responses
Austria and Germany have a version of this cookie too called, “vanillekipferl”. It is made with almonds or hazelnuts and shaped into a crescent. My mother from Austria made them every year and they were our favorite. I hope people will try them! Happy Holidays!
I made these for our holiday family gathering this year and they were a hit! I’m feeling like a tradition may be starting up.