Portuguese Spice Cookies Recipes

PORTUGUESE BISCOITOS RECIPE (TRADITIONAL BISCUIT COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and lightly flour a clean cutting board or work surface.
• In the bowl of a standmixer, add the butter, and sugar. Cream until light and fluffy.
• Whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder; set aside. Add the eggs, extracts, and milk and mix until combined.
• Turn down the mixer speed and slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. The dough should form a ball on the paddle. If it is too dry add 1 tablespoon of additional milk. If it is overly stick add one tablespoon of flour until it is workable.
• Remove the dough from the stand mixer and knead on the floured workspace. The dough should be the consistency of play dough.
• I used a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to scoop out tablespoon-sized balls.
• On the floured work space, roll on dough with the palms of your hand to create a 5 inch "snake". Bring together the ends to form a ring. Place cookies 1 inch apart of the baking sheet.
• These cookies bake for 18-20 minutes to get toasty deep golden-brown bottoms and tan golden-brown top surfaces. *See images
• Cool cookies for ten minutes before removing and baking the next batch. Repeat the process until all cookies are done.
• Cooled cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks time.

PORTUGUESE SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Position rack in center of the oven, preheat oven to 350 degrees; line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Starting with the pastry dough: mix together the flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl; cut the butter into small bits and work into the flour, along with the eggs, until a smooth dough is formed.
• Cover with a clean kitchen towel and set aside for 10 minutes before rolling dough out on a floured board.
• For the filling: combine the water, sugar and lemon zest in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, boil until the mixture reaches 220 degrees on a candy thermometer, takes about 10 minutes.
• Remove pot from the heat and let cool slightly.
• Crush the anise seeds in a mortar or a spice mill, add to the sugar mixture, along with the cinnamon, butter and breadcrumbs, mix well.
• The mixture should resemble bread stuffing.
• Roll out a third of the pastry as thinly as possible.
• Using a pastry cutter or knife, cut 3-inch-wide strips of pastry.
• With the same cutter make 1/2 inch horizontal slits just off one long edge of the pastry, about 3/4 inch apart.
• Spread some cooled filling down the center of the strip, then fold the side with the slits over the solid side, enclosing the filling and sealing the edges.
• Cut into 3-inch long cookies.
• Place on a lined baking sheet.
• Repeat with the remaining pastry.
• Bake until the cookies are golden brown, about 15 minutes, be careful not to let them burn.
• Let cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes, then remove the cookies to a rack to cool completely.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

EASY PORTUGUESE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, stir together the cornstarch and white sugar. Add the butter and cream well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the sugar mixture until a dough forms. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto an unprepared cookie sheet.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are golden brown at the edges. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

PORTUGUESE SPICE BLEND

Steps:

• Grind paprika, pepper, parsley, chili powder, cumin, oregano, lemon zest, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, nutmeg and bay leaf together.