Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 7 dozen 2.5 inch cookies
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups vegetable shortening
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 shot glasses of anise (see note below for substitute)
- 1 lemon peel, grated
- juice from 1 lemon
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 7 1/4 cups unbleached white flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 egg white, beaten for glaze
Preparation:
Substitution Note: Anise-flavored liqueur can be purchased at most liquor stores and some gourmet supermarkets. If you cannot find it in your area, substitute 2 shot glasses of vodka and 1 1/2 tsp of anise extract.
In a very large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to whip the vegetable shortening with the oil. Add the sugar and mix until smooth. Add the egg yolks, anise, lemon peel, juice and cinnamon and mix together. Add flour and baking soda to mixture, a cup at a time. Be sure to mix well. Dough should be very smooth and soft.
Preheat over to 325 degrees. Using a teaspoon, scoop out a dollop of dough. Form balls about the size of walnuts, using your hands. If dough is too sticky to roll into balls, mix in additional flour (from 1/4 to 1/2 cup). Place balls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Lightly press down on each ball to flatten slightly. Using the beaten egg white, brush on the top of each cookie. Bake cookies until they begin to turn light brown on the bottom edges - about 15-20 minutes.
Let the cookies cool 5 minutes before removing from the cookie sheet, as they are very delicate.
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Guide's Response to User Reviews
"Mantecados are sweet with almost 2 cups of sugar, but have a very delicate anise flavor. With lots of shortening, these cookies melt in your mouth, but it's very important to use the correct measurements of the ingredients or they won't have a good consistency." - Tony & Lisa Sierra, Guides to Spanish Food
