Christmas Cookie Countdown and Mexican Wedding Cookie Recipe : Sifting Focus (2024)

Sifting Focus - Baking Recipes and Photography by Los Angeles Food Blogger, Mary Weinberg
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Posted on October 22, 201210 comments

One of my dreams for Jael was that she would follow in the footsteps of all the cooks and bakers that came before her on both sides of her family tree. Whatever the gene that ignites the passion for all things food, it certainly runs strongly in her blood. The older she gets the more she embraces her passion for the culinary arts. She told me recently that she may want to attend culinary school one day. Wouldn’t that be lovely!
Today’s cookie comes from a book I bought Jael when she was a little girl. The book’s title is The Bake Sale Cookbook. Its pages are filled with recipes for cookies, bars, and all those yummy treats you would expect to find at a bake sale. She was thrilled when I gave it to her and the very first recipe she made from it was for these Mexican Wedding Cookies. That’s when I knew the girl had potential. She mixed, rolled, and baked like a little professional.

Given that the Mexican Wedding Cookie is a common and very popular cookie, you might already have your own favorite recipe, but don’t overlook this one. I was surprised at just how tender, nutty, and “melt in your mouth” these cookies are. It would be impossible to count how many times we have made them. They show up on every holiday cookie tray and for other occasions throughout the year. Try them just once and you’ll taste why I chose them as one of my twelve Christmas Cookie Countdown picks.

Melt in your mouth buttery tenderness makes the Mexican Wedding Cookie a holiday favorite.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup pecan pieces or halves
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar, divided
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Place pecans in food processor. Process using on/off pulses until pecans are ground, but not pasty.

Beat butter and 1/2 cuppowdered sugar in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add 1 cup flour, vanilla and salt. Beat at low speed until well blended. Mix in the remaining 1 cup flour and ground nuts. Place dough in a covered container and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Roll tablespoons of dough into 1-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until pale golden brown. Let cookies stand on cookie sheets 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, sift 1 cup powdered sugar into a 9×9-inch glass dish or a glass pie dish. Transfer hot cookies, 5 or 6 at a time, to the dish. Roll cookies in powdered sugar, coating well. Remove to a cooling rack to cool completely. Sift remaining 1/2 cuppowdered sugar over sugar-coated cookies before serving. Store tightly covered at room temperature or freeze for up to 12 weeks.

Makes approximately 48cookies

Source: Adapted from the Bake Sale Cookbook


Christmas Cookie Countdown and Mexican Wedding Cookie Recipe : Sifting Focus (6)

Posted under Baking, Cookies, Holiday Baking

Ingredients butter, confectioners sugar, flour, pecans

  1. My mom and I baked these year after year for decades! Sure miss the tradition of baking with her. Although these are a favorite of mine, I’ve not made them in years because of all of the butter and sugar. We will see if I can resist this year. Nice post Mary and such pretty photos!

    Reply ↓

  2. I also made these cookies growing up, but my Mom calls them Russian Tea Cakes and makes them with walnuts. This is the cookie that is the most requested and I always end up making them at least twice! I will have to try them with pecans and see if my cookie monsters notice as pecans sound wonderful!

    Reply ↓

    • Yes, there are many variations on this theme. I, too, am planning on trying them with walnuts….and maybe a variety of other nuts as well.

      Reply ↓

  3. These look so lovely and perfect for Christmas with all the powdered sugar. I really need to try some Mexican Wedding cookies. I never had one before!

    Reply ↓

    • Thanks Lynna! These cookies are as easy as it gets to make. Let me know if you give them a try.

      Reply ↓

  4. They look so delicious, and bring back such fond childhood Christmas memories !

    Reply ↓

    • So many great memories connected to food!

      Reply ↓

  5. These are my all time favorite Christmas treat next to my Gramma’s Carmelita’s. Can’t wait to try your recipe this Xmas. You rock Mary!

    Reply ↓

    • Thanks Tracy!

      Reply ↓

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Christmas Cookie Countdown and Mexican Wedding Cookie Recipe : Sifting Focus (2024)

FAQs

What is the story behind Mexican wedding cookies? ›

History of Mexican Wedding Cookies

As Spanish colonizers brought these recipes to Mexico, they seamlessly integrated into the local culinary landscape. The cookie's association with weddings stems from its sweet symbolism of happiness, unity, and the joyful occasions surrounding matrimony.

How long before Christmas should you make Christmas cookies? ›

As for the cookies—made for cookie swaps, church potlucks, household snacking, and Santa's plate—there is one little cheat: make now, freeze for later. You'll find that most of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes can be made anywhere from a month to six months before the 25th of December.

How far ahead can you make Christmas cookies and freeze them? ›

If properly frozen, you can freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 12 months. If cookies are frosted, they can be stored frozen for up to three months.

What is the story behind Christmas cookies? ›

The earliest examples of Christmas cookies in the United States were brought by the Dutch in the early 17th century. Due to a wide range of cheap imported products from Germany between 1871 and 1906 following a change to importation laws, cookie cutters became available in American markets.

What is the significance of Christmas cookies? ›

Parents wanted to encourage generosity in their children particularly during the harsh times of the depression. But the tradition quickly stuck and even today, most homes around the world that celebrate Christmas put out cookies for him and his reindeer.

What Christmas cookies stay fresh the longest? ›

Softer or filled cookies will last on the short end of the range, while biscotti and other hard cookies stay fresher for longer. Auxer suggests storing baked cookies in the freezer for up to six months if you want to enjoy them far beyond that timeline.

How do you keep Christmas cookies crispy? ›

How do you store cookies to stay crisp? To keep crispy cookies crisp, you need to keep them away from moisture. Always store different types of cookies separately—soft cookies can cause crispy cookies to soften due to their extra moisture. Place crispy cookies in an airtight container, but don't completely seal it.

Can you leave Christmas cookies out overnight? ›

Cookies left out overnight are at risk of microbial contamination, especially if they contain perishable ingredients like eggs or dairy. Harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, can multiply rapidly in these conditions, potentially causing foodborne illness if consumed.

How do you keep homemade cookies fresh till Christmas? ›

The USDA website says that generally, cookies can be stored at room temperature for two to three weeks or refrigerated for two months. If you find yourself with more cookies than you can eat in that time frame, consider putting the baked cookies in a sealed container in the freezer.

How long do homemade Christmas cookies stay fresh? ›

Information. Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months. Moist bars, such as cheesecake and lemon bars, can be refrigerated for seven days.

Can I freeze cookie dough instead of refrigerating it? ›

That's right, you can freeze it for a bit to shave quite a bit of time off the chilling suggestion in the recipe. Here's what our Test Kitchen recommends when quickly chilling cookie dough in the freezer: Place the cookie dough in the freezer for one-quarter of the recommended refrigerator time.

Can I put undercooked cookies back in the oven? ›

I am going out on a limb against popular opinions by saying, YES, it's okay to place your under baked or underdone cookies back into the oven for a second bake. But here's the condition: you would need to adjust the baking time and temperature.

Why do my cookies get hard after baking? ›

Cookies become hard when the moisture in them evaporates. This can be caused by leaving them out in the air for too long, baking them for too long, or storing them improperly.

How do you check if cookies are done without a toothpick? ›

Truth be told, most table forks have tines that are too close together to work as a good alternative to toothpicks. A better choice is a carving fork. Thanks to the wide space between the two tines, you'll be able to easily see any telltale crumbs or batter.

How did Mexican wedding cakes get their name? ›

Many historians speculate that the term Mexican wedding cookie/cake was used to replace the term Russian teacake due to the strained U.S. relationship with Russia at the time (the Cold War).

What is the history of Mexican polvorones? ›

Spanish polvorones originated in the 16th century in Andalucía, where an abundance of oak acorns from the region's forests made possible the proliferation of pig farms, and brought fame for the quality of their pork products; that in turn, promoted the use of lard in their local cuisine, and specifically, in baked ...

Where did the wedding cookie table come from? ›

They likely originated among European immigrants during the Great Depression when couples could not afford a wedding cake. Close friends and family would step in to bake cookies instead. Many of the cookies were, and are, made from scratch using favorite family recipes.

What is an interesting fact about Mexican weddings? ›

In traditional Mexican culture, the groom sometimes presents an ornate box with 13 gold coins to the bride, coins representing Jesus and his disciples as well as his commitment to provide for his family. They're sometimes given to the groom by the padrinos, and they're blessed by the priest during the ceremony.

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