Pecan Cookies (Polvorones)

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Title: 1996 3rd Place Winner: Pecan Cookies (Polvorones)
Categories: Cookies, Holiday, Mexican
Yield: 3 servings

1 c Sugar
1/2 c Unsalted butter
1/2 c Lard
1 Egg yolk
1 ts Vanilla
2 1/4 c All-purpose flour
3/4 ts Cinnamon
1/4 ts Anise seed, finely crushed
1 pn Salt
1/2 c Pecans; finely chopped

The 3rd place winner in the Chicago Tribune's 1996 Annual Holiday
Cookie Contest; by Marilyn Cahill of Chicago, Illinois.

1. Heat oven to 350'F. Beat 3/4 cup of the sugar, butter and lard in
large bowl of electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy;
about 3 minutes. Add egg yolk and vanilla; beat until smooth. Beat in
flour, cinnamon, anise seed and salt until well mixed. Stir in pecans.

2. Roll walnut-size pieces of dough between palms to make round
balls. Put remaining 1/4 cup sugar in pie plate; roll dough balls in
sugar. Place balls 5 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press
each ball with bottom of a glass dipped in sugar to about 1/4-inch
thickness.

3. Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven to 300'F and continue baking until
lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove to cooling rack.

Test Kitchen Note: An additional 1/2 cup butter can be substituted
for the lard. Also, you may bake the cookies at a constant 325'F;
cooking time should be about the same.

Source: Chicago Tribune, December 4, 1996.

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