Spanish Shortbread Cookies (Polvorones)

Serves: 12-16 cookies
Prep Time: 15 min. Cook Time: 30 min.

"Polvorones" or dust in English, is the Spanish version of shortbread cookies, and to me, the best of the best.  These amazingly delicate cookies pack an amazing burst of flavor.  More importantly they are so adaptable, you can make dozens of variations to find the one you love.  My mom makes hers with a splash of  apple cider vinegar for an amazingly unique take on cookies.  I toast my flour, and add cardamom and the cinnamon-vanilla powder I first discovered in New Orleans.​

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 Cups AP Flour
• 3/4 Cup Cashews
• 5 Oz. Unsalted Butter
• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 1 Tsp. Cinnamon
• 1/2 Tsp. Nutmeg
• 1/2 Tsp. Cardamom
• 3 Tbsp. Powdered Sugar
• 1 Tbsp. Cinnamon Vanilla Powder (I recommend)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. ​ Spread flour over a nonreactive baking sheet and toast for 5-10 minutes.​
3. Reduce oven temperature to 250°F.
4. Using a mixer (handheld works fine) cream butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom.
5. In a food processor, grind cashews into a fine powder.  Be careful not to let the cashews start to cream (like dry peanut butter)
6. Add flour and cashews to butter mixture and beat until completely combined.
7. At this point, the dough will be crumbled, but soft.  Press into a ball.
8. Roll out dough over parchment paper until it is 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch high.
9. Use your favorite cookie cutter and you should be able to produce 12-16 cookies.
10. Remember the dough is extremely crumbly, so use a spatula to transfer to a cookie sheet.
11. Bake for 30 minutes.
12. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.  DO NOT touch your cookies until they are cool because they will essentially disintegrate.  Once they are cooled they can be moved and dusted.
    
13. Combine powdered sugar and cinnamon vanilla powder and dust over cookies.
    

Sulli Says: These are by far the most versatile cookies you'll ever make.  Try a lemon glaze, or put a little citrus zest in your dough.  Add your favorite spices, dip into chocolate, or even make a savory cookie with herbs.  There really is no limit to what you can do.  
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