Recipe: Anise Shortbread Cookies (Polvorones)

Had a hard time finding anything very specific about the history but I found these two recipes and a little background:

POLVORONES
(anise-flavored shortbread cookies)

Polvorones.- from the Spanish word polvo, or dust-, are so named because they are exstremely delicate and crumble easily. That is why they are often sold individually wrapped in tissue paper in pastry shops. Traditionally Polvorones are made with lard, but butter also produces a wonderfully short cookie.

1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar plus about 1 cup for dusting1 eggs yolk1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons brandy2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon ground anise seeds1 teaspoon grated lemon zest1/8 teaspoon salt1/2 pound unsalted butter, softened

In a cup, stir together 1 tablespoon sugar egg yolk, lemon juice, and brandy until smooth. In a large bowl, combine flour with the anise, lemon zest, cinnamon, and salt.

In a electric mixer, cream the butter well. Beat in the egg yolk mixture, then beat in half of the flour mixture. Using a wooden spoon, gradually incorporate remaining flour mixture.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Roll out the dough to about 3/8 inch thick on a floured surface. Using a 3-inch fluted-edge round cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Bake on an ungreased baking sheet about 30 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned and firm to the touch. Let cool about 2 minutes. Sift sugar onto a sheet of waxed paper. Dredge cookies in sugar. Arrange cookies on a serving plate and serve with remaining sugar. Makes 10 to 12 cookies.

Polvorones

o2lb (or 1kg) plain (or wholemeal) flour
o1lb (or 500g) lard
o1lb (or 500g) icing sugar
o1/2 egg (use a whole one, this recipe was halved at some point)
ovanilla
ocinnamon

Toast the flour under a grill. Mix the egg, lard and icing sugar together in a large mixing bowl (rubbing method) until consistent (sweet & sticky!). Add the vanilla & cinnamon to taste, followed by the toasted flour and mix thoroughly. The "dough" can then be made into small balls and placed onto a baking tray. This amount will cover 11/2 standard baking trays.

Bake for approx 35 mins at 150 C or until polvorones start to crack. (While this is happening get a convenient child to nibble the bits stuck to your hands and the bowl!) When cool, wrap in tissue paper sweet-style for effect.