Muy Bueno: Fiestas 
Bake it Forward with Biscochos + Video
Have you ever felt a calling to do something special? Something for others? Something for the community? I have been dealing with these types of inner feelings for months and I finally wanted to do something about it. But what? What can I do to make a difference in someone else’s life?
Then Toyota reached out to me and inspired me. They wanted me to test out their new 4Runner and included a gift card to Starbucks and the message on the card said: Season of Giving. Its as-if I was getting a sign. Then, that evening I was watching the Food Network and saw a Bake it Forward commercial. And that’s when it hit me – I want to bake it forward.
The steps are simple: bake something delicious, share your creation on social media using the hashtag #BakeItForward, and for every share, Food Network will donate $1 to No Kid Hungry, providing 10 meals to children in need.
Isn’t that amazing? I then reached out to Chris, my videographer, and my blogging friends, Erin and Toni asking if they wanted to collaborate and make a video out of it. You might recognize the gals from the Breckenridge Bloggers Retreat. We started brainstorming and decided to combine our homemade gifts and give them to firefighters, who selflessly give all the time.
My mom makes biscochos every Christmas – It doesn’t feel like Christmas without them. When I was a little girl I used to help my mom package them for family and friends and this year I was so honored to share these special cookies with firefighters and thank them for their service. And not only that — my simple gesture will also help end childhood hunger this holiday season! We hope this video inspires you to spread holiday cheer and have fun doing it. Make an extra batch of treats for friends, coworkers, charities, or just someone who could use a lift.
Join us today and let’s all Bake it Forward, sweetly.
Biscochos (Mexican Wedding Cookies)
Ingredients
- 6 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, freshly ground if possible
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 pound lard or shortening
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup white wine, orange juice, or water
- 2 tablespoons whole anise seeds
Cinnamon-Sugar Coating
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Sift flour with baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger.
- In a separate bowl, cream the lard or shortening until smooth. Add egg, sugar, vanilla, and your liquid of choice. Pour wet ingredients into flour mixture.
- Add anise seeds at this time and knead cookie dough together. If mixture is too sticky add some more flour.
- Roll on floured surface 1/4-inch thick and cut out biscochos using a small-floured cookie cutter; or you can put the dough into a cookie press using your favorite design. When using a cookie cutter, you will have to re-knead and roll out the dough several times until you have used all of the dough.
- Place the biscochos on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes on the bottom rack until brown.
- While biscochos are baking, in a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon for the coating. Set aside.
- After baking, place the warm biscochos in the cinnamon-sugar and coat.
Notes
Special thanks to Erin and Toni who trusted me on this project and everyone who assisted to make this day possible.
Video: Pure Cinematography / MUA: Vanessa Blanco / Art Direction and Decor: Barbara Shepherd, Karen, and Nadine / Calligraphy Artist: Rebecca Caridad / Production Assistants: Karen and Erlinda / Transportation: Toyota / Littleton Fire Fighters
Recipes: Biscochos (Mexican Wedding Cookies) / White Chocolate Fudge / Frosted Sugar Cookies / Chocolate-Peppermint Dipped Meringues
13 Comments on “Bake it Forward with Biscochos + Video”
I can’t find the video
They look delicious just like my mother-in-law made often.
You’re beautiful. And thank you so much for adding the tip about needing to re-knead the dough a few times as you go through it all. No other site I clicked mentioned that as I was looking for the recipe I’d use. And thank you for all you do to give back. You’re an amazing woman and thank you for sharing this with us.
Great recipe but I could not push dough out on cookie press. Is there a trick to it?
Hi, using this recipe to try to copy my grandma’s biscochos I ran into a similar problem. I decided to soak the anise in about a quarter cup of wine plus the 1/2 cup of wine. That made the dough soft enough to push through the press and form the cookies. More than that is too much.
I made these today and they came out gross. I am a baker, so I know I made them right. They do not taste like the traditional New Mexico biscochos. They had no taste, and I needed to bake them longer than the 8-10 mins as directed. Waste of flour and lard….
Is the dough to tough to go through the cookie press?
No not at all. It’s very soft 😉
Hello Yvette
I am excited to try this recipe! What kind of shortening and white wine do you recommend using?
Hi Nancy, I have used lard and shortening. The brand is a personal preference. If you can find rendered lard, I’d recommend that option. And as far as white wine I used a Riesling
What a great project, Yvette! I already intended to make cookies and give away as presents for my children’s wonderful teachers and school staff. I will share the photo with the hashtag on my blog’s FB page. Keep up the good work and have a very Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much Denise. Yes please help share and #BakeitForward. Feliz Navidad!
This is such a special project and I’m so glad we all got to do it together. Your passion and drive are such an inspiration Yvette. Thank you for getting us all going on this.