(Metro News Service) Polvorones—crumbly, melt‑in‑your‑mouth Spanish shortbread cookies—are a beloved tradition across many Hispanic cultures. Food often serves as a bridge to heritage, especially during National Hispanic Heritage Month each September and October, when families celebrate and share time‑honored treats passed down through generations.

Chocolate-Glazed Polvorones with Sesame Seeds

Makes approximately 28 cookies

For the cookies:

• 1/3 cup ground pecans
• 2/3 cup confectioner's sugar
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1/2 cup lard, cold and cubed
• 1 large egg

For the glaze:

• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

To decorate: 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Instructions:

1. For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, mix the pecans and sugar until combined. Set aside.
3. Combine the flour and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add the butter and lard and work the fats into the flour to a coarse, crumbly dough.
4. Add the pecan and sugar mixture to the dough and work it in with your hands. Add the egg and combine everything thoroughly, until it comes together as a ball of dough.
5. Roll pieces of the dough into 1-inch balls using floured hands.
6. Place on the baking sheets, well-spaced apart; flatten slightly with your fingers.
7. Bake until light golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes before transferring to cooling racks to finish cooling.
8. For the glaze: Combine the cocoa, water, corn syrup, and butter in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
9. Gradually stir in the sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth.
10. Drizzle the glaze over the polvorones and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Leave to set.

Recipe courtesy of Lines+Angles