Authentic Mexican Marranitos (molasses Gingerbread Pigs)

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup unsulphured molasses
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 egg

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 in a large mixing bowl, stir together brown sugar, shortening, baking soda, cinnamon and vanilla until the mixture forms a firm paste.
• 3 add, mixing after each addition until blended, the molasses, egg and milk.
• 4 gradually add the flour, mixing to form a dough; roll dough out to about 1/4 inch thick; cut with a large pig-shaped cutter; place each marranito on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
• 5 in a cup or small bowl, beat egg; using a pastry brush, paint tops of marranitos lightly with beaten egg.
• 6 bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until browned.