The word polvo means powder in Spanish, and these cookies will crumble to dust in your mouth when you eat them! But strictly speaking, they’re named after the generous dusting of powdered sugar on top. Traditionally, polvorones use pork fat as an ingredient. They’re a type of mantecado, a family of cookies made with manteca (pork lard).
Polvorones are also known as Mexican wedding cookies and are a tender shortbread cookie made with chopped nuts and topped with powdered sugar. These crumbly, buttery shortbread cookies known as polvorones or Mexican wedding cookies melt in your mouth.
In origin, polvorones don't have additional flavoring because the almonds provide enough sweet and mild taste. But more often than not, home cooks add spices, other nuts, and zest to make their own version of this classic Spanish cookie. Here are a few suggestions: Replace the almonds with hazelnuts or cashews for an earthier flavor.
Nevaditos (Spanish Powdered Sugar Cookies) Nevados, or nevaditos, are another traditional Spanish cookie. From the word “nevados,” meaning “snow-capped mountains, these snow-like cookies are covered with powdered sugar. Just like polvorones and mantecados, nevaditos are also popular during Christmas.