Puerto Rican Cookies – Mantecaditos – are tender, crisp and buttery! Sometimes called polvorones puertorirqueños these festive cookies with sprinkles or guava paste are especially popular for Christmas! This recipe is adapted from the Puerto Rican Cookery cookbook by Carmen Valldejuli.
Pin these to your cookie board! These Mantecaditos are tender, crisp, buttery Puerto Rican shortbread cookies! Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper, or use an ungreased cookie pan. In a large bowl, cream butter, shortening (or lard) and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
The name comes from the word "polvo" which means "dust" in spanish, and which references the powdery sugar that covers the cookie, as well as the trademark crumbly texture of the cookie itself. You may know these as "Mexican Wedding Cookies" or even "Russian Tea Cakes."