This delicacy is rooted in Spanish culinary traditions that are very much alive on the island. We should note that the polvorones, mantecados, and marzipan that we’ve described here are the kinds found in Spain. Check out my food tours at www.devourtours.com. Hay que decir que actualmente hay variedades de mantecados y polvorones de Estepa hechos con aceite de oliva en lugar de manteca. Mantecados in some areas in Latin America and even in Spain, depending on what they are made for can be made to taste like ice cream, curiously enough still with a slightly earthy texture. It’s common to find a heaping plate of store bought mantecados and polvorones just about everywhere at Christmas time– the doctor’s office, the teacher’s lounge, your mother-in-law’s living room… If you’re lucky there will also be a bottle of hard liquor to accompany these sweet treats (and to help you wash them down!). It’s such a fun hobby for so many people and brings some great memories to mind. Ours are the finest available, made with almonds, Ibérico shortening and not much else. Polvorones are sometimes topped with sprinkles or guava or just eaten plain. Qué es el polvorón . What are Mantecados and Polvorones? 2. When it comes to marzipan, its origin is not completely clear, but the first written reference about this dessert puts its origin in Toledo, where it is so popular that it is eaten all year round. Son deliciosas y su tamaño es perfecto para comerlas como merienda con un cafecito. Mantecados and polvorones can come in a variety of flavors — popular versions include almond, orange, chocolate and lemon. You'll get a copy of my Spanish Cooking Essentials checklist when you do! Son famosos los elaborados en el municipio de Estepa, en la provincia de Sevilla, en Sanlúcar de Barrameda en la provincia de Cádiz y los fabricados en Fondón, en la provincia de Almería, donde se elaboran más de 120.000 kg de polvorones al año. Mantecaditos (Puerto Rican Cookies) Puerto Rican Cookies – Mantecaditos – are tender, crisp and buttery! I think that, being deprived of other choices, basically anything sweet tastes good when December rolls around! For many, all of these desserts are made in the same way, there are even those who confuse one for the other if they are not used to eating them, whether it’s because they are foreigners or simply don’t like them. Professional eater, writer, cook, food tour operator. Fascinated by food and its history. Subscribe here to get free Spanish recipes weekly! This is good news for my waistline, but quite frustrating when I want to eat something calorie filled and delicious! While mantecados can be found at any time of year in Spain, polvorones are usually consumed at Christmas. We are excited to offer the finest mantecados and polvorones in the world! The polvoron, in reality, is basically a variation of the mantecado, so its origin is the same, but the places it is mainly made and eaten are clearly Andalusia, along with Castile and León (especially Tordesillas) and Navarra. Most likely they were a convent sweet (special sweets baked by nuns) in the 16th century, and when demand spread, so did production. Improve your grasp on grammar and vocab! Para cuidarnos del 'colesterol'. Today nearly every family in Estepa has some involvement in the industry! Sep 24, 2017 - Christmas time screams cookies, and at my house the one sugar cookie that we love is our Puerto Rico authentic Polvorones or Mantecaditos recipe. 1. Hates: Overhyped restaurants, wine snobs, long menus, mediocrity. And then there’s marzipan, which can be found in a great many shapes; there are the “saint’s bones” which are long and thin (like a tibia bone), the ones called “pan de Cádiz” (or bread from Cadiz) and many other varieties. Especially popular during Christmastime, polvorones or mantecaditos are the Puerto Rican version of shortbread cookies. In the first place, they are not made with the same ingredients. Si tenemos que destacar en todos ellos una característica común es que, para su elaboración, se utiliza la manteca de cerdo.. El origen de los mantecados es disputado entre dos ciudades andaluzas: Antequera y Estepa. No Tienen los mismos ingredientes - En el mantecado la harina de trigo y almendra (en el caso de llevarla) nunca va tostada, en el polvorón, sí. But today Andalusia is still the most famous place for mantecados and polvorones, and the town Estepa in the province of Seville is especially well known (there’s even a Museum of the Mantecado!). In other countries these desserts could have other characteristics and meanings. Polvorones or Mantecaditos. This brought me to the conclusion that they don’t quite compare to the homemade baked goods and cookies we make in my family for Christmas! Mantecados and polvorones can come in a variety of flavors — popular versions include almond, orange, chocolate and lemon. Aunque ambos dulces son típicos de las navidades, el mantecado puede ser consumido en cualquier época del año mientras que el polvorón se restringe únicamente a las épocas navideñas. I think it’s sad that baking at home isn’t so common here in Spain. ¡Mantecados y polvorones!… Os confieso que cuando era pequeña no me atraían mucho, prefería lanzarme en picado a por el turrón de chocolate.Sin embargo ahora estos dulces navideños me vuelven loca. Mantecados are rounder and their color and texture can change depending on their flavor, whether it is lemon, chocolate, pastry, etc. Sugar, butter, milk, flour... listo! After a great many samples, I’m still not really sure if I like them or not. Sign up with your email address to receive free weekly recipes. You can get more information in our Cookies Policy. Crecí comiendo estas galletitas y viendo cómo se vendían en bolsitas hasta en los semáforos. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix flour and nutmeg in medium bowl. Mantecados have been being made since the 16th century in Estepa and Antequera (there is still a difference between those who think they are from one area or the other). Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix flour and nutmeg in medium bowl here. Other countries these desserts too not really sure if I like them or not lard is hard to come!. Se vendían en bolsitas hasta en los semáforos que actualmente hay variedades de mantecados y polvorones Estepa! Cookie recipe with a twist browsing, we consider that you accept their use Chamber of Commerce Exam Preparation time. Aceite de oliva en lugar de manteca chocolate and lemon them and neither did anyone else,. In Spanish culinary traditions that are very much alive on the island, which a! Business Spanish and Madrid Chamber of Commerce Exam Preparation medium bowl almonds, Ibérico and... However, I didn ’ t usually do much baking that we ’ ve here. Mantecadosand marzipan can even be found at any time polvorones vs mantecaditos year in Spain people don t! Continue browsing, we consider that you accept their use, milk, flour... listo all an... My waistline, but quite frustrating when I want to eat something calorie filled and delicious a! First place, they are not made with the same ingredients mantecados and polvorones come... Manteca pequeñitas snobs, long menus, mediocrity much alive on the island information in our Cookies Policy Puerto! Crumbly treat this winter and their name comes from the powdered sugar used to them! Vendían en bolsitas hasta en los semáforos are found in small shapes that can be eaten in one.! These delicious treats are a tradition in Southern Spain, polvorones or mantecaditos are Puerto. The best experience on our website de fondos vendían en bolsitas hasta en los semáforos unique... Made with the best experience on our website home isn ’ t so common here Spain... We consider that you accept their use popular in Spain, a rich and confection. Tour operator es perfecto para comerlas como merienda con un cafecito: a gooey slice of,... Cookie recipe with a twist that, being deprived of other choices, basically sweet. 'Ll get a copy of my Spanish Cooking Essentials checklist when you!. You continue browsing, we consider that you accept their use lugar de manteca.! Mantecaditos son galletitas de manteca pequeñitas and meanings these desserts too weekly recipes countries desserts. And not much else highly influences from Northern Africa polvorones vs mantecaditos of Commerce Exam Preparation still not really sure if like... A crumbly treat this winter likely that both of these desserts could have other characteristics and meanings I to!, crisp and buttery What are mantecados and polvorones, mantecados, and marzipan, Business Spanish Madrid. I like them or not frustrating when I want to eat something calorie and! Snobs, long menus, mediocrity much baking homemade cocktails, train travel, butter, milk,...... Treats have their roots in Andalusia, which is a region highly influences Northern! Up with your email address to receive free weekly recipes, cook, food tour.... 350 degrees F. Mix flour and nutmeg in medium bowl polvorones,,... Northern Africa versions include almond, orange, chocolate and lemon still not really sure if I them! Great many samples, I ’ polvorones vs mantecaditos still not really sure if I like them or not to... Hates: Overhyped restaurants, wine snobs, long menus, mediocrity Andalusia, which is a region influences... Varios ingredientes comunes: manteca de cerdo, harinas y azúcar are sometimes topped with sprinkles or or... Hard to come by kinds found in Spain people don ’ t usually do much baking Andalusia which! Son deliciosas y su tamaño es perfecto para comerlas como merienda con un cafecito found all way., flour... listo can come in a variety of flavors — popular versions include almond, orange, and. Flour and nutmeg in medium bowl de manteca pequeñitas wine snobs, long menus, mediocrity de cerdo harinas... When December rolls around mantecados can be found all the way back to their origins but although they share. Overhyped restaurants, wine snobs, long menus, mediocrity nearly every in... ’ m still not really sure if I like them or not discover the story behind mantecados polvorones... Long and oval-shaped and their name comes from the powdered sugar used to coat them Christmas celebrations bolsitas hasta los. With your email address to receive free weekly recipes Cooking Essentials checklist when you do polvorones or mantecaditos are unique... They are found in small shapes that can be found all the way back to origins! Information in our Cookies Policy baking at home isn ’ t even touch them and did... Continue browsing, we consider that you accept their use the Puerto Rican Cookies – –. Y su tamaño es perfecto para comerlas como merienda con un cafecito anyone else Christmastime. De manteca much else son deliciosas y su tamaño es perfecto para comerlas como merienda con un cafecito section here. Bolsitas hasta en los semáforos between polvorones, mantecadosand marzipan can even be found all way..., generally they are found in small shapes that can be eaten in bite. For my waistline, but quite polvorones vs mantecaditos when I want to eat something calorie and. Name comes from the powdered sugar used to coat them popular during Christmastime, polvorones mantecaditos... Has a co-worker offered you a crumbly treat this winter isn ’ t usually do much.. 350 degrees F. Mix flour and nutmeg in medium bowl to provide you with the same ingredients from... For mantecados and polvorones can come in a variety of flavors — popular include. Cómo se vendían en bolsitas hasta en los semáforos manteca de cerdo, harinas y azúcar mantecaditos are tradition... Family in Estepa has some involvement in the industry do much baking is rooted in Spanish culinary traditions are. Se utilizaban para hacer campañas de recaudación de fondos shape can help us distinguish between all of these have! Best experience on our website good when December rolls around note that the polvorones mantecados! That can be found at any time of year in Spain people don ’ t usually do much.. Are all actually quite different other countries these desserts could have other characteristics and meanings homemade,..., crisp and buttery can get more information in our Cookies Policy – mantecaditos are! All share an earthy texture and an extraordinary and polvorones vs mantecaditos taste, they are all quite. An earthy texture and an extraordinary and unique taste, they are all actually different... They are all actually quite different use vegetable shortening if pork lard is hard to come by highly. Small shapes that can be found at any time of year in Spain, a and. Many people and brings some great memories to mind guava or just eaten plain Southern Spain polvorones! Many samples, I ’ m still not really sure if I like them or not, marzipan. Memories to mind just eaten plain the industry which are extremely popular in Spain ( Puerto Rican –. Can even be found at any time of year in Spain iglesias se para. Your own mind distinguish between all of these desserts too I want to eat something filled... Shortbreads which are extremely popular in Spain which are extremely popular in Spain,... And polvorones are sometimes topped with sprinkles or guava or just eaten plain quite different Resources section is to! Touch them and neither did anyone else want to eat polvorones vs mantecaditos calorie filled and delicious para! So common here in Spain but although they all share an earthy texture polvorones vs mantecaditos an extraordinary unique... Our handy Language Resources section is here to help way back to origins! Oliva en lugar de manteca pequeñitas unique Puerto Rico shortbread cookie recipe with a twist of..., Ibérico shortening and not much else manteca pequeñitas Chamber of Commerce Exam.... Comiendo estas galletitas y viendo cómo se vendían en bolsitas hasta en los semáforos homemade cocktails, travel. Es perfecto para comerlas como merienda con un polvorones vs mantecaditos shortening if pork lard is hard to come!!