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Polvorones (almond shortbreads)

Polvorones

Almond shortbreads

Polvorones are very short, crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth biscuits; the texture comes from using lard as the shortening. For best results, make your own lard by rendering your own pork fat, which you can buy from your butcher.

Polvorones

Serves 8
Cooking Time Prep time 15 mins, cook 35 mins (plus resting, cooling)
225 gm   (1½ cups) plain flour
110 gm   (¾ cup) natural almonds
120 gm   lard
165 gm   (¾ cup) white sugar
2½ tsp   ground cinnamon
To serve:   pure icing sugar


1 Preheat oven to 180C. Spread flour in an even layer on a baking tray lined with baking paper and toast, stirring occasionally, until golden (7-8 minutes), set aside to cool.
2 Meanwhile, spread almonds on a separate tray and toast, stirring occasionally, until light golden (5-6 minutes), cool slightly, process in a food processor until finely ground, set aside.
3 Increase oven to 200C. Beat lard, sugar and cinnamon in an electric mixer until light and fluffy (4-5 minutes), add toasted flour and reserved ground almonds, beat until just combined. Turn onto a piece of baking paper, bring together with your hands and roll to 1cm thick, refrigerate until firm (1-2 hours). Cut into biscuits using a 6cm-diameter scalloped or plain cutter (re-roll scraps) and carefully transfer with a spatula to a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake until light golden (20-25 minutes). Cool completely on tray and dust with icing sugar before serving. Polvorones will keep, stored in an airtight container, for about a week.

Note This recipe makes about 20 biscuits.

This recipe is from the October 2009 issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller.

RECIPE Emma Knowles & Lisa Featherby PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Dearnley STYLING Emma Knowles

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