Gramma's Biscochitos

My "gramma" used to make these cookies every Christmas. My grandparents lived in an old adobe house in Española, New Mexico - which is near Santa Fe. They lived on about an acre, with an old apple orchard, big cherry trees, and lots of snow in the winter. The smell reminds me of blinking red chili lights in the kitchen windows and being home. These cookies are great for snacking on or dipping in hot chocolate or coffee :)

[I've substituted an egg mixture to make these vegan. Gramma liked animals and would understand!]

Ingredients

6 cups flour (all-purpose)
3 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 anise extract
2 cups shortening (Crisco)
2 egg-replacement = 4 tablespoons water, 2 tablespoons oil, 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup brandy
1/2 cup sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions

• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together
• Mix the sugar and lard thoroughly
• Add "eggs" and anise, mix
• Add brandy, mix
• Add dry ingredients gradually, mix
• Add enough water to hold dough together (you might want to to dump the dough on the counter and see if it holds together in a pile)
• Roll dough out with a rolling pin - about 1/4" thick
• Cut cookies out (the fleur de lis is traditional, but the circle, star, diamond are what my family uses)
• Dip tops of cookies in cinnamon mixture
• Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes - or until cookies are a light brown.

Feliz navidad!