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Marranitos Enfiestados

4.2

(28)

Image may contain Food Pork and Plant
Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Sue Li

“Mexican food is not subtle,” says Rick Martinez. “But the popular pig-shaped cookies known as marranitos (or puerquitos, or chochitos, or cochis, depending on what part of the country you’re in), showcase the beauty of one ingredient: piloncillo, an unrefined dark cane sugar with a smoky molasses-caramel flavor. I love these cookies just as they are and have eaten them in almost every state in Mexico (seriously: 26 of 31, plus CDMX). But for the holidays I’m giving them my personal Sugarman touch. You know, a ‘these are gonna win the swap and then break Instagram’ kind of touch. So obviously they’re done in Beyoncé-inspired cow print with two ginger-spiced doughs—the darker one with traditional piloncillo and the lighter one with agave syrup. Plus an outline of colorful sprinkles or sanding sugar, because these piggies came to party.”