I’m so excited to share this New Mexico biscochito recipe with you all.
SO excited, because they’re flipping amazing, and one of the few cookies I look forward to all year long.
I grew up eating biscochitos—a delightful little cookie dusted with cinnamon and sugar.
Made right, and your taste buds will dance with delight in a treat so tender and flakey that the cookie practically melts in your mouth.
The name biscochito comes from the Spanish word bizcocho, which means “cake.” So, in English, biscochito means “little cake.” (But honestly, I’d rather eat a dozen of these little cookies than a single bite of cake. They’re that good.)
And if you’re lucky enough to try one of my Tia France’s biscochitos, you’re in even more luck—hers are the literal best I’ve ever tasted. She says she follows this recipe, but I’m certain she adds some sort of magic to hers.
Biscochitos typically emerge around the holidays, or you’ll see them pop up for special occasions.
Because they’re not your every-day cookie, they’ve always been somewhat of a delicacy in my mind.
Another thing that makes biscochitos the creme of the cookie crop is that they’re the official New Mexico state cookie.
And another fun fact for ya: depending on what region you’re from in New Mexico, they’re spelled different (biscochitos, bizcochitos, biscochos, etc.), but still taste pretty much the same.
They’re also made with lard. Yes, straight up lard, and don’t even think about making with anything but lard. Trust me on this. The texture is perfection when you use lard.
You also need to make them with love—not kidding.
One last thing: traditionally, a biscochito recipe is made with anise (a teeny tiny seed that tastes a bit like black licorice). But, I grew up eating them without anise, so that’s how I make these. If you like anise, add it to the mix!
New Mexico Biscochito Recipe
Biscochitos
Ingredients
- 2 cups lard (like Morrell Snow Cap Lard linked above)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 whole eggs
- 6 cups flour
- 3 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon anise seed (optional)
- 6 TBS sweet table wine (Mogen David Concord works great)
- ½ cup sugar (for sprinkling; may need a bit more)
- 4 TBS cinnamon (for sprinkling may need a bit more)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Cream lard and 1 cup sugar together until creamy. Add egg and beat until very fluffy.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture.
- Stir and mix in wine (and anise seed, if using) until it's a dough-like consistency (may need to knead).
- Roll dough out on floured board to 1/8" thickness. Cut into desired shape; place on baking sheets 1/2" apart.
- Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon; sprinkle on top of each cookie.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Combine the rest of the sugar and cinnamon. Once out of the oven immediately cover the entire cookie with cinnamon sugar mix. Enjoy!
If you’re looking for more favorite flavors from New Mexico, try these!
Biscochito Handy Helpers
The biscochito recipe is pretty straight forward, but here are a few gadgets that can help take your baking experience to the next level. These tried and true tools will make your baking easier.
Stoneware is awesome for baking like the Large Round Stone; Nylon Turner (my husband’s all-time favorite spatula), Stackable Cooling Rack, a set of Stainless Steel Bowls, and a Sugar Shaker (fill it with cinnamon sugar instead of powdered sugar to make things easier on you).
Let Me Know What You Think!
Have you tried these? I’d love to know what you think of them!
Okay, you’ve convinced me! I definitely have to give these a try! Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe Jessica!
These honestly look amazing. I don’t bake much outside of Christmas, but I think I’ll have to try these around the holidays!
OilCould you tell me if you could use or ever used Organic Virgin Coconut oil from Costco. I have this large container and need to use it up.
I’m so sorry, we’ve never used coconut oil with these. But if you try it, let me know how they are!
Christmas and biscochitos is a must from a Santa Fe girl moved to Florida. Thanks for the recipe, lost mine. Came out great. Don’t even consider anything but lard.
I’m so glad they gave you a piece of home to enjoy!
This is a bonafide New Mexico recipe, right down to the Mogen David table wine. My people are from New Mexico and Southern Colorado and these cookies have been a part of our Christmas celebrations for generations. It made me SO happy to see this recipe. Merry Christmas, Jessica Lynn.
–MC
thank you so much for your comment. I hope you’ll enjoy these! Such a wonderful holiday tradition!
Hi Jessica. Thank uou so much for the recipe. My mom and her family are from New Mexico, and moved to Colorado in the 60s. We still have a lot of extended family in NM and my mom still keeps many family-favorite NM recipes alive. Can you tell me if you’ve used orange juice in place of the table wine? My mom and I were discussing the various liquid substitutions last week and she recalled my great grandma using orange juice in her biscochitos recipe.
Hi Rhiannon! I’m so happy you stumbled on this recipe. I have not used orange juice; however, we’re living in Germany now, and I don’t know if they’ll have my trusty Mogen David, so I just might have to improvise with some OJ! If you try it first, let me know how it is 🙂
I picked up Mogen David Concord wine today at the local liquor store. I’m so excited to try this recipe. My mom is anxious to taste test, as well. 🙂
How would I New Mexican Bizcochito Spice seasoning I bought when I was on vacation there? It is a blend of sugar, anise, vanilla extract and beans, cinnamon and mace. Thanks!
IMO anise seed isn’t optional – it’s mandatory. You can grind them up if you don’t care for the whole seed getting stuck in your teeth 🙂
To each their own; we’ve just never cared for the taste (ironically, whole little seeds don’t bother me)!
So I too lost my receipe . How do you measure the two cups of lard?? Do you melt it?
The lard we’ve used is always soft enough that you can scoop to measure it out; much like if you get crisco in the container!
We use brandy, also there is anise extract for anyone who is interested.
Thank you for sharing!
I actually just saw anise extract at the store for the first time yesterday! Great tip 🙂
Hi jessica, im so egar to bake this recipe but i must ask if wine is mandutory? What is the wine for , taste?
Unfortunately I can’t tell you *why* the wine is needed, but I’ve heard from people who haven’t used it that it definitely needs to be there. We’re actually going to experiment with brandy this year, and I’ve heard that some people make it with orange juice, but I can’t tell you how it’ll turn out if you use either of those.
Hi Jessica Lynn,
I use to live in Arroyo Seco just north of Taos, now in the Colorado Rockies, and am making biscochitos for Christmas. After making 4 dozen, the remaining scraps of dough aren’t sticking together in order to cut cookies out. Should I add more lard or what. I think there are about enough to make another half dozen cookies if I could get the dough going. ? wine? Delighted to find your recipes.
Hi! Are these the cookies that crumble in your mouth?
I tried different recipes and they always harden a little! I tried these cookies at a Mexican wedding and tried to make them myself but seems like i cant find the perfect recipe
Hello 🙂 Yes, these are super fragile cookies, especially if you use lard—they’ll definitely crumble!
I made this recipe 3 ways. First way was gluten free for my neighbors who require it, they were more dry then I normally expect. Second way was the recipe way, pretty decent! Third way, I had the dough rest for 24 hrs in the fridge, rolled the dough to be a little thicker, and I baked them for a shorter amount of time. I think the third way was my preferred choice but all around this was a great recipe and reminded me of home! Thank you!!
thanks for the ideas!! Glad they all worked out for you!
This is THE only biscochito recipe you’ll ever need. I’m a native New Mexican and this is by far the best I’ve seen on the internet. I do crush my anise seed coarsely, just enough to release the essence of the seeds, and add a tsp of anise extract. I also use rum, but have used brandy or wine as well. These melt in your mouth and are the taste of the holidays! Thanks for posting Jessica!
Hello! Just wondering if the Mogen David Concord is the red one? Think there is also a fruit flavor as well, but not really having any luck finding it
Yes, it’ll look red! I’ve seen a pomegranate, a blackberry, zinfandel and moscato, but the only one I’ve used is concord. And 9 times out of ten if I’m at a new store, I’ve had to ask someone to help me find it—it’s never where I thought it would be.
Thank you!
Is there an alternative to the wine? What else can I use want to try these cookies but don’t have the wine