Cochinito de piloncillo facts for kids
Cochinitos sold by a street vendor at a fair in Cuajimalpa, Mexico City
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| Alternative names | Marranitos, cochinitos and puerquitos |
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| Type | Bread |
| Place of origin | Mexico |
| Associated national cuisine | Mexican breads, pan dulce |
Cochinitos de piloncillo are a yummy sweet bread from Mexico. People also call them marranitos, cochinitos, or puerquitos. All these names mean "little pigs" in Spanish.
These tasty treats are made with "piloncillo". Piloncillo is a special type of sweetener. It comes from sugar cane. You can find cochinitos in bakeries all over Mexico and in the United States.
The Story of Cochinitos
Cochinitos de piloncillo were first baked in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. This happened a long time ago, in the 1500s.
Why are they shaped like pigs?
The name "cochinito" means "little pig". This is because the bread is shaped like a pig! When people from Spain came to Mexico, they brought new animals. These animals included horses, cows, sheep, donkeys, and pigs.
The people living in Mexico before the Spanish arrived had never seen these animals. Later, when they learned how to bake bread, they got creative. They started using new ingredients and making bread in fun shapes, like the pig!
See also
In Spanish: Chichimbré para niños
