Polvorón facts for kids
Two halves of a polvorón
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| Type | Shortbread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Spain |
| Region or state | Andalusia |
| Main ingredients | Flour, sugar, milk, nuts |
| Similar dishes | |
A polvorón is a yummy, crumbly Spanish cookie. Its name comes from the Spanish word for 'powder' because it crumbles easily! It's made with flour, sugar, milk, and nuts, especially almonds.
Most polvorones come from Andalusia in Spain. Many factories there work together to make these cookies. Polvorones are popular holiday treats in Spain, Hispanic America, and the Philippines. They were traditionally made from September to January, but you can find them all year now.
Contents
What is a Mantecado?
A mantecado is another type of Spanish shortbread. The name mantecado comes from manteca, which means lard. This is usually the fat from an Iberian pig.
Sometimes, people use the words polvorón and mantecado to mean the same thing. However, not all mantecados are polvorones. The main difference is that polvorones are named for how easily they crumble into a powder.
In Cuba and Puerto Rico, mantecado is a type of ice cream. In the Philippines, mantecado is a popular traditional ice cream flavor. It tastes like a mix of vanilla and butter.
Polvorón Around the World
Polvorones and mantecados are enjoyed in many places. Each country often adds its own special twist to the recipe.
Cuba's Mantecado Ice Cream
In Cuba, mantecado is one of the most common ice cream flavors. Spain had a big influence on Cuba. Because of this, the Spanish mantecado cookie flavor was turned into a delicious ice cream. Many people call this Cuban flavor a "Latin vanilla." It has even inspired ice cream flavors in other Latin American places like Puerto Rico.
Philippines' Polvorón
The Filipino version of polvorón is sometimes spelled "polboron" or "pulburon." It uses a lot of powdered milk and toasted flour. Instead of lard, it uses butter or margarine.
There are many local versions of the Filipino polvorón. Some popular ones include:
- With kasuy (cashew nut)
- With pinipig (pounded and toasted young green rice)
- With malunggay leaves
You can also find polvorón in flavors like strawberry, chocolate-coated, ube (purple yam), peanut, and cookies and cream.
Spain's Christmas Polvorones
Polvorones are a common Christmas dessert in Spain. Today, you can find different types of fat used in these sweets. Some are made with butter instead of pig fat. There are also vegetarian polvorones and mantecados made with olive oil.
United States' Pan de Polvo
In the south Texas region of the United States, this sweet is sometimes called Pan de Polvo. It is made with anise, which gives it a unique flavor.
Images for kids
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Mantecados (not polvorones) and their traditional wrappers.
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See also
In Spanish: Polvorón para niños
