Friday, December 23, 2022

Mexican Bridecakes from @MaddieDayAuthor #Christmas #giveaway

MADDIE DAY: I learned to bake Mexican Bridecakes from my mother, a recipe that came from my father's mother, Dorothy. I can't remember a Christmas without these treats, and I'm seventy!

I bake this simple cookie every year as part of my Christmas sweets repertoire. When I sink my teeth into the crisp buttery squares, I hear my father admiring how "short" they are, meaning how much butter is part of the recipe. 


I included the recipe in Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse, my novella included in Christmas Cocoa Murder, but I recently realized I'd never shared the recipe here!


I had to rewrite the recipe card about ten years ago. The card on which I'd copied my mom's recipe when I was a child was finally almost too yellow and ripped to read.


Both my sisters still make the cookies, as well as my cousins who share Dot as a grandmother. 

What follows is a slightly augmented version of the recipe card, to clarify procedures I will never forget (unless I get to the point where I can't even remember people's names...).

Mexican Bridecakes

Ingredients


I cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup powdered sugar, plus another 1/2 cup for sifting

2 cups flour

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream the butter and sugar. Add the vanilla.


Mix in flour, nuts, and salt. (I didn't use the nuts in this version.)



On a lightly floured surface, gather the dough into a disk. 




Wrap and chill for half an hour. Press or roll onto a cookie sheet. Note: it doesn't spread, so you don't need the rim.


Bake for about fifteen minutes, checking carefully to be sure it doesn't burn. Cool on a wire rack.




While still warm, sift powdered sugar over the top. 


I still use my mother's antique sifter.


Cut into inch squares.


Enjoy with cocoa and a good book!



I'll send one commenter a signed copy of Christmas Cocoa Murder

Readers: How do you like your cocoa? Do you make a version of this cookie?

My most recent release is Murder in a Cape Cottage, the fourth Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery, which came out in September.


"Scarfed Down," my Country Store novella in the collection Christmas Scarf Murder released the same day.
My next release is Four Leaf Cleaver, out in late January.


Check out all my writing!





We hope you'll visit Maddie and her Agatha Award-winning alter ego Edith Maxwell on our web site, sign up for our monthly newsletter, visit us on social media, and check our all our books and short stories.

Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell) is a talented amateur chef and holds a PhD in Linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-winning and bestselling author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau and sweet cat Martin north of Boston, where she’s currently working on her next mystery when she isn’t cooking up something delectable in the kitchen.







36 comments:

  1. Those cookies look yummy...and fairly easy to make. I drink my hot chocolate plain or with a peppermint stick or maybe a splash of amaretto or Irish cream.
    Thanks for the chance to win.
    Happy Holidays!

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  2. Never made a cookie like this but they look good. I like my chocolate with lots of marshmallows. Sometimes I'll get one of of the flavored mixes too- caramel, mint, raspberry, vanilla, etc.
    kozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  3. Welcome today. Thanks for sharing this yummy looking recipe. I love my hot chocolate with a cinnamon stick. Your book looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for the give a way. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  4. Ok, first. You're 70?? Wow, I hope I look that good when I'm that age! I like my cocoa with a peppermint stick in it. I just made my daughter some cookies almost identical to these, but with m & m's in them. Her favorite.

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  5. I love my hot cocoa with a lot of mini marshmallows and scalding hot so I can sip it for a long time. I haven't made those cookies but do make Chocolate Crinkle Cookies. Thank you for the chance to win. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com

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    Replies
    1. April, you are our lucky winner! Congratulations, and please check your email.

      Delete
  6. I make the Mexican wedding cookies, crescents and snowballs like to drink hot tea with lemon, hot apple cider or cocoa with marshmallows
    deborahortega229@yahoo.com

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  7. Edith those look delicious! Thanks for sharing.

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  8. I like my cocoa plain. sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  9. I've never heard of these cookies but they sure look good. Thanks for the recipe. I like a few mini marshmallows in my hot chocolate. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com

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  10. Thank you for this wonderful recipe, Maddie! We just finished eating Fortnum & Mason's shortbread cookies which were available for like a day at Target, so I was going to find a recipe for shortbread cookies online to make today...and PRESTO! Your recipe sounds much better than just a simple shortbread...fortunately we have all the ingredients! Thank you so much for the detailed descriptions and photos! My favorite Christmas cookies are Pecan Tassies, which I made yesterday, and have already enjoyed 4 out of the 48 little mini pies that resulted in hours of fun making them. My cocoa? Thick and rich with milk...melted chocolate in a slow cooker with a cinnamon stick for extra punch...and mini marshmallows...how fun to enjoy while reading one of your cozy mysteries. Just reviewed Christmas Scarf Murder, and loved your novella! Merry Christmas!!! Luis at ole dot travel

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  11. Thank you for this yummy and simple recipe! It sounds delicious and I will be trying it. I also saved the recipe to my Pinterest recipe file. :)

    Love my cocoa hot with marshmallows as my standard to go type of cocoa. However, I've been experimenting with flavors this year as well. The one with mint flavor added brought up such fond memories of our daughter's great love for mint. Although get for an occasional change of pace, I always come back to the standard cocoa. I have to admit that when time allows, I still prefer the homemade version opposed to the ready mix.

    Thank you for the wonderful chance to win a copy of "Christmas Cocoa Murder"! I would love the opportunity to read and review it.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  12. These biscuits are delectable and perfect. I will be making them for the family. I love cocoa with milk and very hot. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. What yummy squares. The flavor is just what I enjoy and I will savor every bite. When I drink cocoa all winter I heat milk up on the stove like the olden days and just enjoy every sip while thinking about life, and my mother who used to prepare hot cocoa everyday for me since we lived in a very cold clime. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  14. I like my cocoa with either a bit of Mayan Chocolate (a hint of chili in it) or a candy cane for that lovely peppermint flavor. I usually make Mexican Wedding cookies which are similar, but these look simpler and very tasty. Thanks for sharing it. Hope you have a very Happy Holiday season! makennedyinaz(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  15. Your recipe looks fabulous. I have made a similar cookie where the dough is rolled into balls and baked. We called it Mexican Wedding Cookies. I like my hot chocolate all the way over the top with both marshmallows and whipped cream to boot! I have read and enjoyed so many of your books. Thank you for this giveaway opportunity.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  16. I'm with your dad on these. Delciously "short". Bring them on!

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  17. I am familiar with the little round ones, this looks easier in the pan! Yum! I like cocoa or tea with cookies like that! Thanks! Jholden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. I like marshmallows in my hot chocolate. We make a similar recipe, it also uses powdered sugar and has no eggs. It's our favorite Christmas cookie that my Mom used to make. We've made them once this year and are going to make them again for Christmas. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. I’m going to try these Edith! I make Mexican polverones from the “Sundays at Moosewood” cookbook I bought in the late 80s/early 90s. Similar to yours only you roll them into little balss and dredge in confectioner’s sugar and cinnamon before baking. I just made 4 dozen of them. Happy Christmas! Suzette C.

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  20. My favorite cocoa must have lots of whipped cream on top. This recipe looks so good.
    lindalou64(@)live(dot)com

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  21. These Mexican Bridecakes look deliciously yummy!! Looking at the recipe, it looks quite similar to the Mexican Wedding Cookies that we love to make, are they the same desserts? I think I may try out these squares!
    I always love hot drinks - all year round! I would have my cocoa plain and piping hot!!
    Thank you for the giveaway. Happy Holidays to you and your family!
    cwkuen(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  22. This is similar to a recipe my mother called called Butter Press cookies. The dough was made and squeezed through a cookie press which came out as Christmas shaped cookies. I'm over 80 and can't turn the press anymore so had to stop making them about 10 years ago, (Unfortunately, no daughter to carry on the tradition.) I might try this recipe since the dough is spread onto the cookie sheet. Thanks for sharing!

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  23. This recipe reminds me of Russian Tea Cookies, always a tasty accompaniment to a cup of tea and a cozy mystery! Or they would be really good with a peppermint cocoa or maybe a cocoa with a dash of Bailey's Chocolate Cherry Irish Creme.
    The Christmas Scarf Murder is so unique, to have three authors, three different stories, and all three have scarf for the weapon. Were you three asked to write a story with a scarf or was it a joint venture that just worked out that way? thanks for the opportunity! tracy.condie@gmail.com

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  24. Sounds like a yummy recipe. Reading Four leaf cleaver right now.

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  25. I like my hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream. I definitely have to make this recipe. I love your books. Thank you for this chance! areewekidding(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  26. I like dark chocolate hot chocolate. I have a version of this recipe from my mother-in-law. And I love your books!

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  27. I like my hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows and some whipped cream. Love your books. Thanks for the chance!

    jarjm1980(@)hotmail(dot)com

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  28. I like my hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream. I haven't tried a recipe like that one before. Thanks for sharing. cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  29. I would like to try these cookies with nuts and have some hot chocolate! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com

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  30. We like Swiss Miss Cocoa & I like mine topped with whipped cream. My Mom made these cookies but called them Pecan Sandies & shaped them in half moons.

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  31. Without marshmallows but with whipped cream on top! tWarner419@aol.com

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  32. Aprilbluetx is our lucky winner! Congratulations, April, and please check your email.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thank you for sharing this recipe - I will have to make them. I can use the new new rolling pin I received that leaves impressions in the rolled out dough. I like my cocoa with anything or even plain. Merry Christmas. madamhawk at gmail dot com

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