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Pepas de membrillo
Pepas: small butter cookies with a dab of quince jam baked into the centre
Pepas are the little round cookies with a jewel of quince jam in the middle that Argentine kiosks sell by the bag and grandmothers keep in a tin for the mate round. They are tender and crumbly, not crisp, with just enough sugar that the tart, dark membrillo stands out. Children love pressing the thumbprint and filling it, which makes them a good first baking job, and they keep for a week in an airtight jar. Kiosk versions are often made with margarine; butter tastes far better. Overbaking is the usual problem: take them out while the tops are still pale and only the bottoms are golden, because they firm up as they cool. Chef's tip: use quince paste softened with a spoonful of hot water and pipe it from a small bag; a spoon leaves smears on the dough that burn.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 24
Ingredients
- 3 ½ oz unsalted buttersoft
- 3 ½ oz caster sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 9 oz plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 5 ½ oz quince pastedulce de membrillo
- 2 tbsp hot water
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan) and line two baking trays with baking paper.
Step 2: Beat 3 ½ oz unsalted butter and 3 ½ oz caster sugar until creamy, then beat in 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract until smooth.
3 minStep 3: Stir in 9 oz plain flour and 1 tsp baking powder with a spoon, then bring it together with your hands into a soft dough that does not stick.
Step 4: Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls, set them 3 cm apart on the trays and press a deep dent into each with your thumb or the end of a wooden spoon.
Step 5: Mash 5 ½ oz quince paste with 2 tbsp hot water in a small pan over a low heat until it is smooth, then fill each dent with about half a teaspoon.
3 minStep 6: Bake for 12–15 minutes, until the bottoms are light gold but the tops are still pale. Cool on the tray for 5 minutes, then on a rack.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 105 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pepas de membrillo take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 24 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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