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Today’s Mexican Chocolate Shortbread cookies are light yet rich, slightly spicy and intensely chocolatey cookies that absolutely melt in your mouth!

Mexican Chocolate Shortbread Recipe

These Mexican chocolate shortbread cookies are crispy, crunchy but melt-in-your mouth buttery with just a tingle of lingering heat.

They are the perfect cookie to serve with a big glass of milk – even if it’s just to cool down your tongue!

Ancho chile powder isn’t very spicy itself, but rather brings out the spiciness of the cinnamon, while adding a hit of earthiness and smokiness itself. If you want more spice, use cayenne pepper in place of the ancho chile powder.

The inspiration for these cookies is Mexican hot chocolate, a rich and decadent hot chocolate made with chocolate, sugar, cinnamon and different spices that originated thousands of years ago in ancient Mayan times.

Mexican hot chocolate was originally used in Mayan religious rituals and marriage ceremonies and was quite bitter, with chiles and vanilla mixed in with the cocoa beans. Spanish colonizers eventually introduced sugar and cinnamon into the recipe, bringing it closer to how Mexican hot chocolate tastes today.

Different spices are used in different parts of Mexico – and like any traditional food, different families bring their own unique touches. Some recipes call for allspice, annatto, cardamom, anise, cayenne pepper, etc – so, feel free to adjust this recipe to include any of these spices according to your personal preferences.

They are perfect for a Christmas cookie exchange, Cinco de Mayo celebration or a Disney’s Coco family movie night.

Mexican Chocolate Cookie FAQs

How to store Mexican Chocolate Shortbread cookies: Store the baked cookies in an airtight container for one week at room temperature. (They can be stored in the fridge for longer.)

How to freeze Mexican Chocolate Shortbread Cookies: The baked cookies can be frozen for up to 2 months by storing in ziptop freezer bags or your favorite freezer containers. (This set of freezer containers is a crazy bargain.)

You can also freeze the unbaked dough for up to three months. To freeze the shortbread dough, roll it into a log then wrap with plastic wrap or parchment paper before placing in an airtight ziptop freezer bag.

When ready to make, allow the dough to come to room temperature before rolling out and baking as directed in the recipe below.

Mexican Chocolate Shortbread Ingredients

• 2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2⁄3 cup cocoa powder
• 3 teaspoons ancho chile powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper, optional
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2⁄3 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄4 cup white sugar to sprinkle on top of cookies

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: omit the black pepper and add spices like cardamom or anise, according to personal preferences.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Mixing Bowl
• Electric mixer <– this is a great hand mixer if you don’t want to make the investment into a stand mixer
• Cookie Sheet
• Silicone baking mat
• 3″ Ridged Circle Cookie Cutter

How to Make Mexican Shortbread Cookies

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, chile powder, cinnamon, salt and black pepper. Set aside.

In a separate large bowl, beat together the butter, 2/3 cup sugar and vanilla for 2 minutes until light and creamy.

Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the butter-sugar mixture until a cohesive dough forms.

Roll out the dough to about 1/4″ to 1/2″ thickness and cut into cookie shapes.

Place the unbaked cookies on the prepared cookie sheets and freeze for 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.

Remove the dough from the freezer and sprinkle with reserved 1/4 cup white sugar.

Bake the cookies for 15-20 minutes, until set.

Remove the cookies from the oven and allow to cool completely before storing or serving.

Pin this Easy Mexican Chocolate Shortbread Cookie for a unique cookie perfect for gifting:

Grab your free printable recipe card for our Mexican Chocolate Shortbread cookies:

I hope your family loves this unique chocolate shortbread cookie recipe as much as mine does!

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