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Home » Recipe Index » Sweets and Desserts » Polvoron

Polvoron

Published: Aug 15, 2017 · Modified: Mar 6, 2019 by Lalaine Manalo · This post may contain affiliate links

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Polvoron is a Filipino-style shortbread made of toasted flour, powdered milk, sugar, and butter. Sweet, buttery, and easy to customize with different flavors, it's a delicious snack or dessert and great for gift giving, too!

Polvoron on a parchment lined cookie sheet
Polvoron

Every time I visit the Philippines, I make sure I bring at least a dozen polvoron molds back with me to the U.S.  I love making different flavors of polvorones throughout the year but I always seem to misplace my molds and can't find any when I need them.

Of course, when I DON'T need them, I find them everywhere.

polvoron mixture in a glass bowl

What does Polvorones Mean?

Polvoron is a type of shortbread popular in Spain and its former colonies in Latin America and the Philippines.  As its name which comes from the Spanish word polvo ("powder" or "dust") suggests, it's a soft, crumbly confection made of flour, milk, sugar, fat, and nuts.

While the traditional Filipino version uses powdered full cream milk, toasted flour, sugar, and butter or margarine, other ingredients such as ube (purple yam),  strawberry, pinipig (crispy rice), cashew, and cookies are also commonly added as flavor variants.

The mixture is shaped into small portions using tin molds and then wrapped individually in colorful cellophane or Japanese paper to maintain freshness.

polvoron

Tips on How to Make Polvoron

  • I find the ratio of 2 cups toasted flour, 1 cup powdered milk, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup melted butter yields a buttery and crumbly but sturdy texture.  Combine the mixture until slightly moistened; if it feels a bit dry, add additional melted butter in 1 tablespoon increments.
  • Make sure to pack the molds as compact as possible to keep the polvoron from falling apart.
  • You can also freeze them before wrapping for about for 3 to 5 minutes or until firm to help them hold shape.
  • Want another layer of yum? Freeze and then dip in melted white or dark chocolate!

holding cut polvoron with hands

Looking for more sweets and snacks? Check out this yema or pastillas recipe.

Polvoron on a parchment lined cookie sheet
Print Recipe Leave a Comment
4.21 from 69 votes

Polvoron

Polvoron is a Filipino-style shortbread made of toasted flour, powdered milk, sugar, and butter. Sweet, buttery, and easy to customize with different flavors, it's a delicious snack or dessert and great for gift giving, too!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Chill10 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Filipino
Servings: 40 Pieces
Calories: 73kcal
Author: Lalaine Manalo

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup full cream milk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup butter, melted

For the Pinipig Flavor

  • ½ cup pinipig

For the Cashew or Peanut Flavor

  • ½ cup unsalted cashew or peanut

For the Cookies and Cream Flavor

  • 6 Oreo cookies
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Instructions

  • In a skillet over medium heat, add flour. Toast, stirring regularly, until lightly browned and aromatic. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
  • In a bowl, whisk together toasted flour, powdered milk, and sugar until well-combined. Add butter and continue to stir until well-combined.
  • Transfer mixture into a flat baking dish and using a polvoron mold, shape into solid cookies. Make sure mold is as compact as possible. 
  • Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm for about 30 minutes.
  •  Wrap individually in cellophane or Japanese paper wrappers.

For the Pinipig Flavor

  • In a skillet over medium heat, add pinipig. Toast, stirring regularly, until lightly browned and begins to pop. Remove from pan and allow to cool.
  • In a food processor, process until coarsely ground. 
  • Add to polvoron mixture and whisk together until well-combined.

For the Cashew or Peanut Flavor

  • In a skillet over medium heat, add cashews or peanuts. Toast, stirring regularly, until aromatic. Remove from pan and allow to cool.
  • In a food processor, process until coarsely ground. 
  • Add to polvoron mixture and whisk together until well-combined.

For the Cookies and Cream Flavor

  • Scrape off cream filling from cookies. 
  • In a food processor, process until coarsely ground. 
  • Add to polvoron mixture plus additional 1 tablespoon butter and whisk together until well-combined.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 32mg | Potassium: 49mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 0.4mg
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Lalaine from Kawaling Pinoy

Hello! My name is Lalaine and welcome to Kawaling Pinoy where you’ll find Filipino and Asian-inspired recipes, cooking tips, and how-to videos. Read more...

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Comments

  1. Tammy says

    July 07, 2019 at 7:35 am

    Just returned from SEA and loved these treats so much that I wanted to make them here in USA. I used Nestle Nido drink mix to get full fat powered milk, I used silicon ice cube trays, and I added 1/2 cup toasted rice cereal. I also increased the butter to accommodate for the added dry ingredients. Perfect! Thanks for the recipe. Now I can share a taste of the Philippines with friends and family.

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      July 08, 2019 at 7:17 pm

      Glad it worked out for you! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Imelda h morado says

    June 07, 2019 at 12:32 am

    Hi p wede po b makahingi po mga recepe

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      June 07, 2019 at 8:57 am

      Ano pong recipe ang gusto? Lahat po nang mga recipes dito available for you 🙂

      Reply
  3. Reynaldo says

    May 28, 2019 at 9:15 am

    Hello,
    I just want to clarify one thing, do you mean refrigerate before wrapping or freezing before wrapping. To answer one of your letter sender, there's a gluten free all purpose flour in the store. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      May 28, 2019 at 7:53 pm

      Hello Reynaldo,

      I like to freeze them for a few minutes before wrapping to sturdy them up a little. And thanks for the info!

      Reply
  4. Cristeta Ramos says

    March 30, 2019 at 12:48 am

    Hello po ms lalaine, maraming salamat po sa lahat ng recipe , i love it talaga,,

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      March 31, 2019 at 6:47 am

      Thank you so much, Cristeta! I am glad nagugustuhan mo ang mga recipes and find them helpful 🙂

      Reply
  5. Mai Perez says

    March 12, 2019 at 4:52 am

    3 stars
    Hello po, puedi po ba gumamit mg powder milk na may vanilla flavor? Thanks po

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      March 13, 2019 at 6:10 am

      Yes, you can use the flavored milk. Of course, medyo iba lang konti ang magiging lasa but I think vanilla flavor will go well in polvoron 🙂

      Reply
  6. angelina s, sevilla says

    March 08, 2019 at 9:47 pm

    where can we buy the polvoron presser

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      March 09, 2019 at 7:57 am

      I bought mine when I went home to the Philippines but I think Seafood City grocery chain carries them as well (they're mostly in Southern California). Your best bet is probably online at Amazon.

      Reply
  7. Ra says

    January 10, 2019 at 8:54 pm

    5 stars
    Hi, do you use unsalted or salted butter? Thanks

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      January 11, 2019 at 3:48 pm

      I use unsalted 🙂

      Reply
  8. Joshua says

    August 30, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    5 stars
    Hi po.

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      September 01, 2018 at 12:55 am

      Hello 🙂

      Reply
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