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Polvoron: Cookies 'N Cream, Milo and Pinipig

I was cleaning the pantry the other week when I found something which I haven't seen since we moved here in 2010. I really thought that I've lost it during the move. Glad to know that I didn't! I'm talking about my polvoron molds...
They were sent to me by Ryan's mom, after I broke the one that my mom gave me before we left for the US. She said I should always have these special molds so I can always make polvoron, a type of Spanish shortbread that is a popular dessert in the Philippines and is commonly given as a "pasalubong” or homecoming gift for friends and family. It is made with toasted flour, powdered milk, sugar and melted butter then pressed in the mold shown above and then wrapped in wax paper or cellophane.
 
After finding the molds, I just couldn't resist making these delicious treats! The ingredients are very simple and I have them all so there was really no reason not to make them. Clarise and Cherlin helped and we came up with three different flavors: Cookies 'N Cream, Milo and Pinipig(rice flakes).
We were able to make 108 pieces...and guess what? They're almost gone! Well, the girls really love polvoron and they are really excited with the thought that we can now make them instead of buying from the Asian store. :)


Ingredients:
Yield 108 pieces
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cup instant non fat dry milk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • ¼ cup ground Oreos (I removed the cream first before putting the Oreos in the chopper)
  • ¼ cup Milo
  • ¼ cup crushed toasted pinipig (rice flakes)
You will need:
  • Polvoron mold
  • Japanese paper or gift tissue paper cut into 5" squares, for wrapping
Procedure:
1. In a big skillet or wok over medium heat, toast flour with constant stirring for about 15 minutes or until light brown. Remove from heat and transfer flour to a big bowl. Allow to completely cool down.
2. Add the powdered milk and sugar and whisk until well combined. Add the softened butter and mix well using a pastry mixer.
3. Divide mixture into 3 equal portions. Add Oreos (including the cream you removed) in one portion, Milo in the other, and pinipig in the last portion. Mix well.
4. Scoop mixture into the mold and compact it using a spatula or spoon. Be sure that the mold is filled to the rim without gaps. Release it into prepared paper. Wrap and twist both ends of the paper. 
 5. Serve as dessert. Place leftover polvoron in an airtight container.
 

38 comments :

  1. Tina , I just buzzed these at Foodbuzz ! hahaha This morning I've been checking some of my dusty moulds and found two polvoron moulds that my mom sent eons ago but haven't use it yet ! pfffttt Thank you for the reminder that I need to make some polvoron , too ! hee hee Will steal your recipe sometime later ;D

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    1. Thanks Anne! I'm really glad I found mine! Now I can stop buying the ones from the Asian store which don't taste good at all. LOL

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  2. I have not heard neither made these polvoron. Pinipig is also new to me neither do I have the molds. The cookies simply looks gorgeous and the wrapping makes the finishing more lovely.

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    1. Pinipig is just rice flakes, Nava. As for the mold, you can just improvise using any tiny oval or round or even cubed containers.

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  3. I love the idea of doing the different flavors! These look so fun.

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  4. It is great to come across those things that you wrote off as a loss, especially if it is a kitchen gadget. After making 108 of these, I would say you put those molds to work after being dormant for so long! The varieties you made do have some great flavor elements. My first pick however would have been the oreo ones! Also, kudos to you for wrapping all of them-makes for a great presentation.

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  5. I think I have already seen Polvorones at Wok with Ray, but I still haven't tasted them (or prepared). They look gorgeous and 108 pieces sounds like lots of work!

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    1. Yes Sissi, Ray featured polvoron on his blog last December. :)
      I had 2 helpers when I made these so we were finished in no time.

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  6. This is new to me too,this is what I love about foodies friend,I learn something different,very interesting recipe,and you made 108 pcs,,,wow,,,I bet they are YUmmY,,,that why is almost gone :)
    Ridwan

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  7. Tina I always love all the recipes you make! These cookies sound amazing! Have a fantastic week!

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  8. this is out of this world heavenly! i love my cookies and this recipe is one I have to make and quick

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  9. Tina, I would love to have that platter of polvorone as a gift.

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  10. I have never heard of these. They certainly look amazing and the way they are made is so interesting and such fun!

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  11. I`ve tried this recipe and i`m really impressed, it has a very good taste. My both child tried it and they like it a lot. Thanks a lot for sharing.

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  12. Che ricetta buona...complimenti. E' sempre un piacere venire qua.
    Un bacio
    Lu

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  13. Love all three flavors in your polvoron. Though I have not eaten these before I have seen it on other blogs. Thye look really pretty wrapped up in those colorful waxed paper.

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  14. I'm so glad you got a new mold so you could share these lovely cookies with us! I'd love to sample each flavor so I could decide my favorite :)

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  15. Tina,

    That is one of the easy cookies to make love all the flavor your tried. I am in.

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  16. They must be authentic Filipino recipes, because I have not heard of them...so much "labor of love" that went into the amazing cookies and treats; wow, 108 of them!...amazing:DDD

    Thank you Tina, for your kind comment on my blog...and I also have not been to your blog in such a long time. Will frequent more often now!

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  17. I've never had these, but if they are cookies 'n cream, then I am sold!

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  18. Thank you so much for this recipe, I'm going to bookmark this! I first came across them in Bohol in about in the early 90's when I learned to SCUBA dive! The girl who ran the food stall used to serve them as sweets!

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  19. Love those little cookies, but, I gotta ask . . . what in the world do you do with all that Oreo cream? Please tell me sandwiches are involved.

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    1. I also added it in the polvoron. I just had to take it off first so I could chop the oreo cookies finely. :)

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  20. I've not heard of these, dear! But Cookies n Cream + Milo?? Gosh, I could finish in seconds. Hahaha!

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  21. Haha I can totally imagine 108 pieces are almost gone! This got to be so addicted. I'd pick one every time I pass by the jar. :-)

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  22. Is the pinipig the original or is it the one with the Milo? My husband is Filipino and I had these from the Goldilocks store when we went to Manila in February. Sooo yummy! It's a tradition in my family to make all types of candies at Christmas, so of course I had to buy a mold and make some for my American family. Thank you for the different flavors also. I would love to be able to make the Ube flavor as well. I fell in love with anything flavored with ube while I was there. Luckily we have a small Filipino supermarket where I live and I can buy it frozen. But I don't know if they have pinipig so I thought I could easily make the Milo.

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    1. Pinipig is the original version. Most Asian stores have rice flakes. They're not from the Philippines though. I think it's Vietnam made but it will work well in Polvoron. You just have to toast them in a nonstick pan until golden brown then allow them to cool down before crushing/grinding.

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  23. My hubby and I bought polvoron molds last night and searched the net for its recipe as soon as we got home because I HAVE to keep my two boys busy with something: (a) while I bake my banana bread and prepare our simple noche buena, and (b) to keep them from making me kulit on opening their christmas presents before midnight. i'm soooo glad to have found your site! I didn't only get the plain polvoron recipe, but these variations as well. Thanks, Tina! Happy Holidays to you and your family! :)

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    1. Hi Weng,

      Glad you found PiTCC! Hope you'll love it here and share the site with your friends! Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to you and your family!

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  24. hi .... my 5 yr old son request me to make him a " something good and yummy and different dessert" that he said he never tried yet so since am filipina and i found your site i wanna try your polvoron recipe because he love cookies n cream. i want to know how long this dessert will be consumed. salamat!

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  25. also if i can't buy milo and pinipig here in canada is it fine to omit this ingredients? thanks ulit!

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    1. the milo and pinipig are two other flavors of polvoron that I featured in this post. If you only want to make cookies n' cream flavor, use 1/3 of the given measurements for all purpose flour, instant non fat dry milk, sugar and butter, and just use the ground oreos.

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  26. Wow! I'm looking for this!! This is really helpful!! Thanks for this info. More power!

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  27. Oh, I need to find my polvoron molders now! I'm so glad I found this! Thank you!

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  28. Hi tina these are definitely great polvoron recipes but I just have a quick question and jm hoping ull be able to answer it...some recipes for polvoron do calls for japanese paper as the wrapping options now would that be the same tissue paper you use when gift wrapping things or not? Only reason I asked is bec I cant find japanese paper here in canada

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    1. The Japanese paper we use in the Philippines and the gift tissue paper here in the US actually look the same. But there are some gift tissue papers that leave color stains on the polvoron. So if you plan on using gift tissue paper, don't buy the ones from dollar stores, instead go for the American Greetings brand.

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