Perrunillas Recipe: Traditional Extremaduran Sweet Treats 2026

Perrunillas are a traditional convent sweet from Extremadura and Salamanca, the kind of humble cookie that has been served at the end of family meals for generations. Made with pork lard, sweet anise liqueur, lemon zest and a whole almond on top, they are simple, fragrant and utterly addictive.

This dough comes together in a wet, easy-to-handle mass that bakes into a crisp sugared shell with a lightly cakey interior. Rolled in white sugar before baking, each little round gets a golden finish and a toasty almond center.

They keep beautifully for several days in an airtight tin, staying as good as freshly made. Serve them with coffee to close out a celebration, or enjoy one any afternoon you crave a taste of old-fashioned Spanish baking.

Ingredients for Perrunillas

This makes about 25 small cookies, enough to fill a tin for the week.

• 125 g pork lard, at room temperature
• 125 g sweet anise liqueur
• 150 g white sugar
• 2 medium eggs
• 2 medium egg yolks
• Zest of one lemon
• 500 g wheat flour
• 16 g baking powder (Royal type)
• 50 g white sugar, for coating
• 25 raw skinless almonds

How to Make Perrunillas Step by Step

1. Mix the lard and anise

Combine 125 grams of pork lard with 125 grams of anise liqueur until they come together. It may resist at first, but with a little patience they will blend smoothly.

2. Add sugar, eggs and lemon

Add 150 grams of white sugar, 2 medium eggs, 2 medium egg yolks and the zest of one lemon. Stir everything into the lard and anise mixture until fully integrated.

3. Add the flour and baking powder

Add 500 grams of wheat flour together with 16 grams of baking powder. Mix very well until no traces of dry flour remain.

4. Portion and roll the dough

Divide the dough into about 25 portions and roll each one lightly into a ball.

5. Coat in white sugar

Roll the dough balls in the 50 grams of white sugar so each one is evenly coated.

6. Top with almonds and bake

Place the sugared dough balls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and press each one down slightly. Set a raw skinless almond in the center of each ball. Bake in a preheated oven at 190 °C with top and bottom heat for 20 minutes, or until lightly golden.

7. Cool on the tray and a rack

Remove from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes on the tray. Then transfer them to a rack until completely cool.

8. Serve the perrunillas

Serve the perrunillas once cooled, or store them for later. They are at their best alongside a cup of coffee.

Tips for the Best Perrunillas

Work with soft lard

Start with the pork lard at room temperature so it blends easily with the anise liqueur. If it is cold and stiff, the mixture will fight you and the dough can turn uneven.

Mix until no flour remains

Stop mixing as soon as the flour and baking powder are fully absorbed. Overworking the dough will give you tougher cookies instead of the lightly cakey interior these should have.

Store them airtight

Keep the cookies in a tin or airtight container and they will hold up perfectly for several days, tasting as good as freshly made. The sugar coating stays crisp and the almond keeps its toast.

30 Top Dishes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Much like me, you probably like having a rotation of fuss-free comfort dishes, well-known global plates, and desserts that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, I tend to reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And any time a fruity, cozy dessert sounds good, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

On mornings when I want something quick and on lighter days, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, I'm fond of making this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe.

For tapas nights and Mediterranean flavors, I switch between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit fancier.

Come lunchtime cravings or a cozy evening meal, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. Should I be after something more substantial, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Any time street-food style or party-ready plates are calling, I'll usually fix this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine to set out as a light starter or snack.

And when drinks plus a whole spread are on the agenda for company, I'll typically serve dinner alongside this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. Then to fill out the table, I like to add this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side or finish things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Additional Tasty Recipes to Cook for Loved Ones

After years of trying and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the greatest dishes balance ease, dependable methods, and big flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the very ones I keep coming back to, time and again—whether I'm throwing together a fast meal just for me or putting on something memorable for friends and family.

For a sweet finish, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to whenever I want something elegant yet effortless. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe shows exactly how I make it at home.

Whenever something light and uncomplicated is what I'm craving, I reach for the familiar Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For fuller comfort meals, I'm quick to point to the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm equally fond of passing along dishes rooted in tradition from across the globe, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the timeless Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I return to often, since it cuts down on time while still delivering excellent texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that baked pasta classics can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply satisfying minus the gluten.

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