History

Biscochitos arrived with Spanish colonists in the 1600s and adapted to New Mexico ingredients over centuries. The recipe traditionally uses lard, anise seed and a hint of brandy. In 1989, the New Mexico legislature designated the biscochito the official state cookie, making it the first US state to do so. Celina's Biscochitos and ABC Cake Shop are the canonical Albuquerque bakers.

Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy

Make it at home

Yield 36Hands-on 30 minTotal 2 hrDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 500g all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 230g lard (or unsalted butter, softened)
  • 200g sugar, plus 50g for coating
  • 1 egg
  • 1.5 teaspoons anise seed
  • 2 tablespoons brandy or sweet wine
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, for coating

Method

  1. Whisk flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  2. Cream lard and 200g sugar in a stand mixer until fluffy, 3 minutes.
  3. Add egg, anise seed and brandy. Mix to combine.
  4. Add the flour mixture and mix on low until just combined. Chill the dough 1 hour.
  5. Roll out the dough to 1 cm thick on a floured surface. Cut with a fleur de lis or round cutter.
  6. Bake at 175 C / 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes until pale gold at edges.
  7. Mix the 50g sugar with cinnamon. Toss warm cookies in the cinnamon sugar to coat.

Tip from the editors. Lard makes the canonical version; the texture is sandier and the flavor more savory. Butter works but the cookie loses some of its heritage character.

Where to eat biscochitos

Biscochitos in Albuquerque

Celina's Biscochitos ★ 4.3

Bakery$north-valleyMail order, holiday popupsNew Mexico state cookie

Celina's Biscochitos in Albuquerque bakes the New Mexico state cookie, anise-and-lard biscochitos, plus a small line of seasonal Southwestern baking treats.

Worth the queue: Anise and cinnamon biscochitos

Albuquerque, NM (mail order)

ABC Cake Shop and Bakery ★ 4.4

Bakery$uptownMon-Fri 08:00-18:00, Sat 08:00-15:00Walk-in onlyNew Mexican biscochitos and decorated cakes

ABC Cake Shop on San Pedro Drive in Albuquerque is the heritage New Mexican bakery since 1962 Editor picks by TableJourney for the 2026 season.

Worth the queue: Biscochitos and empanadas

1830 San Pedro Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110

Golden Crown Panaderia ★ 4.8

Bakery$$downtownWed-Sat 07:00-20:00; Sun 10:00-20:00; closed Mon-Tue

Golden Crown Panaderia on Mountain Road in Albuquerque is the heritage panaderia since 1972, baking green chile bread and biscochitos in a wood fired oven.

Why locals love it: Mountain Road heritage panaderia bakes biscochitos and green chile bread in a wood fired oven, with a back patio few find.

Tip: Buy a green chile bread loaf to go, then take the biscochitos to the back garden patio for coffee under the cottonwoods.

1103 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

The Frontier Restaurant ★ 4.8

Brunch$$universityDaily 05:00-01:00Until Daily until 24:00

The Frontier on Central Avenue across from UNM in Albuquerque runs daily 05:00 to midnight since 1971, with green chile breakfast burritos and sweet rolls.

Try: Green chile breakfast burrito and the Frontier sweet roll

2400 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

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Biscochitos in Santa Fe

Dolina Bakery & Cafe ★ 4.5

BrunchEastern European brunch with pastry$$$14-22downtownMon, Wed-Sat 07:00-14:30, Sun 08:00-14:30; closed TueWalk-in

Annamaria O'Brien's Dolina mixes Slovak strudels, butter croissants and a savory Eastern European brunch; a queue of regulars forms most mornings.

Order: Apple walnut strudel and a sour-cream coffee cake

402 North Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Sage Bakehouse ★ 4.5

Bakery$cerrillosMon-Sat 07:30-14:00; closed SunWalk-in onlyLevain-leavened country breads and pastry

Sage Bakehouse, a Cerrillos Road artisan since 1996, bakes long-fermented country loaves, sandwich service and a chile sourdough Santa Fe households order.

Worth the queue: Roasted green chile sourdough loaf

535 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Clafoutis French Bakery ★ 4.8

Bakery$southsideMon-Sat 07:00-15:00; closed SunWalk-in onlyLaminated French pastries and viennoiseries

Philippe and Anne Laure Ligier bake 800 to 1,000 hand-rolled pastries daily at Clafoutis on Cordova Road, a hard-French operation in a southwestern adobe.

Worth the queue: Almond croissant and the namesake clafoutis

333 West Cordova Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505

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More cities are in research. Want biscochitos covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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