Chepacorinas: Traditional Cheese Cookies from El Carmen de Bolívar
Chepacorinas are traditional, slightly sweet and savory cheese cookies originating from El Carmen de Bolívar. Created in the 1940s, they feature a unique blend of wheat flour and salty coastal cheese, making them a distinctive regional treat.
The secret to this 45-minute preparation is kneading the dough until perfectly smooth and brushing the tops with milk before baking to achieve their signature golden color.
Chepacorinas (Colombian Cheese Cookies)
Traditional sweet and savory cheese cookies from El Carmen de Bolívar! A simple dough of flour, salty cheese, sugar, and milk baked to a golden finish.
Ingredients
- Wheat flour
- Milk
- queso costeño Firm, salty coastal cheese
- Sugar
- Baking soda
Instructions
- Mix the base: In a large bowl, combine the wheat flour, finely ground queso costeño, sugar, baking soda, and a splash of milk to bring the mixture together.
- Knead the dough: Mix everything thoroughly and knead until you form a completely smooth, homogeneous dough.
- Shape and wash: Take small portions of the dough and shape them into round, flat cookies. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the top of each cookie with a bit of milk.
- Bake: Place the cookies in an oven (traditionally a wood-fired oven) preheated to 155°C (approx. 310°F). Bake them for about 20 to 30 minutes until they are beautifully golden brown on the outside. Let them cool before serving!
Notes
- The Secret Recipe: This outline represents the general, publicly known method for making the cookies. The authentic, original recipe is closely guarded, containing exact proprietary measurements and reportedly an undisclosed secret ingredient.
- Historical Origin: The cookies were created around 1947 by a woman named Josefa Corina Ríos Torres, who was affectionately known as “Chepa” Corina, which gave the cookies their distinct name.
- Local Legacy: The baking technique was passed down to her workers, who maintained the tradition, turning the cookie into a recognizable culinary item from the Bolívar department.
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