Quimbolitos (Original video)

Ingredients:

• Baking powder
• Wheat flour
• Sugar
• 5 eggs (separated)
• Butter
• Cocoa (about 2 tablespoons for chocolate quimbolitos)
• Aniseed liquor (or orange juice)
• Vanilla essence
• Achira leaves (or aluminum foil)
• Raisins

Instructions:

1. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form, then set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, beat butter, sugar, liquor (or orange juice), and vanilla essence for about 5 minutes until well mixed.
3. Add egg yolks one by one, beating well after each addition.
4. Incorporate flour and baking powder into the mixture, stirring until combined.
5. Gently fold in the beaten egg whites into the batter.
6. Separate a portion of the batter for chocolate quimbolitos and mix in cocoa powder.
7. Prepare achira leaves by folding them to form pockets for the quimbolitos.
8. Place a portion of batter onto a leaf, add chocolate mixture if desired, and fold the leaf to enclose the batter, leaving room for expansion.
9. Optionally, add raisins on top before folding the leaf.
10. Repeat the process with the remaining batter and leaves.
11. Steam the quimbolitos in a steamer pot for 30 minutes, ensuring they are well spaced to allow for expansion.
12. After cooking, carefully remove the quimbolitos from the pot.
13. Serve and enjoy the fluffy and delicious quimbolitos.