Alfajores
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
10 mins
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Additional Time
30 mins
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Total Time
55 mins
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Servings
35 sandwich cookies
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Calories
87 kcal
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Course
Dessert
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Cuisine
South American, Middle Eastern
Alfajores
Description
The Alfajores recipe combines softened unsalted butter with powdered and brown sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, and salt, mixed into all-purpose flour to create a smooth dough. Once chilled and rolled thin, the dough is cut into rounds and baked at 375°F until the edges begin to lightly brown. After cooling, two cookies are sandwiched together with a generous layer of dulce de leche. The cookies’ tender and crumbly texture contrasts with the creamy filling. Optionally, the edges can be coated with desiccated coconut or the tops dusted with powdered sugar for added texture and sweetness.
The flavor profile highlights the rich, caramel notes of the dulce de leche paired with the mildly sweet, buttery cookies. The preparation calls for attention to butter temperature to avoid greasy dough, ensuring a consistent crumbly texture. The option to pulse shredded sweetened coconut finely for coating adds a delicate coconut note without overwhelming the sweetness.
Alfajores lend themselves well to serving as a companion to coffee or tea or as a festive dessert option. The dough’s ability to be chilled for several days offers flexibility in baking schedules. Finished cookies can be stored to maintain freshness, making them suitable for gifting or making in advance for special occasions. Their tender texture and caramel filling create a quietly elegant treat enjoyed in various settings.
Use butter softened to a creamy but not melted state to maintain dough texture.Finely shred sweetened coconut in a food processor if using for rolling cookie edges.
Ingredients
- 1 cups butter unsalted, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar firmly packed
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour plain flour
- 1 ½ cups dulce de leche click the link to make your own dulce de leche at home!
- desiccated coconut optional, desiccated coconut for rolling or powdered sugar for sprinkling
- powdered sugar optional, desiccated coconut for rolling or powdered sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer (or using a stand mixer) beat butter by itself until creamy.
- Add powdered sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, and salt and beat until creamy and well-combined.
- Gradually add flour (I usually add in about 4 parts) and stir until combined.
- Divide dough in half and form each half into a disk. Cover with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes and up to 5 days.
- Once your dough has chilled, preheat oven to 375 F(190C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Lightly dust a clean surface with flour and, working with one disk at a time, roll dough to be ⅛” thick.
- Use a round cookie cutter (I like to use 1 ¾” but 2” would also work) to cut into circles. Place on prepared baking sheet, spacing at least 1” apart.
- Transfer to 375F (190C) oven and bake for 8-9 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn light golden brown.
- Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheet before removing and filling. Repeat with remaining dough until all cookies have been baked (never place cookie dough on a hot baking sheet!). Make sure to re-gather and re-roll out the dough scraps to get as many cookies as possible!
- Once cookies have cooled, portion 1 ½ teaspoons of dulce de leche onto the bottom of one cookie and sandwich with another. If desired, you can roll the sides of the cookie through desiccated coconut (squeeze the “sandwich” so the dulce de leche reaches the sides and the coconut sticks to it) or dust the tops of the cookies with powdered sugar.
Notes
- Use butter softened to a creamy but not melted state to maintain dough texture.
- Finely shred sweetened coconut in a food processor if using for rolling cookie edges.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 35sandwich cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 87 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1sandwich cookie | |
| Calories | 87kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 9g | 3% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 14mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 34mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 11mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 162IU | 3% |
| Calcium | 4mg | 0% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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