Alfajores Recipe
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
1 hr
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Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
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Servings
36 cookies
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Calories
87 kcal
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Course
Dessert
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Cuisine
South American
Alfajores Recipe
Description
Alfajores are traditional soft sandwich cookies made using a dough of cornstarch and all-purpose flour combined with butter, sugar, egg yolks, vanilla extract, and a bit of baking powder. The high cornstarch content creates a delicate, tender crumb rather than a crisp cookie. After mixing, the dough is chilled to make rolling easier and prevent spreading during baking.
The dough is rolled thin and cut into small rounds before baking until lightly browned—these cookies remain pale rather than golden. Once cooled, pairs of cookies are sandwiched together with dulce de leche, a sweet, caramel-like spread. The edges are then lightly coated with shredded coconut, which adds texture and subtle coconut flavor.
The resulting Alfajores have a tender, crumbly texture with a creamy, sweet filling that melts in the mouth. They are ideal as a dessert or snack alongside coffee or tea. Careful measuring of flour and proper mixing technique are important to achieve a tender crumb. Avoid overbaking or overfilling, as the cookies are fragile.
Ingredients
- 1¼ cup cornstarch (180g)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (120g)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup butter 170g), room temperature, unsalted
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar (133g)
- 3 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 (13.4-ounce) can dulce de leche (380g)
- ⅓ cup coconut unsweetened, shredded
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk to combine the cornstarch, flour, salt, and baking powder, then set aside.
- To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or a large bowl if using a hand mixer), add the softened butter, and sugar. Beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg yolks and vanilla extract, then mix for 1 minute until combined. Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and mix once more.
- Add the flour mixture all at once. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds until just combined. Scrape the bowl down one last time and mix for a few seconds more.
- Transfer the dough to a piece of plastic wrap and flatten it into one or two disks. Wrap well and chill for about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and bring the dough out onto the countertop to warm up for a few minutes.
- Lightly flour the surface and the top of the dough. With a rolling pin, roll the dough to be ¼ to ⅛-inch thick. Use a 1¾ to 2-inch round cookie cutter to cut the dough into circles. Place the cookies on parchment or silicone-lined baking sheets. Re-roll any excess dough and cut or freeze for later.
- Bake for about 10- 12 minutes, until the cookies are just set, and start to turn light brown on the edges, rotating the pans halfway through. Allow to cool on the baking sheet before assembling.
- Once the cookies are cool, pipe or spread a dollop of dulce de leche onto the back of a cookie and sandwich it to the bottom of another cookie. Roll the edges of the cookie in shredded coconut and repeat the assembly for the remaining cookies.
Notes
- Measure flour accurately using a scale or properly fluffed and leveled measuring cups to prevent dry cookies.
- Use room temperature butter and egg yolks to ease mixing and achieve tender dough.
- Mix dough only until combined to avoid tough cookies from overworking gluten.
- Bake until cookies are lightly browned; avoid overbaking as Alfajores remain pale when done.
- Do not overfill the cookies to prevent them from breaking when sandwiching.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 36cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 87 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 87kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 11g | 4% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 26mg | 9% |
| Sodium | 32mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 10mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 0.2g | 1% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 140IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 0.01mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 10mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.3mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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