Description
Alfajores are delicious dulce de leche sandwiches between two soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies. They are a popular treat in Latin America, especially during holidays.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 (13.4-ounce) can dulce de leche
- ½ cup shredded coconut for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg yolks one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined and a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
- Divide the dough in half. Roll out each half between two sheets of parchment paper to about ¼-inch thickness.
- Using a 1.5-inch round cookie cutter, cut out circles from the dough. Reroll scraps as needed.
- Place the cookie circles on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Do not let them brown too much.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
- Once cookies are cool, spread a generous amount of dulce de leche on the flat side of one cookie.
- Top with another cookie, pressing gently to create a sandwich.
- Roll the edges of the assembled alfajores in shredded coconut, if desired.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for easy creaming.
- Do not overmix the dough to keep the cookies tender.
- Bake until just lightly golden for the best texture.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before assembling to prevent the dulce de leche from melting.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 alfajor
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg