Alfajores

By efriend

Ingredients

• For the cookies
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup/2.5oz/70g cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 stick/4oz/100g of butter
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• For the filling(in order of deliciousness)
• 1 batch homemade dulce de leche/confiture de lait OR 1 can readymade dulce de leche
• For the coating (optional)
• Confectioners Sugar
• Dark chocolate
• Sweetened shredded coconut

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350F.

Whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, lemon zest and salt. Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and a tablespoon of the flour mixture, and beat until smooth. Stir in remaining flour mixture until dough forms a ball.

Roll dough to about 1/8in thick (I like my alfajores chunkier, but the cookie layers are typically quite thin). Cut into rounds and place on prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until cookies are barely turning golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Sandwich cookies together with a teaspoon or two of dulce de leche. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

Delicious Variations:

Fill cookies liberally so dulce de leche comes right to edges of cookie. Roll the sticky part of the cookie sandwich in coconut.
Sandwich cookies together in threes to make alfajores triples.
Dip in chocolate.
Dip in chocolate and coconut!