Alfajores Argentinean Style

Argentinian-style alfajores are vanilla and lemon sandwich cookies filled with caramel and rolled in coconut. They're much loved in most Latin cultures.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 157 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla rum
• 1 (11.5 ounce) jar dulce de leche
• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.75 cup white sugar
• 0.5 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 0.5 teaspoon lemon extract
• 1.6666666269302 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2.5 cups cornstarch

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2

Whisk cornstarch, flour, baking powder, and baking soda together; set aside.

Step 3

Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in 2 egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat in third yolk along with lemon zest, vanilla rum, vanilla extract, and lemon extract. Gently fold in cornstarch mixture with a spoon, making a crumbly dough, until cohesive enough; press into a ball. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill 30 to 60 minutes.

Step 4

Roll dough out, using as little flour as possible, until about 1/4-inch thick. (The dough will have an unusual consistency.) Cut dough using a small round cookie cutter. Continue pressing dough together, rolling, and cutting until all dough used. Place cookies 1/2-inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until set but not browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove cookies immediately; cool on a wire rack.

Step 6

Spread 1 teaspoon dulce de leche onto underside of 1 cooled cookie; sandwich with second cookie until caramel oozes out sides. Roll sides in shredded coconut. Repeat with remaining cookies.