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Three alfajores cookies, one with a bite missing.
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Alfajores Cookies

Dulce de leche is sandwiched between melt-in-your-mouth shortbread in this Alfajores Cookies recipe. Fancy looking, but easy to make!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Chill Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 2 minutes
Course: Dessert
Keyword: alfajores cookies
Servings: 33 sandwich cookies

Ingredients

Ingredients for the cookies

  • 2 cups cornstarch
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour , spooned and leveled
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter , softened to room temperature
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 large eggs yolks , at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • zest of 1 lemon

For the filling & coating

  • 1 cup dulce de leche
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups cornstarch, 1 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon EACH baking powder and baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside.
    Whisking dry cookie ingredients
  • In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together 3/4 cup softened unsalted butter and 2/3 cup powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
    softened butter blended with powdered sugar
  • Add 2 egg yolks, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and lemon zest, mixing well.
    Egg and vanilla added to creamed butter and sugar
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms. (Pinch off a bit in between your fingers; it should stay together. If it's still crumbly, blend in a touch milk only if necessary, a tablespoon at a time, but no more than 3 tablespoons total.)
    dry and wet ingredients combined for cookie dough
  • Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
    cookie dough ball wrapped in plastic wrap
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • Lightly dust a clean work surface and rolling pin with flour. Roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
    Shortbread dough in a ball and rolled out
  • Use a round 2-inch cookie cutter to cut circles out of the rolled dough and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
    Cookie dough rolled out with circles cut out and placed on baking sheet
  • Chill the cookies in the fridge for 10 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350°F
  • Bake for 10–12 minutes or until edges are slightly golden. Cool completely.
  • Spread 1–2 teaspoons of dulce de leche on the flat side of one cookie and top with another to form a sandwich. (If the dulce de leche is too firm, you can warm in the microwave for just a few seconds to loosen. It should not be runny.)
    Spooning dulce de leche onto shortbread cookies and sandwiched together
  • Roll edges in shredded coconut, then dust the alfajores cookies with powdered sugar
    An alfajores cookie in a bowl of coconut and a sheet tray of cookies dusted with powdered sugar
  • Serve and enjoy!
    Three stacked alfajores cookies, one with a bite missing.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 20mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 143IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.3mg