sugar

Alfajores (Cornstarch cookies filled with caramel)

Standard

Alfajores is one of my guilty pleasures. They are originally from Argentina but they have them in most of the countries in South America. I’ve tried many many different versions of Alfajores but this one is my favorite as I love covering everything with chocolate.

You can surprise your guests and co-workers with this cookies as they are treated as en exotic dessert and can only be found in Latino markets or restaurants. Soft and sweet, they make the perfect dessert (or snack) and they are not hard to make, just have to admit it’s a messy recipe but, again, totally worth making!

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients for Alfajores

  • 1/2 cup of flour
  • 1 1/4 cup of cornstarch
  • 3/4 cup of butter, whipped
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 tsp of orange or lemon zest
  • 1 tsp of vanilla
  • 1/4 cup of confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 tsp of baking powder
  • 2 tbs of milk
  • 1 cup of Manjarblanco(Dulce de Leche or caramel)
  • Chocolate chips(optional)

PREPARATION

1. Mix the flour, cornstarch and baking powder together. In a separate bowl, whip the butter with sugar.Peruvian Alfajores2. Add the yolks and beat.Peruvian Alfajores3. Add the orange or lemon zest, milk and the vanilla.Peruvian Alfajores4. Add the cornstarch, baking powder and flour mix.Peruvian Alfajores5. Knead and make a dough.Peruvian Alfajores6. Let it seat in the fridge for 20-30 min. Cover with a plastic sheet or a cloth to prevent drying the dough. Pre-heat oven 350° F/ 175°C.Peruvian Alfajores7. Roll the dough and cut in circles(or any shape, as desired). About 3 mm or 1/8 inch thick.Peruvian Alfajores8. Transfer the cookie dough cuts to a greased and floured oven resistant tray (you can use tin foil or parchment paper instead of greasing and flouring it) and bake them for about half an hour. Let them cool.Peruvian Alfajores9. Fill the cookies with Manjarblanco/Dulce de leche/Caramel making a cookie sandwich(these are the original Alfajores, all the steps after this one are optional)Peruvian Alfajores

Peruvian Alfajores10. Put the chocolate chips in a microwave resistant container.Peruvian Alfajores11. Melt the chocolate. Start with 20 seconds(It depends on every microwave)Peruvian Alfajores12. Dip it in the chocolate or use a spoon, the are no rules for decoration, use your free imagination.Peruvian Alfajores13. Decorate them as desired.Peruvian Alfajores14. You can put them in the freezer for 5 min or until chocolate gets hard and enjoy!Peruvian AlfajoresPeruvian Alfajores

NOTES

* I used a glass as a cutter, it can be any shape or size you want.

* I added 1 1/2 tbs of orange zest as I love the orange scent in my cookies.

*If the dough is too dry add milk, if it’s to sticky add cornstarch or flour.

* Cookies’ color should always remain light, be careful of burning or over cooking them.

* I’ll be posting the recipe of Manjarblanco soon.