Classic Argentine Alfajores
Super soft cornstarch cookies sandwich together with sweet creamy dulce de leche and rolled in coconut flakes. A classic and delicious Argentine snack.
Prep Time30 minutes mins
Cook Time12 minutes mins
Servings: 24 alfajores
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cup corn starch , use spoon and level method
- 1 ½ cup all purpose flour , use spoon and level method
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup icing sugar , sifted
- 7 oz unsalted butter , soften
- 3 large egg yolks , room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- zest of 1 medium sized lemon
Filling
- bakery dulce de leche , as needed
Wet Ingredients
In another bowl, mix powdered sugar and butter until creamy using a handheld whisk. Add in egg yolk one by one, mixing well to combine after each addition. Add in vanilla extract, lemon zest and mix to combine.
Add in dry ingredients in 3 additions, mixing just enough after each addition. Don't over mix. For the 3rd addition, you will not be able to mix everything to combine using hand held mixer. When it's half mixed, pour everything onto the working surface.
Start folding the mixture onto itself and gently push with your palm until you get a ball. Do not knead. Refer to tutorial video above for better understanding.
Wrap with cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes or until manageable.
Shape & Bake
Put ⅓ of dough on a cling film and cover it with another. Gently roll it into 8-10mm thickness. If the dough breaks, just gently push it back together. Chill in the fridge for 10 minutes while you continue rolling the rest.
Take 1 rolled dough from the fridge and place it on the working surface. Remove the top cling film. Cut out 1.7 inch (4.5 cm) circles using floured cutter/glass. Place on parchment paper on baking tray. Place in the fridge if you're not baking them immediately.
Bake at 360F (180ºC) in a preheated oven, conventional mode, on middle rack for 10-12 minutes or until fully cooked without having any toasted colour. Cool completely before using.
- Make sure to use softened butter.
- Don't over work the dough at any time, have patience, pressing and pushing it gently with your palm will bring everything together.
- Always keep the dough/cut out circles chill in the fridge when you're not working with them.
- Use bakers' dulce de leche, not the normal one.
- Use portable oven thermometer to get the accurate temperature (I use it in all my bakings).
Calories: 201.1kcal | Carbohydrates: 30.5g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4.5g | Cholesterol: 42.1mg | Sodium: 62.4mg | Potassium: 5.8mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 6.5g | Calcium: 25.5mg | Iron: 0.2mg