Are you craving a delectable treat that will tantalize your taste buds and transport you to the heart of South American cuisine? Look no further than alfajores! These traditional sandwich cookies, crafted with layers of crumbly shortbread and a sweet, milky filling, hold a special place in the culinary heritage of many countries. Whether you prefer the classic alfajor, sandwiched with dulce de leche and rolled in coconut, or a modern twist featuring exotic fruit fillings and a drizzle of dark chocolate, there is an alfajor recipe out there to satisfy every palate. With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create these delightful cookies in the comfort of your own kitchen. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you yearning for more.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
ALFAJORES
These melt-in-the-mouth shortbread-like cookies originate from South America and are filled with dulce de leche and rolled in desiccated coconut
Provided by Sophie Godwin - Cookery writer
Categories Snack, Treat
Time 1h5m
Yield makes 30
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Combine the flour, corn flour and baking powder together in a bowl with a pinch of salt. Using a food mixer or an electric whisk in another bowl beat the butter together with the sugar and lemon zest until very pale. Add the egg yolks followed by the Cognac and vanilla extract. Beat in the dry ingredients until you have smooth dough. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill for a minimum of 1 hour. You can make the biscuit dough the day before and leave in the fridge.
- Line two large baking trays with baking parchment. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a pound coin then cut out 60 biscuits with a 5cm round or fluted cutter. Put the biscuits back in the fridge for 20 mins to firm up.
- Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bake the biscuits for 8 mins until just set. You want the biscuits to stay pale with a crumbly texture. Leave to cool completely before sandwiching two biscuits together with a spoonful of dulce de leche. Once all the biscuits are sandwiched together roll in desiccated coconut.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 157 calories, Fat 7 grams fat, SaturatedFat 5 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 21 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 9 grams sugar, Fiber 0.4 grams fiber, Protein 2 grams protein, Sodium 0.1 milligram of sodium
ALFAJORES
Popular all over Latin America, dulce de leche confections called alfajores come in many varieties. In this popular version, delicate, crumbly butter cookies are sandwiched with a thick layer of dulce de leche before being rolled in coconut. They are petite yet decadent morsels that go particularly well with strong black coffee to cut their creamy richness. You can make the dulce de leche a week ahead (store it in the refrigerator) and the cookies 5 days ahead (store them in an airtight container at room temperature). Once sandwiched together, the cookies will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3 days, but are best eaten within 24 hours of filling.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories cookies and bars, dessert
Time 4h
Yield About 50 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Make the dulce de leche: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then carefully lower condensed milk cans on their sides into the water. Simmer for 3 hours 15 minutes, refilling with hot water as needed to keep cans submerged. Never let the water boil away, or the cans could burst. Using tongs, transfer cans to a rack to let cool completely before opening.
- In a small bowl, combine brandy, lemon zest and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add yolks and beat to combine, then add brandy mixture and beat until just combined. Add flour mixture, and mix on low speed until the dough just comes together.
- Divide the dough in half and roll each piece into a log about 1 1/2 inches thick. Wrap in plastic and chill until firm, at least 2 hours.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove dough from plastic wrap and slice into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Place on prepared sheet pans, then bake until edges start to turn golden, about 7 minutes. Transfer each pan to a rack to cool completely.
- In a small bowl, combine dulce de leche with remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla and a large pinch of salt. Spoon the mixture into a plastic zipper bag and cut a corner off. (Or you could scoop it into a pastry bag if you prefer, or just use a spoon.)
- Flip half of the cookies upside down and pipe a thick layer of dulce de leche onto bottoms (or use a spoon to spoon the mixture on). Top with remaining cookies to sandwich the dulce de leche in the middle. Roll sides in coconut. Eat right away, or store in the refrigerator until serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 125, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 18 grams, Fat 5 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 35 milligrams, Sugar 10 grams, TransFat 0 grams
ALFAJORES ARGENTINEAN STYLE
This is a traditional cookie that is much loved in most Latin cultures. Even my mother in law says they're the BEST, and that is saying a lot considering she is from Mendoza, Argentina!
Provided by Christina-Chrisi Marvasi
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American South American Argentinian
Time 1h20m
Yield 36
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and baking powder; set aside.
- Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time, allowing each yolk to blend into the butter mixture before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla rum, vanilla extract, lemon extract, and lemon zest with the last egg. Gently fold in the flour mixture with a spoon, making a crumbly dough. When the dough becomes cohesive enough, press it together into a ball with your hands. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Roll out the dough, using as little flour as possible, about 1/4 inch thick. The dough will have an unusual consistency. Cut with a small round cookie cutter. Continue pressing the dough together, rolling it out, and cutting until you have used it all. Place cookies 1/2 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven until set but not browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove the cookies immediately to cool on a wire rack.
- Spread the underside of a cooled cookie with a teaspoon of dulce de leche, then sandwich together with another cookie until the caramel oozes out the sides. Roll the sides in the shredded coconut.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 156.7 calories, Carbohydrate 22.5 g, Cholesterol 31.7 mg, Fat 6.8 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 1.4 g, SaturatedFat 4.1 g, Sodium 65.1 mg, Sugar 8.3 g
ALFAJORES
I found this recipe on Nestle's website about 3 years ago. I have made it numerous time. It requires a bit of work but the results are well worth it. The time for preparing and cooking is a guess, I have never timed it.
Provided by Malu8033
Categories Dessert
Time 1h45m
Yield 30 biscuit
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- First of all cook the condensed milk. I prefer to do it in a pressure cooker; I find it safer. Here is what I do. Fill the pressure cooker with water to cover the condensed milk can inside. Place the cooker on the stove top and when it starts to boil count the time; 30 minutes is enough.
- Let it cool completely.
- It is very dangerous to open the can when it is hot. The hot sweet mixture inside will come out like a jet and it burns very badly.
- For the biscuit:.
- Cream butter with sugar, egg and yolks in an electric mixer using the whisk attachment.
- In another bowl mix flour, honey, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and vanilla. Mix this into the butter mixture.
- Work the dough until smooth.
- Let it rest for 30 minutes.
- On a floured board and using a rolling pin, roll the dough to a half (1/2) cm thickness.
- With a round (5cm) biscuit cutter, cut biscuits and place on a prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes in a medium oven (180°C).
- They should be light brown when done.
- Let it cool on a wire rack.
- When the biscuits are cold, spread some of the "dolce de leche" (about 1 tsp for every two biscuits) and cover with another, making a sandwich.
- Set aside.
- Melt the chocolate by placing it in a bowl over hot water, not boiling water.
- After the chocolate has melted bring it to the right temperature (you should feel it kind of icy when placed on your lips) for coating.
- Drop each biscuit in the melted chocolate, lift with a fork, taking care to take off all the excess.
- Place the covered biscuit on parchment paper and let it dry.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 264.1, Fat 13.2, SaturatedFat 8.1, Cholesterol 38.3, Sodium 158.4, Carbohydrate 35.6, Fiber 2.5, Sugar 16.1, Protein 5.1
ALFAJORES
Alfajores are a favorite South American treat made of dulce de leche (caramelized milk) sandwiched between buttery shortbread cookies. An adaptation from Carnation. NOTE: Can substitute ready made dulce de leche for a quicker version.
Provided by gailanng
Categories < 30 Mins
Time 25m
Yield 17 cookies, 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 2 large baking sheets.
- Pour 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk into top of double-boiler pan. Add cinnamon stick. Place over boiling water. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 2 hours, or until thick and caramel colored. (Some additional water will be needed for bottom pan of double boiler). Remove from heat; remove cinnamon stick.
- Sift cornstarch, flour and baking powder together into medium bowl; set aside.
- Beat butter and sugar in a medium mixing bowl on medium speed until creamy. Add yolks; mixing well. Add lemon zest and brandy. With wooden spoon, mix cornstarch mixture into butter mixture to make a soft dough. If it is too soft (should not be runny), add some additional flour. With floured hands, form dough into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Roll dough on lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut dough into at least 34, 2-inch circles. Reroll dough as necessary. Place circles on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until set; careful not to brown. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
- Spread about 2 teaspoons Caramelized Milk to flat side of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies to form sandwiches. If desired, allow some of the Caramelized Milk filling to squeeze from the sides or spread more around the sides to roll in coconut, nuts or cocoa powder.
- Cookies will keep in the refrigerator for several days or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 491.2, Fat 17.1, SaturatedFat 10.4, Cholesterol 99.8, Sodium 114.2, Carbohydrate 76.3, Fiber 0.7, Sugar 45.8, Protein 6.4
CHOCOLATE ALFAJORES
Chocolate alfajores, also known as alfajores de chocolate, are a popular South American dessert made of slightly sweetened shortbread cookies filled with a rich and creamy milk caramel called dulce de leche. It's best to chill the dough at least 2 hours so the cookies hold when baking. -Kimberly Scott, Kosciusko, Mississippi
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 45m
Yield about 1-1/2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and extract. In another bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Shape dough into a disk; wrap. Refrigerate until firm enough to roll, 2 hours., Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-in. round cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets., Bake just until set, 5-7 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Spread dulce de leche on bottoms of half of the cookies; cover with remaining cookies. Press edges into coconut. Refrigerate in airtight containers.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 173 calories, Fat 8g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 45mg cholesterol, Sodium 126mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (15g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.
Tips:
- For a richer flavor, use high-quality dulce de leche. You can also make your own dulce de leche by simmering a can of sweetened condensed milk in a water bath for several hours.
- If you don't have a pastry bag, you can use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off to pipe the dulce de leche onto the cookies.
- Be careful not to over-bake the cookies. They should be slightly golden brown around the edges but still soft in the center.
- Once the cookies are baked, let them cool completely before sandwiching them together with dulce de leche. This will help prevent the cookies from becoming soggy.
- Alfajores can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Conclusion:
Alfajores are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that are perfect for any occasion. With a few simple ingredients, you can create these delightful cookies that are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. So next time you're looking for a sweet treat, give alfajores a try!
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