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Recipe Highlights
If you’ve never had the pleasure of biting into a delightfully crumbly and sweet alfajor, prepared to be enchanted by this traditional Argentine delicacy. Alfajores are sandwich cookies typically filled with creamy dulce de leche, and sometimes rolled in coconut flakes. This blog post will take you on a culinary journey through a classic Argentine alfajores recipe. You’ll discover the origins, learn about the key ingredients, and pick up tips to perfect this treat. Additionally, we’ve included a comprehensive guide on the nutritional facts, and a section discussing other delicious ways to use dulce de leche. Finally, you’ll find a quick reference recipe and some more delightful cookie recipes to explore.
Classic Argentine Alfajores
Ingredients
Creating authentic Argentine alfajores starts with gathering the right ingredients. For the dough, you will need corn starch to achieve that signature crumbly texture, butter, sugar, egg yolks, lemon zest, and a dash of vanilla extract. Dulce de leche is the star of the filling. Optional ingredients include coconut flakes for rolling and powdered sugar for dusting. – 1 cup cornstarch – 3/4 cup all-purpose flour – 1/2 teaspoon baking powder – 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature – 1/4 cup granulated sugar – 2 large egg yolks – 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon lemon zest – 1 cup dulce de leche
Instructions
1. Prepare the Dough: In a bowl, mix cornstarch, flour, and baking powder. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg yolks one at a time, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until a dough forms. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. 2. Shaping the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use a round cookie cutter to cut out the dough and place rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 3. Baking: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden brown. Let them cool completely on a wire rack. 4. Assembling the Alfajores: Spread about a tablespoon of dulce de leche on the flat side of half the cookies. Top with another cookie to form a sandwich. Optionally, roll the edges in coconut flakes and dust with powdered sugar.
Notes
– Refrigerate the Dough: This step is crucial as it helps in handling the dough easily and prevents the cookies from spreading too much while baking. – Dulce de Leche: For a richer flavor, you can make your own dulce de leche by slowly heating sweetened condensed milk. – Storage: Store alfajores in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or freeze for up to three months.
Nutrition Facts
Each serving of alfajor (1 sandwich cookie) typically contains: – Calories: 120 kcal – Carbohydrates: 16g – Protein: 1g – Fat: 6g – Saturated Fat: 3.5g – Trans Fat: 0g – Cholesterol: 25mg – Sodium: 25mg – Fiber: 0.5g – Sugar: 8g
Let’s Talk Ingredients
The key to perfect alfajores is quality ingredients. Cornstarch is indispensable for achieving the cookie’s delicate texture. Flour provides structure, while butter adds richness and flavor. Sugar sweetens and creates a tender crumb, making each bite a bit of heaven. Dulce de leche, meanwhile, is non-negotiable. This Latin American caramel spread is made by slowly heating sweetened condensed milk until it becomes thick and richly flavored. While you can buy it pre-made, making it at home ensures a purer, more intense flavor.
Tips To Perfect Alfajores
– Temperature Matters: Use room temperature butter and refrigerate the dough. The cookies maintain their shape better and turn out crumblier. – Uniform Thickness: Ensure the dough is rolled out uniformly for even baking. Using quality rolling pins with adjustable rings can help achieve this. – Cool Completely: Let the cookies cool completely before assembly to prevent the dulce de leche from melting and making the cookies soggy.
More Dulce de Leche Recipes
Dulce de leche’s versatility extends beyond alfajores. Try incorporating it into other desserts for a truly memorable treat. – Dulce de Leche Cheesecake: Swirl dulce de leche into the batter before baking for a caramel-infused delight. – Dulce de Leche Brownies: Add dollops of dulce de leche to brownie batter before baking for pockets of molten caramel. – Dulce de Leche Ice Cream: Drizzle it over homemade or store-bought ice cream for an elegant twist.
Watch How To Make It
[Link to instructional video] For a visual learner, seeing the step-by-step process of making alfajores can be incredibly helpful. Our linked video will guide you from mixing the dough to the final assembly, ensuring that your alfajores turn out perfectly every time.
Save This Recipe!
Don’t lose this culinary gem! Bookmark this page, pin it to your Pinterest board, or print it out to have on hand for whenever you crave a taste of Argentina. Sharing the recipe with friends and family can also create lovely baking memories together.
📖 Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 cup dulce de leche
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix cornstarch, flour, and baking powder. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg yolks one at a time, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until a dough forms. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use a round cookie cutter to cut out the dough and place rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden brown. Let them cool completely on a wire rack.
- Spread about a tablespoon of dulce de leche on the flat side of half the cookies. Top with another cookie to form a sandwich. Optionally, roll the edges in coconut flakes and dust with powdered sugar.
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More Cookie Recipes
If you’re a cookie lover, why stop at alfajores? Here are some additional cookie recipes to consider: – Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies: Crispy edges and gooey centers create the perfect chocolate chip experience. – Peanut Butter Blossoms: Peanut butter cookies topped with a Hershey’s Kiss—a timeless classic. – Snickerdoodles: Soft and chewy, these cinnamon-sugar coated cookies are a nostalgic delight.
Future Prospects
The world of alfajores opens up endless possibilities for personalizing and experimenting with flavors. Whether you stick to traditional recipes or venture into new territories, the joy of creating and savoring these treats remains unparalleled. Here’s a summary of what we’ve covered in this article.
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Recipe Highlights | Introduction to the tantalizing world of alfajores, Argentine sandwich cookies filled with dulce de leche. |
| Classic Argentine Alfajores | Step-by-step recipe including ingredients, instructions, notes, and nutrition facts. |
| Let’s Talk Ingredients | Overview of essential ingredients for making perfect alfajores. |
| Tips To Perfect Alfajores | Handy tips to ensure your alfajores turn out flawless every time. |
| More Dulce de Leche Recipes | Suggestions for other delicious dulce de leche-based desserts. |
| Watch How To Make It | Link to an instructional video to visually guide you through the process. |
| Save This Recipe! | Ways to bookmark, pin, or print the recipe for future use. |
| 📖 Recipe | Formatted HTML recipe for easy reference. |
| More Cookie Recipes | Additional cookie recipes for further exploration. |
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