Alfajores are a favorite all over Latin America, especially in Argentina and Uruguay. Each country has its very own spin off to these cookies. In Spain, alfajores contain lots of spices. In Central and South America, alfajores are two shortbread cookies with a sweet filling in the middle (most commonly dulce de leche). Other variations dip the cookie in chocolate or roll it in shredded coconut.
Growing up in Honduras, a small country in the heart of Central America, meant growing up with the privilege of constant access to these babies. To me, alfajores remind me of going for a quick pick-me-up coffee date with my mom and pairing my Americano with an alfajor (or two). When I found this dessert buried in a pile of old recipes, I could not contain the urge to make them.
The combination between the slight saltiness of the cookie that dissolves in your mouth with the sweetness of the dulce de leche filling oozing out makes this cookie simply a piece of heaven on earth. This recipe will make you travel to Latin America with just one bite without leaving the comfort of your home.
Alfajores
Ingredients
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cream the butter until soft and smooth. Then add in the dry ingredients and mix well until combined.
Divide the dough in several parts and roll it out so that it is not too thin (about 1/2 in). Cut out even circles (or any shape for that matter) and place them on a greased baking sheet.
#SpoonTip: Make sure you don’t touch the dough too much because the butter makes it susceptible to heat and will make it harder to work with.
Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them cool. Then, add the dulce de leche filling on to one side of one cookie and top it with another cookie. You can make your own variation of alfajores with Nutella, strawberry jam, or anything you wish!
Sprinkle sifted powdered sugar on top to add the finishing touches. You can also decorate the alfajores with frosting on top and turn them into your favorite holiday cookies!
Trust me when I say that these cookies will make you fall head over heels. Pair them up with a strong black coffee to level out the decadence of these cookies and voilà! Heaven will be closer than you think.