Alfajores are a traditional cookie sandwich popular in many Latin American countries, including Argentina. These delightful treats consist of two delicate cornstarch cookies filled with a layer of dulce de leche, a thick, creamy caramel sauce. The cookies are typically coated in shredded coconut, but variations may include chocolate, sprinkles, or nuts.
This article presents a collection of authentic Argentine alfajores recipes, each offering a unique twist on the classic. From the traditional alfajores de maicena, made with cornstarch and filled with dulce de leche, to the alfajores de chocolate, featuring a rich chocolate filling and a dusting of cocoa powder, these recipes cater to diverse preferences.
One recipe introduces alfajores de dulce de membrillo, a variation filled with quince paste, a sweet and tangy fruit spread. For those who enjoy a nutty flavor, the alfajores de nuez feature a filling made with chopped walnuts, while the alfajores de almendras incorporate ground almonds into the cookie dough itself.
The article also includes a recipe for alfajores de mousse de dulce de leche, an elevated version of the classic alfajores, where the dulce de leche filling is transformed into a light and airy mousse, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice cook, this comprehensive guide to alfajores de maicena argentinos provides step-by-step instructions, detailed ingredient lists, and helpful tips to ensure success in creating these iconic cookies. So, embark on a culinary journey and discover the delightful flavors of Argentine alfajores.
ALFAJORES DE MAICENA
Alfajores de Maicena are indulgent shortbread cookies from Latin America. Buttery shortbread is sandwiched together with dulce de leche, then rolled in coconut.
Provided by Sara McCleary
Categories Cookies
Time 33m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Pre-heat oven 180°C (360°F). Line a baking tray/ cookie sheet with baking paper.
- Cream butter and sugar in a bowl, using either a stand mixer or handheld electric beaters until fluffy.
- Continue beating and add vanilla essence.
- Add the egg and egg yolk, beat until completely combined.
- Turn beaters down to a low speed and slowly beat in the flours and baking powder. As soon as the mixture comes together stop the beaters. You do not want to over beat the dough.
- Form dough into a smooth round ball, again do not overwork the dough.
- Between two pieces of baking paper, using a rolling pin, roll dough out until is is roughly 5cm (one eighth inch) thick.
- Carefully remove the top layer of baking paper. Then using a 5cm (2 inch) cookie cutter, cut out cookie rounds and place on the lined baking tray.
- Place in the oven and bake for 8 - 10 minutes. You do not want the cookies to colour. They will spread slightly when cooking.
- Remove tray from the oven and leave cookies to cool for a couple of minutes on the tray before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 130 kcal, Carbohydrate 19 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 6 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Cholesterol 31 mg, Sodium 49 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 6 g, ServingSize 1 serving
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
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 DE MAIZENA
I love these! They are a delicious sweet cookie from Argentina. They are a sandwich cookie - biscuit type cookie with Dulce De Leche in the middle then rolled in coconut. Sometimes they're called "cornstarch cookies". My mother-in-law first introduced these to me. She would make mine with crushed nuts or shaved white chocolate on the outside though as I have an allergy to coconut. Also, you can add 1 tablespoon of cognac for the traditional recipe, but I usually don't. ** You can buy Dulce de Leche in Spanish grocer or some of the larger supermarkets sell it by the condensed milk, if not, follow below... For the Dulce de Leche: Pour the two cans of condensed milk into a double boiler set over low heat. Cook milk, stirring once in a while, for 2-4 hours, until mixture thickens and becomes caramel-like. Remove from double boiler and refrigerate until needed. Mixture will firm with chilling.
Provided by BlondieItaliana
Categories Dessert
Time 35m
Yield 12-16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Beat the butter until creamy. Add the sugar gradually, beating until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and lemon rind.
- Sift together the cornstarch, flour, baking powder and soda. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, beating until thoroughly combined.
- Drop the batter by small spoonfuls onto well buttered baking sheets. Leave enough space between the cookies because they will spread.
- Bake in a 350 degrees oven 15 minutes. Immediately remove from the baking sheets and let cool.
- When cool, spread some Dulce de leche on the bottom half of the cookies and make a sandwich with the remaining cookies. Squeeze the sandwiches so that some of the dulce de leche is squeezed out the sides, and roll the sides in the grated coconut.
Tips:
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature, especially the butter. This will help them blend together more easily.
- If you don't have a pastry blender, you can use two forks or a knife to cut the butter into the flour mixture.
- Be careful not to overwork the dough. Overworking will make the cookies tough.
- If the dough is too dry, add a little bit of milk or water until it comes together.
- If the dough is too wet, add a little bit more flour until it is no longer sticky.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling and baking. This will help the cookies hold their shape.
- Bake the cookies until they are just set. Overbaking will make them dry and crumbly.
- Let the cookies cool completely before filling them. This will help prevent the filling from leaking out.
- To make the filling, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Then, add the dulce de leche and vanilla extract and beat until combined.
- To assemble the cookies, spread a thin layer of filling on the bottom of one cookie. Then, top with another cookie and press down gently.
- Roll the edges of the cookies in shredded coconut.
Conclusion:
Alfajores de Maicena are a delicious and delicate Argentinian cookie. They are made with a cornstarch dough that is filled with dulce de leche and then rolled in shredded coconut. These cookies are perfect for any occasion, and they are sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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