Best 3 Peruvian Alfajores Recipes

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Peruvian alfajores are delightful cookies consisting of two or more layers of flour dough with a sweet filling in between, coated in powdered sugar. They are a traditional treat in Peru and are often enjoyed as a dessert or snack. This recipe provides step-by-step instructions for creating these delectable cookies from scratch, including how to make the dough, fillings, and coatings. With detailed explanations, helpful tips, and beautiful photos, this guide will help you master the art of crafting these classic cookies. Additionally, the article offers a collection of variations, including a gluten-free version for those with dietary restrictions, allowing everyone to enjoy this Peruvian delicacy.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

PERUVIAN ALFAJORES WITH MANJAR BLANCO



Peruvian Alfajores with Manjar Blanco image

These are the nectar of the gods. Shortbread cookies with a sweet filling, covered in powdered sugar. Mmm. They are time consuming to make, but always worth it.

Provided by Kara Marie Cormier

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     South American     Peruvian

Time 2h10m

Yield 48

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 cups white sugar
3 sticks butter
5 cups cornstarch
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 eggs
3 tablespoons pisco
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoons water, or as needed
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, or as needed
2 (14 ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
1 (6 ounce) can evaporated milk
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup confectioners' sugar, or to taste

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
  • Beat white sugar and butter together in a large bowl using an electric mixer until creamy. Add cornstarch, flour, eggs, pisco, vanilla extract, and baking powder. Mix gently until combined.
  • Turn dough out onto a clean work surface and knead by hand until smooth. Add water as needed. Divide in half, refrigerate 1 portion, and leave the other out.
  • Coat your work surface with powdered sugar. Roll dough out to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into 2-inch rounds with a cookie cutter or shot glass. Place rounds close together on a baking sheet. Prick each cookie twice with a fork.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes; cookies should still be white and soft, not crispy, and will firm up as they cool. Repeat with remaining cookie dough.
  • Pour condensed milk, evaporated milk, and brown sugar into a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until filling approaches the consistency of thick caramel, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat; mixture will firm up as it cools to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
  • Pour confectioners' sugar into a shallow bowl. Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of the filling over cooled cookies. Attach every two cookies together to make the alfajores. Roll alfajores in confectioners' sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 226.6 calories, Carbohydrate 35.9 g, Cholesterol 37.3 mg, Fat 7.9 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 2.7 g, SaturatedFat 4.8 g, Sodium 83 mg, Sugar 19.7 g

PERUVIAN ALFAJORES



Peruvian Alfajores image

Delicate shortbread cookies filled with dulce de leche and covered in powdered sugar. This is the Peruvian recipe.

Provided by F Polack

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     South American     Peruvian

Time 3h35m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup confectioners' sugar
¾ cup vegetable shortening, chilled
¼ cup dulce de leche
Confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Sift flour and 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar together into a bowl. Rub the shortening into the flour until completely incorporated to form a dough. Roll out on a floured surface to 1/4-inch thick, then cut into 1 to 1 1/2-inch circles with a small, round cookie cutter. Place circles onto an ungreased baking sheet, and poke each twice with a fork.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Disks should be removed from the oven while still pale, they should not brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  • To assemble the alfajores, spread one of the disks with a teaspoon of dulce de leche, then place a second disk on top, creating a sandwich. Repeat with remaining disks, then dust with confectioners' sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 228.5 calories, Carbohydrate 24.9 g, Cholesterol 0.8 mg, Fat 13.4 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 2.5 g, SaturatedFat 3.2 g, Sodium 13.8 mg, Sugar 8 g

ALFAJORES (PERUVIAN)



ALFAJORES (PERUVIAN) image

Categories     Cookies     Dessert     Bake

Yield 50 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 7

3 cps sifted flour
1/4 tsp salt
zest from 1 lemon or lime
4 tsp powdered sugar
1.5 cups butter (3 bars)
1-2 cans sweet condensed milk (depending how much filling you like per cookie, I always seem to run out.)
special equipment: round cookie cutter (I use a 2" Ateco round mold), food processor (optional), small spreading knife, medium to fine sieve.

Steps:

  • Remove labels of of milk cans - do NOT open the can. Boil unopened can(s) of sweet condensed milk in deep pots with plenty of water over a high heat for 1.5-2 hours. The more you boil it the deeper, more caramelly and more flavorful the filling will be. Make sure the water does not run out and the pot does not run dry. Turn off heat and allow water to cool for about 20-30 min. Remove can from water with pinchers and allow the can to cool to room temperature. While milk is boiling, mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add butter a stick at a time in chunks, working through to make small chunks (you can use a food processor for the first 2 sticks). When you add the last stick of butter you should be able to form a ball of dough. Try not to overwork dough. Refridgerate dough for 15 min. Roll out dough (I do half at a time) on smooth stone or wooden surface using plenty of flour on both sides and on rolling pin to avoid sticking. Roll out to 1/4 in thick and then cut out shapes with a round cookie cutter. With a spatula or with fingers, arrange cookies onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Continue rolling cookie dough and placing onto baking sheet until all the dough is gone. Bake at 350 degrees until cookies are brown (about 10-15 min.) Remove from oven, cool. Separate cookies from the baking sheet with a spatula. Using a can opener, open the room temperature can(s) of sweet condensed milk. Do not open if still warm. Using a small spreading knife, (like a cheese knife), spread a small amount on the bottom side of a cookie. Place a similar size cookie on top to make a sandwich and put aside (on another baking sheet). Once all cookies have been made into a sandwich, and have been placed on a sheet evenly spaced apart, place about 1/4 cp of powdered sugar on sieve and sprinkle over cookies. Enjoy!

Tips:

  • When making the dough for the alfajores, be sure to use cold butter. This will help the dough stay flaky and prevent it from becoming too greasy.
  • Be sure to roll out the dough evenly. This will help the alfajores cook evenly.
  • When baking the alfajores, keep an eye on them so that they do not overcook. Overcooked alfajores will be dry and crumbly.
  • When making the dulce de leche filling, be sure to cook it until it reaches a thick, spreadable consistency. If the dulce de leche is too thin, it will not hold its shape in the alfajores.
  • When assembling the alfajores, be sure to spread the dulce de leche evenly on one cookie and then top it with another cookie. This will help to ensure that the alfajores are evenly filled.
  • Alfajores can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months.

Conclusion:

Alfajores are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that are perfect for any occasion. They are a popular treat in Peru and other Latin American countries, and they are sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

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