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

  • Prep:45 mins
    Cook:20 mins
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 157
  • fat 7g
  • saturates 5g
  • carbs 21g
  • sugars 9g
  • fibre 0.4g
  • protein 2g
  • salt 0.1g

Ingredients

  • 200g plain flour
  • 300g corn flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 250g unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 150g caster sugar
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1 tbsp Cognac
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 450g jar dulce de leche
  • 50g desiccated coconut

Method

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

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