Alfajores

When I first tasted an Alfajore from my Argentinian friend, not only could I not believe how unbelievably delicious it was, but how had it taken me so many years to try one! I then found out there are in fact two types of Alfajores. Once covered in chocolate or meringue powder, the other is a more simple soft cookie sandwich with Dolce de Leche inside - a thick, dark caramel rolled around in coconut.

It turn out, the more simple version is pretty easy to make, and so here are my simple Alfajores!

Either continue scrolling for the step by step recipe or watch my full YouTube tutorial here!

If I can't find dolce de leche what else can I use?
If you're feeling adventurous, you can make your own filling by boiling a tin of condensed milk for several hours, or use any store bought thick caramel, but the real start of these treats is that delicious dolce de leche filling
Do I have to add the coconut?
Not at all! The coconut helps neaten up the edges of the Alfajores and it's a traditional way of decorating them, but you can always leave that part out if you want!

If I can't find dolce de leche what else can I use?
If you're feeling adventurous, you can make your own filling by boiling a tin of condensed milk for several hours, or use any store bought thick caramel, but the real start of these treats is that delicious dolce de leche filling
Do I have to add the coconut?
Not at all! The coconut helps neaten up the edges of the Alfajores and it's a traditional way of decorating them, but you can always leave that part out if you want!

FAQs and Troubleshooting

If you don't have a cookie cutter, you can use the top of a glass or a round lid to cut out your circles
If the dough is getting too soft to work with, pop it back in the fridge for 10 minutes
Another tip to rolling out a soft dough is to roll it in between two pieces of baking paper to avoid it getting stuck on the surface

If you don't have a cookie cutter, you can use the top of a glass or a round lid to cut out your circles
If the dough is getting too soft to work with, pop it back in the fridge for 10 minutes
Another tip to rolling out a soft dough is to roll it in between two pieces of baking paper to avoid it getting stuck on the surface

If you don't have a cookie cutter, you can use the top of a glass or a round lid to cut out your circles
If the dough is getting too soft to work with, pop it back in the fridge for 10 minutes
Another tip to rolling out a soft dough is to roll it in between two pieces of baking paper to avoid it getting stuck on the surface

Top Tips

In a bowl, sieve together the flour, cornflour, baking powder and baking soda and set aside
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter together with the icing sugar until light and fluffy. Use a whisk to help get to that soft texture
Add in the egg yolks and lemon zest and whisk together until fully combined
Fold in the mixture of flour in 3 stages, folding it with a spatula each time until fully incorporated
When the last part of flour is mixed in, form a dough using your hands and knead it on the surface until it becomes smooth
Wrap the dough in clingfilm and set in the fired for 20-30 minutes
Preheat the oven to 160°C/320°F with fan or 180°C/355°F no fan
Prepare a baking tray lined with baking paper
Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 3mm thick and cut out circles of dough
Place the circles onto the baking tray, keeping at least 2cm between each one
Place the baking tray in the fridge for 10 minutes before baking
Bake for 10-12 minutes until the biscuits are still pale but slightly set to the touch
Leave to cool completely before removing them from the tray
Fill a piping bag with Dolce de Leche and pair up the biscuits
Pipe the Dolce de Leche onto the back of one of the biscuits, about 2/3 of the way, then sandwich is with another biscuits
Repeat until all the biscuits are paired and filled
Finally, roll the sides of each alfajore in some desiccated coconut (it should still to the caramel filling)
Alfajores can keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to one week

In a bowl, sieve together the flour, cornflour, baking powder and baking soda and set aside
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter together with the icing sugar until light and fluffy. Use a whisk to help get to that soft texture
Add in the egg yolks and lemon zest and whisk together until fully combined
Fold in the mixture of flour in 3 stages, folding it with a spatula each time until fully incorporated
When the last part of flour is mixed in, form a dough using your hands and knead it on the surface until it becomes smooth
Wrap the dough in clingfilm and set in the fired for 20-30 minutes
Preheat the oven to 160°C/320°F with fan or 180°C/355°F no fan
Prepare a baking tray lined with baking paper
Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 3mm thick and cut out circles of dough
Place the circles onto the baking tray, keeping at least 2cm between each one
Place the baking tray in the fridge for 10 minutes before baking
Bake for 10-12 minutes until the biscuits are still pale but slightly set to the touch
Leave to cool completely before removing them from the tray
Fill a piping bag with Dolce de Leche and pair up the biscuits
Pipe the Dolce de Leche onto the back of one of the biscuits, about 2/3 of the way, then sandwich is with another biscuits
Repeat until all the biscuits are paired and filled
Finally, roll the sides of each alfajore in some desiccated coconut (it should still to the caramel filling)
Alfajores can keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to one week

Method

Large bowl
Whisk
Rubber spatula
Sieve
Extra bowl
Clingfilm
Rolling pin
Round cookie cutter (about 3cm)
Baking Tray
Baking paper
Piping bag or spoon

Large bowl
Whisk
Rubber spatula
Sieve
Extra bowl
Clingfilm
Rolling pin
Round cookie cutter (about 3cm)
Baking Tray
Baking paper
Piping bag or spoon

Large bowl
Whisk
Rubber spatula
Sieve
Extra bowl
Clingfilm
Rolling pin
Round cookie cutter (about 3cm)
Baking Tray
Baking paper
Piping bag or spoon

Equipment

150g corn flour
100g plain flour
2g baking soda
5g baking powder
100g softened butter
75g icing sugar
30g egg yolk
Zest of 1/2 lemon
Dulce de Leche
Extra flour for dusting
Desiccated coconut

150g corn flour
100g plain flour
2g baking soda
5g baking powder
100g softened butter
75g icing sugar
30g egg yolk
Zest of 1/2 lemon
Dulce de Leche
Extra flour for dusting
Desiccated coconut

Ingredients

If I can't find dolce de leche what else can I use?
If you're feeling adventurous, you can make your own filling by boiling a tin of condensed milk for several hours, or use any store bought thick caramel, but the real start of these treats is that delicious dolce de leche filling
Do I have to add the coconut?
Not at all! The coconut helps neaten up the edges of the Alfajores and it's a traditional way of decorating them, but you can always leave that part out if you want!