Description
Delicate and crumbly cornstarch cookies filled with rich dulce de leche and finished with a light coconut coating. These alfajores melt in your mouth and offer a perfect balance of sweetness and citrus aroma.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cornstarch
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 150 grams unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 cup dulce de leche
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 170°C (340°F) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Sift together cornstarch, flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl.
- In another bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar until light and creamy.
- Add egg yolks one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract and lemon zest.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing gently until a soft dough forms.
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/2 cm thickness.
- Cut into rounds using a cookie cutter and place on the prepared tray.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes until bottoms are lightly golden while tops remain pale.
- Cool completely on a wire rack.
- Spread dulce de leche on one cookie, sandwich with another, and gently press.
- Roll the edges in shredded coconut to finish.
Notes
- Avoid overmixing the dough to keep cookies tender.
- Do not overbake; the tops should stay pale.
- Handle cookies gently as they are delicate.
- You can dip half in melted chocolate for variation.
- Substitute orange zest for a different citrus flavor.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerate in warm climates and bring to room temperature before serving.
- Cookies can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
