As a valentine, would this cookie work with a card that said “I’d alfajore like you to be my valentine.” Is that a stretch? I think that one of these in a cellophane bag is the just the thing to tell someone they’re bomb.
I popped all of these (except for the sample cookie, obvz) in the freezer for a cookie emergency of the “Shucks, you’re the best!” variety. I think these cookies are cute enough to communicate all these feelings I’ve been feeling since 1984, don’t you?
I’d like to warn you that the weather is cold and dry. So my hair is staticky and all that. So maybe that’s why this dough was a touch crumbly. If you feel it needs a bit more moisture just drizzle in a little bit of milk, but these guys worked out! And the dough still held together when pressed so these are really quite drama-free. Just thought I’d tell you about my staticky hair and then relate it to these cookies somehow.
Alfajores (makes about 1 dozen)
Recipe from Technicolor Kitchen via Hungry Girl Por Vida
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 t baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 T vanilla
- 1 (13.4 oz) can dulce de leche, for sandwiching
- 1/2 -1 cup toasted coconut, for sandwiching
- confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, flour, baking powder, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer cream together the butter and the sugar until lightened in color and fluffy. Add the yolks one at a time. Scrape the bowl and mix in the vanilla. Slowly add the dry ingredients until the dough comes together. It may look like crumbs, but will come together when pressed.
- Pour out onto a floured surface. Knead a bit to bring the dough together. Roll out until 1/4 inch thick and cut out shapes. Transfer to the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes until just beginning to look golden, but still pale in color. Cool completely and then fill with dulce de leche and toasted coconut. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar. Enjoy!
Yay! Click HERE for a printable pdf of the recipe above.
I think I need shoes the color of dulce de leche.
These look perfect. They make me FEEL all the feelings I’ve had since 1984.
I want someone to make these for me for Valentine’s Day. They look insanely good!
These are gorgeous!! Perfect Valentine’s Day cookie ever. I’d alfajore like you to send me a dozen, please.
Oh, I alfajore these cookies! I would be totally tickled to receive one of these from a Valentine. Adorable and delicious treats are totally my jam!
I made these at Christmas, and I had to add a bit of water to make the dough come together, but they rolled out perfectly. Did you see Deb’s post for homemade dulce de leche on Smitten Kitchen? I want to try that next!
Amazing! This filling combo is to good for words! Loving it!
LOVE! Is it weird that I’m super excited to see what you have in store for Valentine’s day?? : )
I HEART these, for real.
Oh man, those are so pretty! Love the shredded coconut sides!
I can guarantee anyone would win my heart if they gave me a batch of these for valentine’s day for real.
I have never had alfajores. But these are calling my name!
I just made these and they are cooling as we speak. I must piggy back on the comment that said that they made these for Christmas. I followed this recipe to the tee and I am a seasoned baker, the dough was way too crumbly to just press together and it will hold. I ended up adding about 1/4 cup (scant) of milk to the mixture. At that point then the kneading worked. The dough was easy to roll out and the rest of the cookies cut and baked well. Nice idea to switch up Alfajores which I love. Easy recipe but definitely some liquid is needed. Thanks for sharing.
I have never heard of these cookies..but with dulce de leche and coconut these have got to rock my socks! And, they are SO adorbs!
It’s incredible that I came and saw this today because just last night I was wanting something else to make with the masa harina I bought for the beer chili! And I’ve also been looking for something sweet to make my hubby! AND, Ive been sad that I’m not more in touch with my Latina heritage (sure, I’m Mexican and I think Alfajores are more Spanish, but I’m counting it) But I came to ask, are corn flour and corn starch the same thing? I want to make these right now, should I buy corn starch?
Cornstarch and masa harina are different. Masa is made from whole corn kernels, but cornstarch is just the starch extracted from them. I don’t think masa would be a good sub here because the textures are not the same.
Thank you, Becky!
I would like to drizzle these with chocolate and pretend I’m eating the cousin of a “Samoa/Caramel Delight”. Or maybe big brother. Either way, I’m in.
I feel like with cookies as gorgeous as these you can add “alfajores” to basically any sentence and be good to go. I also feel like it would be a zesty verb to use: “I alfajores you” would be even up a level from “I love you,” right? Can’t get over that dulce de leche + toasted coconut combo!
I’ve never had an alfajore before, but I think that needs to change. Dulce de leche and toasted coconut together in one cookie recipe? Be still my heart. <3
These look ridiculously good! I am so making them to take to my next NHS meeting!
xoxo
Sophie
I hope I get some of these from my sweetheart. Would sending him the link be too much?
These look so adorable! Great photography