Alfajores are an Argentinian essential. There are many versions depending on the region, but the one that has a special place in everybody’s heart is the Alfajor de Maicena.
“Maizena” is the name of a commercial brand of cornstarch that gave this delicious treat its name. What makes this type of alfajor special is that has a delicate and crumbly texture and it’s filled with Dulce de Leche, the Argentinian version of caramel that we like to put on everything!.
How To Make Alfajores De Maicena Cookies
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F)
2. Beat the butter and the sugar until light and creamy. Mix in the egg, egg yolks, vainilla extract and lemon zest.
3. Add the dry ingredients, mixing until just incorporated. Shape the dough into a disk and wrap it with plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes in the fridge.
4. Roll out the dough on a well-floured surface to 1⁄4 inch thick. Cut the dough into circles with cookie cutters.
5. Place the cookies on a baking sheet and cool them in the fridge for 30 minutes before baking
6. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until they are dry on the top. Cool them down completely before making the alfajores
7. To make the alfajores put dulce de leche on top of a cookie then put another one on top and squish the together gently. Decorate the sides of the alfajor with shredded coconut and enjoy!
Recipe Ingredients
Cookware Needed For This Recipe:
- Cookie Cutters
- Non Stick Baking Cookie Sheet
Ingredients:
- 200 gr pastry flour
- 300 gr cornstarch
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1⁄2 tsp baking soda
- 200 gr unsalted butter at room temperature
- 150 gr powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tsp vainilla extract
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 400 gr Dulce de leche or caramel for the filling
- Shredded coconut to decorate the sides of the alfajor