Dulce de Leche and Walnuts Alfajores
Alfajores are soft, delicate cookies from South America made, surprisingly, with cornstarch. In this version, the cookie edges are rolled in walnuts which add a nutty flavor and an appetizing finish.
Ingredients
Homemade Dulce de Leche
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
Alfajores
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar (may substitute with vanilla paste or extract)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup finely chopped California walnuts
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, for garnish
Instructions
Homemade Dulce de Leche
- Use one of the three methods HERE to make Dulce de Leche NEVER make it with an unopened can.
Alfajores
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamed. Add egg, vanilla sugar (or suggested substitute), salt and water and continue beating for 2 minutes.
- Sift flour with baking powder and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add flour mixture to butter and sugar mixture.
- Knead the dough and shape into a ball. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
- Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch, and cut it into circles about 2 inches in diameter using a pastry cutter.
- Arrange them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
- To create sandwiches, cover one cookie with a spoonful of Dulce de Leche, spread walnuts over it, and top with another cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.
Nutrition
Per serving: Calories 184 cal Total Fat 7 g Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g Cholesterol 27 mg Sodium 54 mg Carbohydrates 28 g Dietary Fiber 0 g Protein 2 g
Recipe and photo used with permission from: California Walnuts
