Discover the irresistible charm of Alfajores, delightful cookies filled with creamy dulce de leche and finished with a luxurious coating of chocolate or a dusting of powdered sugar. Perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings!

Ingredients:

For the cookies:

  - 2 cups all-purpose flour

  - 1 cup cornstarch

  - 1 teaspoon baking powder

  - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

  - 1/4 teaspoon salt

  - 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

  - 3/4 cup granulated sugar

  - 2 large egg yolks

  - 1 large egg

  - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  - 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)

For the filling:

  - 1 1/2 cups dulce de leche

For the coating:

  - Powdered sugar, for dusting

or

  - 8 oz semi-sweet or milk chocolate, melted (if coating with chocolate)

Instructions:

Prepare the dough:

1-In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

2-In a large bowl, cream the butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.

3-Add the egg yolks, whole egg, vanilla extract, and lemon zest (if using) to the butter mixture. Mix until well combined.

4-Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

5-Divide the dough into two portions, flatten each into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Bake the cookies:

1-Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2-On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.

3-Use a round cookie cutter (about 2 inches in diameter) to cut out cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheet.

4-Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The cookies should remain pale on top.

5-Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Assemble the Alfajores:

1-Once the cookies are completely cool, spread a generous amount of dulce de leche on the flat side of one cookie.

2-Top with another cookie, flat side down, to create a sandwich. Repeat with the remaining cookies and dulce de leche.

Coat the cookies:

1-For powdered sugar: Dust the tops of the assembled Alfajores with powdered sugar.

2-For chocolate coating: Dip each sandwich cookie halfway into the melted chocolate and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet to set. Alternatively, you can fully coat each cookie in chocolate if desired. Let the chocolate set completely before serving.

Serve and enjoy:Store the Alfajores in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Enjoy these delicious treats with a cup of coffee or tea!

Nutritional Values:

Nutritional Values (Approximate) per Serving (1 Alfajor)

For the cookies:

  - Calories: 120

  - Total Fat: 7g

  - Saturated Fat: 4g

  - Cholesterol: 35mg

  - Sodium: 45mg

  - Total Carbohydrates: 13g

  - Dietary Fiber: 0.2g

  - Sugars: 4g

  - Protein: 1g

For the filling (dulce de leche):

  - Calories: 60

  - Total Fat: 2g

  - Saturated Fat: 1g

  - Cholesterol: 5mg

  - Sodium: 20mg

  - Total Carbohydrates: 10g

  - Sugars: 10g

  - Protein: 1g

benefits:

  - Rich, creamy caramel flavor adds indulgence to the cookies.

  - Contains calcium and phosphorus, important minerals for bone health.

  - Provides some protein and fat, contributing to satiety.

For the coating (powdered sugar):

  - Calories: 10

  - Total Carbohydrates: 2.5g

  - Sugars: 2.5g

benefits:

  - Adds sweetness and a decorative touch to the cookies.

  - Provides a smoother texture compared to granulated sugar when dusted on top of the cookies.

For the coating (semi-sweet or milk chocolate):

  - Calories: 70

  - Total Fat: 4.5g

  - Saturated Fat: 3g

  - Cholesterol: 0mg

  - Sodium: 0mg

  - Total Carbohydrates: 8g

  - Dietary Fiber: 1g

  - Sugars: 6g

  - Protein: 1g

benefits:

  - Contains flavonoids, antioxidants that may help improve heart health by reducing inflammation and improving blood flow.

  - Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content provides more antioxidants and less sugar compared to milk chocolate.

  - Can elevate mood and reduce stress due to its serotonin-boosting properties.

These values are approximate and can vary based on factors such as specific brands, ingredient substitutions, and portion sizes. It's always a good idea to check the nutritional information on the packaging of your ingredients for the most accurate values.