Alfajores, a beloved treat originating from South America, feature delicate sandwich cookies filled with luscious dulce de leche and often coated in chocolate or powdered sugar. This delightful confection combines the richness of caramelized milk with the sweetness of chocolate or powdered sugar, resulting in a truly indulgent experience. With roots tracing back to Moorish Spain, alfajores have evolved over centuries, becoming a cherished delicacy across Latin America. Today, they are enjoyed worldwide for their irresistible combination of flavors and textures.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, at room temperature

- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar

- 3 large egg yolks

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour

- 1 cup (120g) cornstarch

- 1 teaspoon baking powder

- Dulce de leche, for filling

- Chocolate chips or powdered sugar, for coating

Method:

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time, then add the vanilla extract and mix well.

3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cornstarch, and baking powder.

4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.

5. Divide the dough into two equal portions, shape each into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

6. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

7. Roll out one portion of the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch (6mm) thickness.

8. Use a cookie cutter to cut out rounds, then transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.

9. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until they are just set and lightly golden around the edges.

10. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

11. Once cooled, spread a dollop of dulce de leche onto the bottom side of half of the cookies.

12. Top each filled cookie with another cookie to form a sandwich.

13. If desired, melt chocolate chips and dip half of each sandwich cookie into the melted chocolate, or dust the cookies with powdered sugar.

14. Allow the chocolate to set before serving. Enjoy your homemade alfajores!

Nutrition Value:

1.Unsalted Butter (1 cup, 225g):

- Calories: Approximately 1628 kcal

- Carbohydrates: 0g

- Protein: 1.2g

- Fat: 184g

- Sodium: 24mg

- Cholesterol: 488mg

- Nutritional Benefits: Provides energy, a source of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E, and K, and essential fatty acids.

2.Granulated Sugar (1 cup, 200g):

- Calories: Approximately 774 kcal

- Carbohydrates: 200g

- Protein: 0g

- Fat: 0g

- Sodium: 2mg

- Cholesterol: 0mg

- Nutritional Benefits: Provides quick energy, but offers little to no nutritional value. 

3.Egg Yolks (3 large yolks):

- Calories: Approximately 159 kcal

- Carbohydrates: 1.6g

- Protein: 6.5g

- Fat: 13.5g

- Sodium: 125mg

- Cholesterol: 617mg

- Nutritional Benefits: Rich in protein, healthy fats, and essential nutrients like choline and vitamin D.

4.Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon):

- Calories: Approximately 12 kcal

- Carbohydrates: 0.6g

- Protein: 0g

- Fat: 0g

- Sodium: 0mg

- Cholesterol: 0mg

- Nutritional Benefits: Provides flavor without adding significant calories or nutrients.

5.All-Purpose Flour (2 cups, 250g):

- Calories: Approximately 910 kcal

- Carbohydrates: 190g

- Protein: 25g

- Fat: 2g

- Sodium: 10mg

- Cholesterol: 0mg

- Nutritional Benefits: Contains carbohydrates for energy and some protein, but lacks significant vitamins and minerals.

6.Cornstarch (1 cup, 120g):

- Calories: Approximately 488 kcal

- Carbohydrates: 116g

- Protein: 1.2g

- Fat: 0.1g

- Sodium: 12mg

- Cholesterol: 0mg

- Nutritional Benefits: Used as a thickening agent, provides carbohydrates but lacks significant nutrients.

7.Baking Powder (1 teaspoon):

- Calories: Approximately 2 kcal

- Carbohydrates: 0.9g

- Protein: 0g

- Fat: 0g

- Sodium: 488mg

- Cholesterol: 0mg

- Nutritional Benefits: Helps baked goods rise, but not a significant source of nutrients.

8.Dulce de Leche (for filling):

- Calories: Approximately 60 kcal per tablespoon (15g)

- Carbohydrates: 9g

- Protein: 1g

- Fat: 3g

- Sodium: 20mg

- Cholesterol: 10mg

- Nutritional Benefits: Provides sweetness and creaminess, but also contains sugars and fats.

9.Chocolate Chips or Powdered Sugar (for coating):

- Calories: Approximately 70 kcal per tablespoon (15g) of chocolate chips, negligible for powdered sugar

- Carbohydrates: 5-9g for chocolate chips, 4g for powdered sugar

- Protein: 0.5-1g for chocolate chips, 0g for powdered sugar

- Fat: 4.5-5g for chocolate chips, 0g for powdered sugar

- Sodium: 0-2mg for chocolate chips, 0mg for powdered sugar

- Cholesterol: 0-2mg for chocolate chips, 0mg for powdered sugar

- Nutritional Benefits: Provides sweetness and texture, but also adds sugar and fat to the recipe. Dark chocolate chips offer antioxidants and may have some health benefits.