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    Home » Snack recipes

    Alfajores (dulce de leche sandwich cookies)

    December 4, 2017 by Caroline's Cooking

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    Alfajores (dulce de leche sandwich cookies) - Crumbly, tender cookies sandwiched together with dulce de leche - alfajores are the kind of cookies that almost anyone will be tempted by. Welcome to your next cookie plate must-have. These tasty treats are easy to make and great for gifting, too. #cookie #dulcedeleche

    Crumbly, tender cookies sandwiched together with dulce de leche - alfajores are the kind of cookies that almost anyone will be tempted by. Welcome to your next cookie plate must-have.

    Jump to Recipe
    stack of alfajores with one resting on side

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    While I don't have a particularly sweet tooth, I have always had a bit of a thing for caramel. There's something about the smooth, sweet, slightly creamy texture that's just hard to resist.

    I have always loved dulce de leche and after originally thinking about something else I missed, I came across these alfajores that I then felt I had to try. And I am so glad I did, they're so good.

    Alfajores - dulce de leche sandwich cookies on side from overhead

    I remember loving another little dulce de leche treat in Mexico years ago which I soon forgot the name of but always longed to see again. It was basically two pieces of wafer stuck together with dulce de leche and I eventually rediscovered they were called obleas.

    However in hunting the name down, I came across alfajores which are kind of the cookie version of the same thing. How could I possibly resist?

    What is dulce de leche made of?

    Dulce de leche is traditionally milk and sugar cooked down together for many hours until it makes a thick caramel. These days, you may find it made from sweetened condensed milk to be a bit quicker, or at least more hands-off (as I show in my banoffee pie recipe). 

    Alfajores - dulce de leche sandwich cookies - sitting in a stack on a plate

    Where are alfajores from?

    Alfajores are often considered Argentinian, but other countries across South America lay claim to them as well. The dulce de leche used as the filling is certainly something found across Latin America, and the cookie dough is a relatively simple variation on sugar cookies.

    The origins of alfajores are actually Moorish, and so they reached Latin American via Spain many centuries ago.

    Interestingly, we saw alfajores pretty often in cafes in Israel this summer, in between the more traditional Israeli cookies. I assume this is due to the Moorish roots of these cookies which have stretched around the Mediterranean region. It also reminded me I really needed to get round to making these myself.

    making cookie dough, cutting circles of dough then on baking sheet

    The cookie base

    The cookie here is a relatively plain sugar cookie, less sweet than some but they don't need to be too sweet given the filling. They are a bit like shortbread in that they are typically made partly with flour and partly corn starch to give a meltingly smooth texture.

    There are a few variations in what goes in there, some include rum or lemon, but I've gone for relatively plain, primarily a blend of this recipe and this one. After creaming together the butter and sugar, blend in the egg yolk then mix in everything else. Bake them until they are just about turning brown then once cool, sandwich together pairs with dulce de leche.

    The dulce de leche in mine here is relatively pale as I made it myself (SO good, if you can spend the time) but ready made will work just as well.

    filling Alfajores with dulce de leche

    Should alfajores have a coating on the outside?

    In some places you'll find alfajores dipped in coconut so that it sticks to the sides of the dulce de leche filling. Yet another variation is to dip them in chocolate. Feel free to play around, but personally I think they are perfect just as they are here.

    Alfajores are a classic for many in South America, particularly Argentina, and I can understand why they are so well loved. In fact my only question is why they are not better known elsewhere. Crumbly cookies joined with gooey, delicious caramel is such a wonderful combination, and one you should try soon.

    Alfajores - dulce de leche sandwich cookies resting against each other showing filling inside

    Try these other cookies from around the world:

    • Persian walnut cookies (nan e-gerdui)
    • Brunkager (Danish spiced Christmas cookies)
    • Anzac biscuits (Australian eggless biscuits/cookies with oat and coconut)
    • German ginger cookies (ingwerplätzchen)
    • Melomakarona (Greek honey cookies)
    • Plus get more ideas in the Holiday recipes and snack recipes archives.

    Tools to make these cookies

    I'd recommend using a Silicone Baking Mat on top of a Half Baking Sheet to make these. I also use these Round Cookie Cutters.

    See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store. 

    Alfajores (dulce de leche sandwich cookies) stacked on end
    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Alfajores (dulce de leche sandwich cookies)

    A delicious combination of crumbly sugar cookies sandwiched together with dulce de leche.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time12 mins
    Total Time27 mins
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: South American
    Servings: 16 small
    Calories: 109kcal
    Author: Caroline's Cooking
    SaveSaved!

    Ingredients

    • 4 oz unsalted butter
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • 1 egg yolk
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 10 tablespoon all purpose flour (10tbsp = ½ cup plus 2tbsp)
    • 10 tablespoon cornstarch cornflour (10tbsp = ½ cup plus 2tbsp)
    • 5 tablespoon dulce de leche approx
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Cream together the sugar and butter in a food processor/stand mixer or with a hand mixer. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and blend in. Add the flour and cornstarch, mix and bring together into a ball. Wrap in cling wrap/film and chill for 30 minutes. 
    • Part way through cooling, preheat the oven to 350F/175C. 
    • Once the dough has cooled, roll out the dough relatively thinly (approx ¼in/2-3mm) and cut small circles and place on a lined cookie sheet/baking sheet/tray. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Bake the cookies for approx 1-12 minutes until they are just starting to brown very slightly. They should still be very pale. Leave to cool a minute before transferring to a cooling rack. 
    • When the cookies are cool, put a small spoonful of dulce de leche on one cookie and press another on top. Make sure you press them together holding the middle of the cookie so the cookies don't break. If needed, twist them slightly to spread out the dulce de leche. While I didn't here, you can roll the outside in coconut if you like, or lightly dust with confectioner's/icing sugar.

    Notes

    Note the number of cookies is based on the small cookie size - you can use slightly bigger but recommend not much above 3in/7.5cm as larger cookies will break more.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 6mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 195IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.3mg

    We're celebrating International cookies today - see the other tasty treats from around the world:

    • Boussou La Tmessou (Algerian Shortbread Cookies) from Tara's Multicultural Table
    • Chocolate Sable Cookies from Curious Cuisiniere
    • Dutch Speculaas Cookies from Palatable Pastime
    • Pepparkakor (Swedish ginger cookies) from The Redhead Baker
    • Peppermint Shortbread Cookies from A Day in the Life on the Farm
    • Polvorosas from Five Senses Palate

    Today also marks the start of Christmas Cookie Week - there will be tasty treats all week long starting with this great list:

    • Candy Cane Tassies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
    • Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies by The Bitter Side of Sweet
    • Crystallized Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love and Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
    • Easy Sugar Cookies by Bear & Bug Eats
    • Empire Cookies by Red Cottage Chronicles
    • Gingerbread Gooey Butter Cookies by Making Miracles
    • Gingerbread Men Cookies by The Freshman Cook
    • Graham Cracker Chocolate Chip Cookies by Books n Cooks
    • Holiday Sugar Sprinkle Butter Cookies by Family Around the Table
    • Italian Rainbow Cookies by Everyday Eileen
    • Loaded Festive Chocolate Chip Cookies by Daily Dish Recipes
    • Makrut Macaroons by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
    • Mocha filled Sandwich Cookies by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
    • Oatmeal Raisin Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
    • Pecan Caramel Turtle Bars by Tip Garden
    • Peppermint Candy Canes by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
    • Peppermint Crinkle Cookies by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
    • Peppermint Macarons by House of Nash Eats
    • Peppermint Mocha Shortbread Cookies by Cooking with Carlee
    • Pistachio Wedding Cookies by Soulfully Made
    • Raspberry Filled Coconut Snowflakes by Making The Most of Naptime
    • Rum Logs by Corn, Beans Pigs and Kids
    • Vanilla Bean Pizzelles by Love and Confections
    • White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies by Kate’s Recipe Box

    Remember to pin for later!

    Alfajores (dulce de leche sandwich cookies) - Crumbly, tender cookies sandwiched together with dulce de leche - alfajores are the kind of cookies that almost anyone will be tempted by. Welcome to your next cookie plate must-have. These tasty treats are easy to make and great for gifting, too. #cookie #dulcedeleche
    Alfajores (dulce de leche sandwich cookies) - Crumbly, tender cookies sandwiched together with dulce de leche, alfajores are the kind of cookies that almost anyone will be tempted by. Welcome to your next cookie plate must-have! Easy to make, too. #cookie #dulcedeleche

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    1. LSG

      July 11, 2022 at 12:27 pm

      can these be made in advance and, if so, how long and how should the be stored?

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        July 11, 2022 at 3:48 pm

        Yes, you can make the cookies ahead of time, they are generally best kept in a sealed container in the fridge and will last around 5-6 days that way. The texture of the cookies themselves will become a little softer over time.

        Reply
    2. LSG

      July 07, 2022 at 8:09 am

      5 stars
      I am getting ready to make this - what size cookie cutter did you use? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        July 07, 2022 at 9:23 am

        I use a pretty small cutter, around 1.5in/4cm. Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Kate

      September 24, 2021 at 3:25 pm

      These look amazing. My young son is studying countries around the world and making foods as he studies them. We were reading and stumbled across the name of this dessert. I am excited that I found this recipe and your blog. We will be trying these (and many of your other recipes from around the world) for sure. Would you mind sharing your recipe for your caramel and vanilla bean speckled filling? It looks delectable. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        September 24, 2021 at 4:11 pm

        That sounds great to be learning about and cooking from places around the world. And I'm glad I can help in that - hopefully you will enjoy these, they are definitely one of our favorites. So the filling is a homemade version of dulce de leche, I keep meaning to write it up but it hasn't quite happened yet. It's essentially milk, sugar and vanilla cooked for a long time and reduced. You can, though, buy dulce de leche which also works really well.

        Reply
        • Kate

          September 25, 2021 at 7:33 pm

          Perfect. Thank you!

          Reply
      • Ann

        January 21, 2022 at 3:44 am

        I’m so happy I came across your recipe. It’s simple and the results are amazing!
        The cookies came out soft, crumbly and buttery.
        I made dulce de leche using condensed milk, placed it in the oven for 2 hours with a water bath and it came out golden brown, sticky, gooey and just delicious!
        Thank you for this recipe! Will be making this again and again!

        Reply
        • Caroline's Cooking

          January 21, 2022 at 7:42 pm

          That's great to hear that they turned out so well and you enjoyed!

          Reply
    4. Gabi

      August 30, 2021 at 4:04 pm

      My family is from Brazil and Chile, so we are big fans of dulce de leche. Can't wait to try these! Yours look amazing by the way!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 30, 2021 at 8:03 pm

        Thank you! Dulce de leche is such a favorite flavor.

        Reply
    5. Gorett

      December 01, 2019 at 2:16 pm

      I used ready made dulce de leche and it was so thin that it just slid off the cookies and the tops slid off. How do you recommend thickening it so that doesn’t happen?

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        December 01, 2019 at 4:03 pm

        Oh dear! Unfortunately, ready-made dulce de leche can vary a bit in thickness, some is intended more as a sauce. I'd suggest putting it in a pan and bringing to a simmer for a few minutes to thicken it - just make sure you keep stirring it regularly.

        Reply
    6. Albert Trotter

      December 09, 2017 at 7:26 am

      5 stars
      I love the specks of vanilla.I am adding this to my Holiday treats because these flavors are fantastic

      Reply
    7. Carlee

      December 06, 2017 at 1:23 pm

      These look so good. Now I want to try ALL the cookies!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        December 06, 2017 at 8:29 pm

        Thanks Carlee, I can understand!

        Reply
    8. Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories

      December 05, 2017 at 2:45 am

      These cookies sound amazing. I totally love both dulce de leche as well as butter cookies. Can't wait to try these.

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        December 05, 2017 at 4:43 pm

        Thanks Karen, it's a great combination of two delicious things!

        Reply
    9. Eileen Kelly

      December 04, 2017 at 11:48 pm

      5 stars
      I have not heard of this cookie ..that said, I have been missing out...I am adding this to my Holiday treats because these flavors are fantastic

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        December 05, 2017 at 4:42 pm

        Thanks. Do give them a try Eileen, they are truly delicious!

        Reply
    10. Cindy's Recipes and Writings

      December 04, 2017 at 7:26 pm

      I never had these I need to change that asap!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        December 05, 2017 at 4:42 pm

        Thanks Cindy, I agree you should!

        Reply
    11. Shannon Dobos

      December 04, 2017 at 3:30 pm

      Every single one of the cookies pictured looks PERFECT. Just gorgeous!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        December 05, 2017 at 4:40 pm

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    12. Tara

      December 04, 2017 at 2:12 pm

      One of my favorites! Yours look delicious. I love the specks of vanilla.

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        December 05, 2017 at 4:40 pm

        Thanks Tara - the specs are from making the dulce de leche myself with a vanilla pod and I have to say it was so good!

        Reply
    13. Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids

      December 04, 2017 at 10:50 am

      How perfect do these cookies look and sound! Yum!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        December 05, 2017 at 4:39 pm

        Thanks Val!

        Reply
    14. Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere

      December 04, 2017 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      These are one of our favorites, and yours look delicious!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        December 05, 2017 at 4:39 pm

        Thanks Sarah, I understand why!

        Reply
    15. Wendy Klik

      December 04, 2017 at 7:27 am

      Caroline, these cookies look and sound amazing. I'm so happy you hosted #InternationalCookies. It is so much fun learning of other cultures through food.

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        December 05, 2017 at 4:39 pm

        Thanks Wendy, I very much agree! Thanks for joining in.

        Reply

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