These soft cookies sandwiched with creamy dulce de leche bring me back to my time in Argentina, when I would walk to the bakery by my house and get an alfajor the size of my hand and finish it by the end of the four block back to my house! Dulce de leche can be a bit tricky, and can take about 2 and 1/2 hours to make, so you can always buy it or boil a can of condensed milk if you'd rather!
Makes 6 mini alfajores
Ingredients:
For the dulce de leche:
2 cups whole milk
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 and 1/4 cups white granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the cookies:
1/3 cup plus 1 Tablespoon all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon orange zest (you can use lemon if you prefer)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon brandy
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup white granulated sugar
Other: 1/3 cup finely desiccated coconut
Step 1: Make the dulce de leche by combining all ingredients in a heavy bottomed large saucepan or medium pot on medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is fully dissolved. Then turn the heat down to low, and stir frequently as the mixture bubbles, turns a darker color and thickens, about 1 hour. Stir frequently so that the mixture doesn't scald or stick to the bottom of the pot.
Step 2: Preheat the oven to 350F. Combine the flour and cornstarch in one bowl. In a separate bowl, cream together the sugar and butter, then add the vanilla, brandy, egg yolk and orange zest and mix until combine. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients (you may need to use your hands) until it forms a dough ball. If your dough feels too soft and sticky to roll add 2 Tablespoons more of flour. Now wrap your dough in plastic wrap, and set it in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
Step 3: Roll the dough to 1/2 inch thickness, then punch out cookies using a 2 inch cookie cutter. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the bottom of the cookies are lightly browned.
Step 4: Let the cookies cool completely. Once cool, plop about 2 teaspoons of dulce de leche on a cookie, then top with another cookie. Press down to make some of the dulce de leche squish out of the sides. Roll the sides in desiccated coconut. Enjoy!
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