International Recipes
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