Aa traditional confection that is found in some regions of Spain and in countries of Latin America including Chile'. The name Alfajores is arabic in origin. Its basic form consists of two round sweet biscuits joined together with dulce de leche or jam and covered with powdered ...sugar. In most alfajores there are two layers of cake, and a filling in between. I got this recipe from my friend, Antonella Conte' Perez in Santiago Chile. I made these with two layers and dulce de leche and powdered sugar.
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons cognac
- 1/2 pound of dulce de leche
- powdered sugar
Alfajores
Preparation: 60 minutes
Makes: 16 cookies, to make 8 Alfajores
- Sift flour with baking powder. Add the egg yolks one at a time, mixing well each time. Then add the liqueur. Mix and knead until firm and dry. If the dough remains too dry can add small amounts of water, tablespoon by tablespoon, until you have a stiff dough that can be kneaded, and does not stick to the pastry cloth or kneading board.
- Roll out the dough with a rolling pin very thin (1/8â?? to 3/16 ), cut out rounds of 3 inches and place on a clean dry cookie sheet. Pierce in several places with a fork so the cookies do not puff up in the oven.
- Cook in a hot oven (400 F ) for 8 or 9 minutes just until they start to brown.
- Remove cookies from pan and let cool. Then, form the Alfajores by spreading one cookie with Manjar*, carmelized sweetened condensed milk also called dulce de leche, and putting another on top and pressing together lightly. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- * Manjar or dulce de leche. You can make your own. Using 1 can sweetened condensed milk, put it in pressure cooker for 35 to 40 minutes (more time yields thicker and darker caramel). Wait on the pressure cooker to cool down on it's own open the can when it is cool.