Alfajores
Description
Try using leftover dulce de leche on toast, over ice cream or by the spoonful! Since it takes a while to prepare homemade dulce de leche, make a big batch by throwing in a few cans of sweetened condensed milk to cook at once. You can store it on a shelf for about three months. For a longer shelf life, store it in the refrigerator or freezer. Once you open a can of dulce de leche, put anything left in a glass or airtight container with a tight seal and keep it refrigerated for up to five days.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon brandy
- 1/2 tablespoon grated lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1-1/4 cups plus 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, divided
- 1-3/4 cups cornstarch
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 large egg yolks, room temperature
- 2 cans (14 ounces each) dulce de leche
- 3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
Directions
- In a small bowl, whisk together brandy, lemon zest and vanilla; set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 1-1/4 cups flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg yolks on low speed, 1 at a time, until incorporated. Beat in brandy mixture, scraping down side of bowl as needed. Add flour mixture; beat on low just until dough comes together in a ball, 1-2 minutes.
- Sprinkle a cutting board with remaining 1/4 cup flour. Place dough ball on cutting board; cut in half. Roll each ball into a 1-1/4 in.-thick log shape. Tightly wrap each log; refrigerate at least 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap chilled dough logs; cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake 5-7 minutes or until light brown in color. Let cool slightly, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Spoon dulce de leche into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-in. plain tip. Pipe a thick layer in a swirling motion on the flat side of half of the cookies. Sandwich with remaining cookies, rounded side up.
- Place coconut in a shallow bowl; roll edges of sandwich cookies in coconut.
