31 October 2008

ALFAJORES


These are the most awesome sandwich cookies ever~

I was first introduced to alfajores  by my Mother-in-Law, who brings a box with her every time she visits from Argentina.  My husbands favorite are the Jorgito brand, which are very soft and cake like.  They have a slight citrus flavor, a generous serving of Dulce de Leche and are covered with powdered sugar.  I really, really liked these alfajores.  

In 2005, we traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina to visit family.  While on this trip we traveled four hours to Mar del Plata, which is where my husband used to spend his summer vacations as a child.  While visiting this coastal town we played on the beach (scared the locals with our pasty white skin), saw a real gaucho, ate amazing pastries every morning and sampled quite a few versions of this treat called alfajore!  I had two favorites as we headed back for Buenos Aires.  The first was coated in dark chocolate and the second was actually called a "Conito" and was only one layer of cookie with a swirl of Dulce de Leche that was covered with dark chocolate.  

This homemade version of the cookies is really, really good! I've made them quite a few times and they have always been a big hit.

~COOKIES~

15 T Unsalted Butter, room temp
1 Sugar
1 Egg, room temp
2 Egg yolks, room temp
5 C All Purpose Flour
4 T Honey
1/2 T Baking Soda
2 T Baking Powder
1/2 T Vanilla

1 Jar Dulce de Leche (spreadable) **

3 C Chocolate candy coating**

Cream butter, sugar, egg, yolks, honey and vanilla in mixer using the whisk attachment.

In another bowl mix flour, baking soda & baking powder; slowly add the flour mixture into butter mixture working the dough until it is smooth then let it rest for 30 minutes.

On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4" thickness and cut with circle cutter (this dough tends to stick to the board and the rolling pin quite easily, just piece the dough back together and keep rolling it out). 

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes at 350 degrees until they are golden brown. Let the cookies cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes. Spread a layer of dulce de leche onto one cookie and sandwich with another cookie.

Melt the candy coating in the microwave starting at 1 minute and then stirring very well. Move to 30 second intervals making sure to stir well.**

Drop each sandwich cookie into the melted chocolate and then let the chocolate set.

Enjoy.


**You can make this with 1 can of sweetened condensed milk. Boil the unopened can of milk for 30- 60 minutes making sure to keep the can covered with the boiling water.  This Dulce de Leche is really good and gives a bit of a crunch to it in the cookie sandwich.  Making the Dulce de Leche this way is said to be dangerous as the can might explode.  Do NOT open the can while it is still hot.  I have used both versions of Dulce de Leche and find the convienience of the store bought spreadable version much easier.**

**when working with the candy melts, know that they maintain their shape even when they melt so you have to be very careful to stir well in between each melting cycle.



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