An almond-flavored shortbread sandwich cookie with a rich caramel filling in the middle. Popular in South American countries.
Makes about 24For the cookies:
1-1/2 cups unsalted butter
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup ground almonds (can be ground in a food processor)
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
For the filling:
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup half & half or light cream or evaporated milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
To make the cookies:
Cream the butter with the powdered sugar until fluffy. Stir in salt, extracts, ground almonds and flour. Wrap and chill 30 minutes. (If you chill longer, you have to let the dough warm up a bit before it can be rolled. Or, do what professional pastry chefs do: whack it with a rolling pin until it becomes more malleable).
Mealwhile, make the filling:
In a medium saucepan, heat brown sugar with cream over medium heat. As it cooks, brush inner sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water. This wipes away grainy sugar crystals. Heat until mixture reaches soft ball stage (238-240 F). Remove from heat - let cool to about 110 F. Stir in the butter and beat until mixture is thickened. Add vanilla. (Heat to loosen or add additional cream). If mixture is too thin, add in confectioners' sugar.
To bake the cookies:
Roll out dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut in 2-1/2-inch circles. Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 350 F for 12-14 minutes. Cool baking sheets
between batches. Cool cookies on wire racks.
To assemble Alfajores:
Spread some caramel filling on a cookie. Top
with another cookie and press together nicely. Be careful, these are fragile. Dust tops with confectioner's sugar.
A cookie baker Nov 4, 2008
Would make this again.
Great for school projects!!!
Panda lover in Miami Fl Oct 28, 2008
Would make this again.
My husband is Peruvian from Peru and he says these are just like home....
Tim in Joliet, Il Sep 16, 2008
Would make this again.
I really love this cookies!
My sister made them in high school for Spanish and I did it last Friday. Big success!
Darien and Jennah in New Hampshire Jul 4, 2008
Would make this again.
My friend and I made them for a Social Studies project and everyone loved them, my teacher even asked if we bought them from a store. But we didn't have time to make the caramel so we put chocolate in them (shhhhh), they still tasted great!
Hallie in Chicago Jun 16, 2008
Would make this again.
This is a fabulous recipe. The cookies are exquisite.
Jen in Canada May 21, 2008
Would make this again.
Great cookies:) i would make them again and tell people about this recipe. i made them for a Spanish class presentation:)
Flub May 21, 2008
Would make this again.
Yes I wooooould. They're amazingly good. I would recommend this to many people.I made this for spanish and everybody liked them
andrea in houston Apr 24, 2008
Would make this again.
I would make this again and again.
katrina in virginia Feb 22, 2008
Would make this again.
these were really delicious and easy to make. my only dissappointment was the caramel filling. i had to keep adding powdered sugar to it to thicken it so the filling became way too sweet. i will experiment next time i make these.
CoaCoa in Canada Feb 5, 2008
Would make this again.
DEFINITELY would make these again. THEY WERE DELICIOUS!!!!! I Made Them For A Peru Projects And EVERYBODY loved Them!!! Except One Kid Who said he didn't like them because he was tone deaf? Like i don't even get it
