Description
Heart-Shaped Alfajores with Dulce de Leche Filling are tender, delicate cookies featuring buttery shortbread paired with creamy caramel dulce de leche. This romantic and festive treat combines a soft, crumbly texture with luscious sweetness, perfect for sharing during special occasions or gifting loved ones. Made with simple pantry ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, these alfajores capture the traditional Argentine flavors with a playful heart-shaped presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookie Dough
- 1 cup (120g) All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 cup (60g) Cornstarch
- 3/4 cup (170g) Unsalted Butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100g) Sugar
- 3 Egg Yolks
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
For the Filling and Finishing
- 1 cup Dulce de Leche
- Powdered Sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Start by creaming the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks and vanilla extract, beating gently to combine. Sift the flour and cornstarch together, then slowly incorporate them into the wet ingredients. Mix just until a cohesive dough forms, being careful not to overwork it to keep the cookies tender.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up. This step is crucial for easy rolling and maintaining the cookie shape when baked.
- Cut Out Heart Shapes: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out even shapes and transfer them to a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced apart to allow for slight spreading.
- Bake Until Lightly Golden: Bake the cookies in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-12 minutes or until the edges are just turning golden. Avoid overbaking to keep the delicate texture.
- Cool Completely Before Assembling: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Complete cooling is essential to prevent melting the dulce de leche filling during assembly.
- Assemble with Dulce de Leche Filling: Spread a generous spoonful of dulce de leche on the flat side of half the cookies. Gently sandwich the remaining cookies on top, pressing lightly to secure but not squish the filling out.
- Finish with a Dusting of Powdered Sugar: Dust the assembled alfajores with powdered sugar for that classic, elegant look and an extra touch of sweetness.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter for smooth creaming and perfect dough texture.
- Mix the dough only until just combined to avoid tough cookies.
- Chilling the dough thoroughly is essential to maintain shape and ease of cutting.
- Use quality dulce de leche, preferably artisanal or homemade, for best flavor and texture.
- Roll the dough evenly to ensure uniform baking and consistent texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Argentine
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 alfajor (2 cookies with filling)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: Alfajores, Dulce de Leche, Heart-Shaped Cookies, Argentine Dessert, Shortbread Cookies, Valentine's Day Treat, Creamy Caramel Filling
