Alfajores - The South American Cookie

Alfajores [Al•fa•kho•res] is a South American sandwich cookie with a dulce de leche filling. My half Argentine mother would make these crumbly cookies on big occasions like New Years Eve and family birthday parties and needless to say, they were always a hit. Something about the sugarless cookie combined with the smooth, extra sweet dulce de leche filling partnered with a crunch of coconut shredding always got the crowd asking for more. And of course, get the kids (my elder brother and I) nagging for her to hide the rest of the cookies to have all to ourselves *cue evil laughter*

Many would ask for the recipe but it's my mother's well-kept secret which was passed on from my pure Argentine great grandmother. She would have my head if I shared it myself so, I'm sorry that I can't reveal this one!

The cookies don't spread at all while they bake, they just rise ever-so-slightly and look a little more golden

I've always watched mom bake Alfajores but only dared to help her out when it came to spreading the dulce de leche and sandwiching the cookies together. This time, the tables have turned. I'm becoming a lot more comfortable in the kitchen so I decided to try it out myself while mom kept a non-judgmental eye on me.

I can never get enough of Dulce De Leche

This time, mom did the helping out and the hand modeling :)

Victory is when I'm told that my Alfajores reminded my mom of her grandmother's who was very dear to my mother's heart. That, by far, is one of the kindest compliments I've ever gotten regarding anything I baked. Thank you mom, I love you.