Chocolate Argentinian Alfajores filled with dulce leche are a chocolate lover’s dream.
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Table of Contents
Alfajores are made up of two delicate cookies sandwiched together with dulce de leche. Some are covered in chocolate while others are not. There are many variations.
They are originally from Spain, but they became popular in South America.
I have a lot of friends from Argentina. Over the years, they have come back from Buenos Aires with boxes of these cookies and only give me a few pieces.
They know me. Lol. I could finish the box!
I called my friend in Argentina for the chocolate version of the recipe, and here it is!
Ingredients:
- Honey for sweetness and moisture.
- Sugar also for sweetness
- Egg to bind the cookie ingredients together.
- Corn Starch is what makes crumbly cookies.
- Baking Powder makes the cookies poof up slightly
- Baking Soda helps the cookies bake.
- Vanilla Extract adds warmth and depth.
- Cocoa Powder is what makes them chocolate.
- Flour – We are using all purpose flour.
- Unsalted Butter – Take it out of the fridge and bring to room temperature.
- Orange zest and lemon zest – be sure to only get the peel and not the white part or it will be bitter.
What you see here are the ingredients for the cookies, not the filling. We’ll discuss the filling in more detail below.
You can even make the dulce de leche cookies ahead of time.
Alfajores de maicena is another popular version made with shortbread cookies. Here, we are making the chocolate version.
How to Make the Cookie Dough:
- In a large bowl, cream the soft butter with the sugar.
- Add the honey, lemon and orange zest, egg, and vanilla. Mix until combined.
- In another bowl, mix the dry ingredients.
- Combine with the flour mix until a dough forms.
Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl to fully mix everything together.
To do this in a kitchen mixer, use a medium speed and the paddle attachment.
How to soften butter hack:
Pour two cups of water in a microwaveable bowl. Heat for 2 minutes on high. Take it out and dump the water. Put the butter in the hot bowl and place the bowl back in the microwave. The butter will be perfectly soft in 10 minutes.
- Wrap the chocolate cookie dough in plastic wrap.
- Place in the fridge for 30 minutes, up to 1 day.
You can also make the dough days ahead and freeze. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.
The dough freezes well for up to 3 months.
If freezing, place the dough in plastic wrap then add to a sealable freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible.
- Take out the dough, and using a rolling pin, roll it out.
- Cut out using a circular 3 inches cookie cutter.
- Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.
- Bake cookies in a 350 degrees F oven for 10 minutes.
Keep in mind that these cookies are thin, not thick. The thicker the dough, the thicker the cookies.
You might need to let the dough sit on the counter for a few minutes before rolling.
If not using parchment paper, grease the sheet pan with butter.
How to Assemble the Cookies:
To assemble the cookies, you will also need chocolate and dulce de leche.
This is semi-sweet chocolate. Or, look for semi-sweet chocolate chips.
The dulce de leche filling is what is commonly used. You might see other sweet fillings like jam or Nutella.
Can’t find it at the store, buy dulce de leche online or use Mexican cajeta.
- Let the cookies cool slightly.
- Add the dulce de leche to a piping bag.
- Then, pipe a thick layer onto the cookie.
Do this gently. These are crumbly sandwich cookies, and they can break. I always make a few extra just for this reason.
Don’t skimp on the amount of dulce de leche to add. Alfajores have a lot of dulce de leche in the center.
You will need to refill the pastry bag from time to time.
- Place the top cookie and press down slightly.
- With a knife, smooth out the sides where the dulce de leche has come out.
- Once you are done assembling all the cookies, place them in the fridge for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt the chocolate.
- Dip the cookies in the chocolate and place them on wax paper. Repeat until done.
The easiest way to melt chocolate is in the microwave. Do this for 10 second intervals until completely melted. With a spoon, mix the chocolate so it won’t burn.
Using a spoon, dip the cookies into the melted chocolate, allowing the excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl.
Let the dulce de leche cookies sit on wax paper until they harden. If need be, you might need to place them in the fridge to harden.
How to Store:
Place the cookies in an airtight container. They will last for up 5 days at room temperature, or up to 7 days in the refrigerator.
More Cookie Recipes:
Mexican Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies
Rich and decadent, these Chocolate Argentinian Alfajores are the ultimate cookie dessert. Grab a glass of milk or coffee. You’re in for a real treat!
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Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!
Chocolate Argentinian Alfajores
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ stick butter (softened)
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 lemon zest
- 1 orange zest
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup flour
- ¼ cup corn starch
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder (semi-sweet)
Also Need:
- 2 cups dulce de leche (can also use cajeta or caramel)
- 2 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate
Instructions
To Make the Cookies:
- In a large bowl, cream the softened butter with the sugar.
- Add the honey, lemon and orange zest, egg, and vanilla. Mix until well combined.
- In another large bowl, mix the dry ingredients.
- Combine the flour mixture with the butter mixture until a dough forms.
- Using a spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- If doing this in a kitchen mixer, use medium speed and the paddle attachment.
- Wrap the chocolate cookie dough in plastic wrap.
- Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, up to 1 day.
- Take out the dough from the fridge, and using a rolling pin, roll it out.
- Cut out cookies, using a circular 3-inches cookie cutter.
- Place them on a greased baking sheet, or line with wax paper.
- Bake cookies in a 350 degrees F oven for 10 minutes.
- Let cool slightly.
To Assemble:
- Add dulce de leche to a pastry piping bag.
- Then, pipe a thick layer of the dulce de leche onto the cookie.
- Place the top cookie and press down slightly.
- With a knife, smooth out the sides where the dulce de leche has come out.
- Repeat until there are no more cookies.
- Once you are done, place them in the fridge for 10 minutes.
- Melt the chocolate in 10 second intervals in the microwave.
- Stir after every 10 seconds so it won't burn.
- Dip the cookies in the chocolate and place on wax paper.
- Repeat until done.
- Place them in the fridge to harden for 10 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.
These are very professional-looking cookies. They look delicious too.
Yes, very yummy. 🙂 Thanks for your comment.
Wow, these look decadent! Your pictures were very helpful in how to assemble these cookies! Thanks for the recipe share!
Such an easy and delicious dessert to make for my guests this weekend.
I am pretty sure they will love this!
We love the dulce de leche flavor. These cookies sound delicious!
You’ll love this recipe. Super tasty!
These sounds amazing. I must check them out. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Hope you do. I know you’ll enjoy it.
This looks absolutely delicious and tasty I’m sure my niece are going to love this for sure!
Very delicious.
Wow! This chocolate cookie recipe looks so delicious. Full of flavor and taste which the cookie is coated with chocolate! Kids will definitely love it!
Okay, I am giving you 5-stars. These look delicious. Part of me is thanking you, however, part of me is cursing you because I definitely will not be able to zip my pants thanks to this recipe. 😆
lol. Yes, I know what you mean. These Chocolate Argentinian Alfajores are addictive.
I’m always trying to find an easy way to soften the butter because I always forget to leave it out for a recipe. I love this tip!
Glad you found it useful.
wow! I should try the chocolate version! It looks amazingly delicious!
Glad you liked it.
Thanks for sharing this scrumptious recipe. I love everything chocolate!
Me too! Hard not to love chocolate.
These look absolutely delicious and I want to make them immediately!
I hope you make these Chocolate Argentinian Alfajores. You’re gonna love them.
These sound really good. I may add these to my Christmas baking list.
Yes! So good. Hope you enjoy them.
Love this recipe! I’m collecting a bunch of unique recipes to make for Christmas cookies this year and this one is perfect!
Thank you!
These look so good. I bet they are rich though. I’ll have to give them a try and make a batch.
Happy to hear you liked it
I love dulce de leche on anything, I haven’t tried alfajores yet, and this is actually my first time reading of it but a similar treat I like also have marshmallow in the middle. Thank you for sharing.
These Chocolate Argentinian Alfajores are so yummy, you have to give them a try!
ALFAJORES are my favorite cookie but I have never had them as chocolate alfajores so now I do want this so badlyI I will try to make them this weekend!
Happy to hear you liked it. Hope you make this recipe soon.
I haven’t tried these cookies before. I am sure I’d enjoy them as I tend to enjoy all things with chocolate.
If you love chocolate, you’re going to love this recipe.