Cornstarch alfajores

This cornstarch alfajores recipe is typical in Chile and Argentina. They are very simple and easy to prepare.

Very similar to cornstarch cookies, buns or rings, they are mainly distinguished by being sandwiched together in pairs with dulce de leche, creating a delicious and sweet treat, similar to Chilean alfajores, whose dough is made without cornstarch, so they have a different texture.

Tips for preparing cornstarch alfajores:

Mix all the dry ingredients together and then sift them, as maicena is very dry and fine, which could result in lumps.

Butter should be at room temperature. If it’s not, you can fill a large bowl with boiling water, let the bowl heat up for a few minutes, carefully empty it, and then place it upside down over the butter (like a bell). After a few minutes, the butter should become significantly softer due to the heat radiated by the bowl.

If desired, you can replace orange zest with lemon zest or add 1 tablespoon of aromatic liqueur like Cointreau, Amaretto, or Triple Sec.

When adding the dry ingredients, it’s better to do it with your hands, gently combining everything without kneading. If you want the cookie layers of these alfajores to be neat, I recommend rolling out the dough to the desired thickness, wrapping it in plastic wrap, and refrigerating it until it becomes firm. The time will depend on the thickness and the refrigerator’s temperature, but it should be around 30 minutes. Then, immediately cut out the circles and bake them while still “frozen” to prevent cracking and achieve more “perfect” circles. Avoid browning the cookies when baking, as they could become hard. The cookies should be completely cold before removing them from the baking sheet or handling them since they are delicate when hot.

How long do cornstarch alfajores last, and how to store them?

Once our alfajores are ready, we can store them in a cookie tin or an airtight container with a paper napkin at the bottom (to absorb moisture) for up to one week.

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Cornstarch alfajores

Delicious and typical in Chile and Argentina, cornstach alfajores are simple to prepare.

Course cookies, Dessert

Cuisine Argentinian cuisine, chilean cuisine

Keyword alfajores with cornstarch, Cornstarch alfajor, cornstarch alfajores

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Servings 15

Calories 240 kcal

Ingredients

• 4.4 oz 125 grams salted butter, at room temperature
• 5.3 oz 150 grams powdered sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon rum or amaretto both work deliciously
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1/2 cup whole milk if needed
• Dulce de leche and shredded coconut for assembling if you want

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 356°F (180°C).
2. Beat the butter and powdered sugar together until creamy. Add the egg yolks, rum (or amaretto), and orange zest, continuing to beat until well combined.
3. Sift the dry ingredients: cornstarch, flour, and baking powder. Add them gradually to the butter mixture, mixing until you have a dough with a consistency similar to play-dough. If the dough is too firm or crumbly, you can add a little bit of milk.
4. Roll out the dough to the desired thickness, approximately 0.8 inches (2 cm) (keep in mind that the dough won’t rise much), and cut out circles of the desired size. Place them on a lightly buttered baking sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until cooked but not golden.
5. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet as they are fragile.
6. Sandwich two cookies together with dulce de leche (caramel spread) in the middle. Roll the sides of the alfajores in shredded coconut (you could also use ground nuts or almonds).
7. Enjoy your alfajores!