Recipe: Alfajores de Maicena - Cornstarch Shortbread Cookies filled with Dulce de Leche

Prep Time: 1 hrs

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 1 hrs, 15 mins

Serves: 1 - 2 dozen, depending on the size of your cookie

 

 

Ingredients

• 2 sticks of butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1-2 cups dulce de leche

 

 

Directions

1. In a mixer, cream together the butter and the sugar.
2. One at a time, add in the eggs and vanilla; beating over medium speed until incorporated.
3. In a large mixing bowl sift the flour, cornstarch and baking powder together.
4. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and continue mixing until it forms a dough.  
5. Remove the dough from the mixer and form into a balls. Wrap the ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least half an hour. 
6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
7. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out onto a floured surface. Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness, then cut with a the cookie cutterof your choice. Repeat this step until you have used all the dough.
8. Place the cookies on a parchment-paper lined cookie sheet, and bake for 15 minutes, just until the edges start to brown.
9. Let the cookies cool completely, and then place a generous dollop of dulce de leche on one cookie, topping with another cookie to make a sandwich. Press gently together.

Notes

• Variations: You can dip the cookies in chocolate, covered in powdered sugar or roll in coconut. You can also make your cookies thicker or use more dulce de leche in the middle.