First off: how do you say the name of these cookies? I say it “alf-a-hore-ay” and nobody’s ever looked at me funny, so go ahead and use my method. The alfajor (alfajores, plural) is a delectable type of crumbly cookie, commonly sandwiched with indulgent dulce de leche, which is very popular in South America. But like most things, it gets even better with a little peanut butter! This version includes peanut butter both in the cookie dough and mixed with the dulce de leche filling, making for a delectably addictive caramel peanut buttery treat.
Recipe notes: you are welcome to make your own dulce de leche (in fact, I applaud you if you do), but I found that the store-bought kind works just fine. Also, traditionally these cookies are dusted with confectioners’ sugar before serving, but I didn’t like what it did to the cookies’ texture, so I went without.
Prep time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Total time: 2 hours
Yield: 24 sandwiches
Ingredients
1 cup cornstarch
1 ¾ cups flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, cut into ½ inch pieces and softened but still cool
1 tablespoon Smooth Operator peanut butter
½ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 ounces cup dulce de leche
8 ounces Smooth Operator peanut butter, at room temperature
Procedure
1. In a medium bowl, combine the cornstarch, flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and mix briefly.
2. Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the flour mixture, along with the peanut butter, using two forks or a pastry cutter to combine.
3. Add the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla, and mix until the dough is homogeneous and smooth.
4. Divide the dough in half and form two disks. Wrap in plastic. Let the dough rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (it will make rolling it out easier).
5. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
6. Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Roll out dough to ¼” thickness, and cutting into 2 inch circles (although you can also cut out shapes if you’d like; I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to make a few unicorn cookies).
7. Place cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving an inch around each cookie to allow for minimal spreading.
8. Bake cookies for 10-15 minutes, until they are barely golden brown.
9. Let cookies cool on the sheets for about 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to rack to cool completely (they are quite fragile until they cool).
10.While the cookies cool, prepare the filling: in a medium bowl, mix the dulce de leche and peanut butter until smooth and combined.
11.Once the cookies are cool, spoon filling on to the bottom of one cookie, and then sandwich another on top, so the bottom side is on the filling. Repeat with the remaining cookies.
PEANUT BUTTER GIVEAWAY
Jessie has some fun and cuts some of the dough into unicorns. What’s your favorite cookie cutter shape?
Leave a comment below with your answer to enter for a chance at winning a jar of Smooth Operator the peanut butter used in this recipe!
DETAILS:
- The giveaway is open to USA residents only and will run until Monday, November 12, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST.
- One entry per person.
- Winner(s) will be generated via a random number generator and notified via the contact email provided on the comment form.
- Winner(s) will have until 11/15/12 to claim their prize or we will choose another winner.
- Winner will win one 16oz jar of Smooth Operator peanut butter ($5 value). Product will be shipped by Peanut Butter & Co.
- No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 years of age to enter. See Official Giveaway Rules.
Tags: Cookies, Dessert, Dulce de leche, Peanut butter, Smooth Operator, Snack, Sweets, Treats
25 Responses to Peanut Butter Alfajores
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These look great! My favorite cookie cutter shape is a Gingerbread Man
)
I keep it simple with a star or a heart! Can’t go wrong!
My favorite cookie cutter shape is a Christmas tree!
My favorite cookie cutter is one of a Scottie dog. I can change the collar and color of the dog to “suit” the season!
Mine is hearts. They are so happy..
I like the star shape
I love pitbull shaped cookie cutters. So cute!
This is lame, but I like to use a heart because you can flip it back and forth to fit the cuts really close together and you don’t have as much scrap dough.
not sure if my entry is going through or not! if so, then I’m going to look like my OCD has set in!
ok, last try – my fave is my grandma’s turkey cookie cutter
My favorite cookie cutter shape is just plain round. They are easier for me to do and you can use any jar, lid, can or other item to cut your cookies. These cookies look delicious! Hoping to try them soon!
Dinosaur cookie cutters make my favorite shaped cookies, and pancakes!
My favorite cookie cutter is heart-shaped
Your recipe sounds delicious! I love Dulce de Leche and Peanut Butter! I think nothing could be better than enjoying them together! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
my favorite cookie cutter is a flower shaped one, because there are so many different ways to decorate them!! especially during christmas when they are poinsettias! they are so pretty, colorful, and go perfect with the season and the holidays!
My birthday is Christmas Eve so my favorite cookie cutter is a Christmas Tree, of course – love that recipe and I’m a Spanish teacher – have to try this – delicioso !!
Dog biscuit
I have a set of ninja cookie cutters I use to make “ninja bread men”
I only have two cookie cutters: A dog bone and a heart. I love them both. My mom has a vintage set of holiday cutters. Of those, my favorite is the axe, which I presume is for President’s Day.
)
My favorite cookie cutter shape is anything Christmas shaped because I love the holidays. The season just makes me so happy and so do cookies!
My favorite is a heat cookie cutter!!!
I love a heart-shaped cookie – big or little! (And I LOVE peanut butter!)
my favorite cookie cutter shape is the cat.
mine is a dog
Stars, hearts, and anything Christmas because I love the Christmas season!
I love my snowflake cookie cutter!