Alfajores Argentinean Style

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups cornstarch
• 1.67 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup unsalted butter , softened
• 0.75 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs yolks
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla rum
• 0.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 0.5 teaspoons lemon extract
• 1 jar dulce de leche , 11.5 ounce
• 0.5 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Whisk cornstarch, flour, baking powder, and baking soda together; set aside.

3. 3

   Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in 2 egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat in third yolk along with lemon zest, vanilla rum, vanilla extract, and lemon extract. Gently fold in cornstarch mixture with a spoon, making a crumbly dough, until cohesive enough; press into a ball. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill 30 to 60 minutes.

4. 4

   Roll dough out, using as little flour as possible, until about ¼-inch thick. (The dough will have an unusual consistency.) Cut dough using a small round cookie cutter. Continue pressing dough together, rolling, and cutting until all dough is used. Place cookies spaced ½-inch apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

5. 5

   Bake in the preheated oven until set but not browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer cookies immediately to a wire rack to cool.

6. 6

   Spread 1 teaspoon dulce de leche onto underside of 1 cooled cookie; sandwich with second cookie until caramel oozes out sides. Roll sides in shredded coconut. Repeat with remaining cookies, dulce de leche, and coconut.