Peruvian Caramel Cookies

Delight your taste buds with these irresistible Peruvian Caramel Cookies, a melt-in-your-mouth treat that combines buttery shortbread and luscious dulce de leche. Known as "alfajores" in South America, these delicate sandwich cookies are a perfect harmony of crumbly, tender dough and creamy caramel filling. Made with a blend of all-purpose flour and cornstarch for a signature light texture, these cookies are dusted with powdered sugar for a sweet and elegant finish. Perfect for holiday platters, afternoon tea, or as a decadent homemade gift, this recipe is surprisingly easy to prepare, with only 30 minutes of prep time. Indulge in the classic flavor of these Peruvian dulce de leche cookies, and elevate your dessert game with this crowd-pleasing favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 43/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:12 mins

Total Time:42 mins

Servings: 20

Ingredients

• 170 grams Unsalted butter
• 50 grams Powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 250 grams All-purpose flour
• 50 grams Cornstarch
• 1 pinch Salt
• 300 grams Dulce de leche
• 20 grams Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a medium-sized bowl, cream the unsalted butter and powdered sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 3

Mix in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.

Step 4

In a separate large bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt.

Step 5

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.

Step 6

Divide the dough into two portions, flatten each into a disc, and wrap them in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes to make the dough easier to handle.

Step 7

Once the dough is chilled, lightly flour a clean surface and roll out one portion to a thickness of about 5mm (1/4 inch).

Step 8

Use a round cookie cutter (about 5 cm or 2 inches in diameter) to cut out the cookies. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, about 2 cm (3/4 inch) apart.

Step 9

Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. The cookies should remain pale on top.

Step 10

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 11

Once the cookies are fully cooled, spread about a teaspoon of dulce de leche onto the flat side of one cookie, then sandwich it with another cookie. Repeat with the remaining cookies.

Step 12

Lightly dust the tops of the assembled cookies with powdered sugar before serving.

Step 13

Enjoy your homemade Peruvian caramel cookies!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(844.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3568.6

Total Fat 170.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 99.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.1g
Cholesterol 463.4mg	0%
Sodium 560.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 473.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 7.2g	0%
Total Sugars 219.1g
Protein 47.7g	0%

Vitamin D 24IU	0%
Calcium 825.5mg	0%
Iron 12.4mg	0%
Potassium 1365.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 42.4%

Protein: 5.3%

Carbs: 52.3%