CHOCOLATE ALFAJORES

Chocolate Alfajores image

Chocolate alfajores, also known as alfajores de chocolate, are a popular South American dessert made of slightly sweetened shortbread cookies filled with a rich and creamy milk caramel called dulce de leche. It's best to chill the dough at least 2 hours so the cookies hold when baking. -Kimberly Scott, Kosciusko, Mississippi

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 45m

Yield about 1-1/2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
3 large egg yolks, room temperature
2 teaspoons rum extract or vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 can (13.4 ounces) dulce de leche
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, finely chopped

Steps:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and extract. In another bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Shape dough into a disk; wrap. Refrigerate until firm enough to roll, 2 hours., Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-in. round cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets., Bake just until set, 5-7 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Spread dulce de leche on bottoms of half of the cookies; cover with remaining cookies. Press edges into coconut. Refrigerate in airtight containers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 173 calories, Fat 8g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 45mg cholesterol, Sodium 126mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (15g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.