alfajores dulce de leche sandwich cookies
Cookies
December 10, 2020

Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies (Alfajores)

  • Prep time: 4 hr
  • Cook time: 10 min
  • Total time: 4 hr 10 min

These dulce de leche sandwich cookies AKA alfajores are the perfect bite sized cookie for all your holiday cookie boxes. Made with soft shortbread cookies and held together with homemade dulce de leche, everyone will love these!

Cookies
December 10, 2020
Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies (Alfajores)
  • Prep time: 4 hr
  • Cook time: 10 min
  • Total time: 4 hr 10 min
alfajores dulce de leche sandwich cookies

These dulce de leche sandwich cookies AKA alfajores are the perfect bite sized cookie for all your holiday cookie boxes. Made with soft shortbread cookies and held together with homemade dulce de leche, everyone will love these!

  1. Recipe Index
  2. arrow
  3. Desserts
  4. arrow
  5. Cookies
  6. arrow
  7. Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies (Alfajores)

Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies (Alfajores)

These dulce de leche sandwich cookies AKA alfajores are the perfect bite sized cookie for all your holiday cookie boxes. Made with soft shortbread cookies and held together with homemade dulce de leche, everyone will love these!

This post is sponsored by Vermont Creamery. All text and opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for continuing to support the brands who help make Broma possible!

alfajores dulce de leche sandwich cookies

Dulce de Leche Cookies AKA Alfajores

Hi, my name is Sarah, and today I am presenting my thesis: sandwich cookies are better than regular cookies. I should not have to explain this, but I will. Regular cookies contain one cookie. Sandwich cookies contain two. Two is better than one, therefore sandwich cookies are superior. Thank you and goodnight.

But seriously, sandwich cookies are my FAVORITE cookies. Especially when dulce de leche is involved. And as a cookie connoisseur, believe me when I say these dulce de leche sandwich cookies AKA alfajores, are superior to all other cookies.

I had alfajores for the first time at a little Peruvian restaurant in New York City. And let’s just say, it was love at first bite. The tender, buttery cookies combined with the creamy, dulce de leche middle…I mean I thought I was in heaven.

homemade alfajores with dulce de leche in the middle

So… what are alfajores?

Alfajores are traditionally South American sandwich cookies held together with a creamy dulce de leche center. Like any traditional cookie, you’ll find variations of them depending on what region the recipe comes from, but they’re all equally delicious. The caramelly, creamy dulce de leche pairs perfectly with the buttery, soft shortbread cookies. And if you’ve never had one you MUST make them.

Especially because they’re actually pretty easy to make!

homemade alfajores

What do you need to make dulce de leche sandwich cookies?

Of course, in order to make the best cookies, your ingredients are of the utmost importance. Low-quality ingredients like butter can make or break your cookies. I can’t tell you how many cookies I’ve made with low-quality butter that look (and taste!) entirely different from those made with high-quality butter. And it entirely makes sense: the better the ingredients, the better the final product.

That’s where Vermont Creamery’s Cultured Butter comes in. It’s made from fresh, high quality cream and churned to an 82% butterfat that bakes up into the most tender alfajores, moist cakes, fudgy brownies, and soft chocolate chip cookies. Once you try it you’ll never go back to any other butter!

jar of dulce de leche with vermont creamery butter

Here’s what you’ll need to make this alfajores recipe:

  • Vermont Creamery Unsalted Cultured Butter
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Egg Yolks
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Corn Starch
  • All Purpose Flour
  • Baking Powder
  • Salt
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk

powdered sugar dusting onto dulce de leche sandwich cookies

How to make dulce de leche

I make dulce de leche the old fashioned way on the stove top! It will take you about 4 hours, but it’s very hands off and requires virtually zero work. Here’s what you’ll do:

  1. Make sure you are using sweetened condensed milk, NOT evaporated milk.
  2. Peel off the label of your sweetened condensed milk and place the can in a large pot.
  3. Fill the pot with water. The water must completely cover the can of sweetened condensed milk with about 2 inches of water above it. If your pot is too small–switch to a deeper/bigger pot. If the can is not covered with water at all times it can explode! Please be careful.
  4. Set the pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer for 4 hours, setting a timer for every 30 minutes to add more water to the pot. As the water simmers it will evaporate off, so you need to continuously add water to the pot!
  5. After 4 hours, turn off the heat and drain the water from the pot. Using kitchen tongs or an oven mit (careful it’s hot!) transfer the sweetened condensed milk to a drying rack to cool completely before opening, about 4 hours. Do not open the can while it is hot as the dulce de leche can splatter and burn you!
  6. Store unopened at room temperature for up to 3 months. Once opened, store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks!

stacks of dulce de leche sandwich cookies

Tips for making the best alfajores

  • Prep ahead: Even though the dulce de leche is super easy to make, it is rather time consuming, and because it keeps for months unopened, I often like to make the dulce de leche on a lazy day so I have it on hand whenever I’d like to whip up a batch of dulce de leche sandwich cookies.
  • Use high quality ingredients: This alfajores recipe is super simple, which means each ingredient will shine through. Make sure you’re using high quality butter and homemade dulce de leche for the best results!
  • Don’t over mix the shortbread dough: Shortbread can get dry and crumbly when it’s overworked. Try to mix the dough only until it’s combined and only roll it out a few times to prevent it from getting overworked and developing too much gluten.
Print
alfajores dulce de leche sandwich cookies
  • Author: Sofi | Broma Bakery
  • Prep Time: 4 hours
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 4 hours and 20 minutes
  • Yield: 30 sandwich cookies
  • Category: dessert
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: american

Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies (Alfajores)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 4 reviews

These dulce de leche sandwich cookies AKA alfajores are the perfect bite sized sandwich cookie for all your holiday cookie boxes. Made with soft shortbread cookies and held together with homemade dulce de leche, everyone will love these!

  • Author: Sofi | Broma Bakery
  • Prep Time: 4 hours
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 4 hours and 20 minutes
  • Yield: 30 sandwich cookies
  • Category: dessert
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: american
Units:

Ingredients

  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 3/4 cup Vermont Creamery Unsalted Cultured Butter
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup corn starch
  • 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

    for the dulce de leche

    1. Remove the label from the sweetened condensed milk and place the can on its side in a pot of boiling water. Make sure the water covers the can completely, with at least an inch (preferably more!) of water above it.
    2. Lower the heat and simmer for 4 hours. Make sure the water covers the top of the can at all times (you will have to pour in more water about every 30 minutes or so depending on how big your pot is).
    3. After 4 hours, remove the can from water, allow to cool completely, then open and stir in salt. Set aside.

    for the cookies

    1. Cream the butter and the sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks in one at a time, beating until completely incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and mix well.
    2. Scrape down the bowl using a rubber spatula. Add the cornstarch, all purpose flour, baking powder and salt. Beat until a soft dough forms and no streaks of flour remain. Do not over mix.
    3. Turn the dough out of the bowl and shape into two flat oval disks. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour until firm
    4. Once the dough is chilled, preheat the oven to 350°F and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
    5. On a well floured surface roll out the dough into a large circe about ⅛ of an inch thick. Use a small round cookie cutter to cut out cookies, placing the shapes on the prepared cookie sheets about an inch apart.
    6. Bake for 8 minutes or until just golden brown on the edges and dry to the touch. Allow the cookies to cool completely.
    7. To assemble the cookies take a cookie and spready 1 teaspoon of dulce de leche over the backside. Place a second cookie on top and sandwich together. Repeat with the rest of the cookies. Enjoy!

Leave a comment and rate this recipe!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star


  1. Not too sure why, bit I had to double the butter and eggs in order for the dough to form. I’m over 5,000ft in Colorado, could that be why? After I added extra butter and egg yolks the batter came together and the cookies turned out wonderfully! I’ve been giving them away to my clients for my pet service business ( their humans that is! 😅).






  2. This is the best cookie recipie ever. Its a delicate cookie and if followed correctly will give you the perfect dulce de leche that is cremy and not overly sweet. This is a perfect recipie. It was a big hit and my family loved it. 10/10. I will definatly make it again!






  3. What if my dulce de leche doesn’t seem thick enough? I followed directions and refrigerated it over night. Is it ok that I refrigerated the cookie dough overnight also? Going to make today