Chilenas de Dulce De Leche (Alfajores)

The combination of a semi-salty cookie that dissolves in your mouth at every bite with the decadent sweetness of a dulce de leche filling make this cookie a piece of heaven on earth. Surprisingly, chilenas are so easy to make and have a great impact on anyone who tries them. It has become a ritual for my mom and I to enjoy a cup of fresh, warm coffee with a chilena on the side at our favorite cafe shop as a pick-me-up on busy Saturday mornings or leisurely afternoons. When my best friend pulled out this recipe from a pile of stored papers, we could not resist the urge to make them and we were certainly not disappointed. Now to be able to enjoy them in the coziness of our homes and to be proud of the work that we did is a thousand times better than that same old cafe shop. 



Chilenas de Dulce de Leche (Alfajores)
This recipe makes approximately 20 sandwich cookies
Baking Time: About 15-17 min. at 325F
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 2 bars of butter (unsalted is best)
• 6-8 tablespoons of powdered sugar, plus more for powdering

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients together in an electric mixer, adding the butter first and then the dry ingredients.
2. Divide the dough and roll it out so that it is not so skinny. (Do not touch the dough too much because the butter makes it delicate to heat and will make it harder to work with).
3. Cut out even circles and lay them on a greased baking sheet.
4. Bake for about 15-17 minutes at 325F. (Take them out when they are starting to appear golden).
5. Once they are cool, add the dulce de leche filling (Be careful! They break easily). This can be substituted for any kind of fruit jam or even nutella! Sprinkle sifted powdered sugar on top. 
6. Enjoy with a nice cup of coffee (Honestly, nothing better than this. It's heaven.)