Semi-Clean Chef Jacqui: Bolivian Alfajores with a Cleaner Touch

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Bolivian Alfajores with a Cleaner Touch

Alfajores are biscuit like, dulce de leche filled, sandwich cookies. They are a South American treat and many countries have their own version. When visiting Bolivia as a kid, I would often indulge in these little treats! Last night we had dinner guests, Sylvia and Carlos, from Chile, and I decided to bring back some South American memories. I used slightly cleaner ingredients such as white whole wheat flour and coconut flour. The traditional recipe usually calls for egg yolks, but I opted for a whole egg instead. My mom would be proud, as I used her old homemade dulce de leche (caramelized milk) recipe. Enjoy!

3/4 cup white whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1/4 cup coconut flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp baking powder, zest of 1 lemom,2 oz. butter (I used half coconut oil) 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 egg, 1 Tbsp. Brandy or other yummy booze, 1/2 cup shredded coconut, 1/2 cup dulce de leche (there's an easy way to make this at home).

Place dry ingredients in food processor, along with butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs. Add in egg,vanilla and booze; pulse until dough comes together. Place mixture in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at leat an hour.

Roll out to 1/4 inch thick, between 2 sheets of plastic wrap, to prevent sticking.

Use a cookie cutter to cut out rounds. I like using a small one to make mini biscuits.

The buiscuits, the dulce de leche and the shredded coconut; spread cookies generously with the dulce de leche, sandwich them together and dip the gooey sides in the coconut.

Voila, Authentic Alfajores from Bolivia with a cleaner touch.

Here is the trick to making dulce de leche: Simmer a can of sweetened condensed milk (remove label of course) for 2-3 hours (the longer you cook it for, the thicker the dulce de leche). MAKE SURE TO ADD WATER AS NEEDED, TO KEEP THE CAN FULLY SUBMERGED! I know it sounds crazy! Its an old Bolivian mom trick (my mama) and it works every time. Remove can carefully from the water using tongs and cool completely before opening.