Grapefruit Alfajores Cookies / Alfajores de Pomelo
Grapefruit Alfajores (or, Alfajores de Pomelo) are a citrusy twist on the classic South American shortbread cookie sandwiched around creamy dulce de leche.
Servings 3 dozen cookies
Ingredients
Grapefruit Alfajores Cookies /Alfajores de Pomelo Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg at room temperature
- Zest of two grapefruits
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Pinch of salt
- Additional powdered sugar for rolling out the cookie dough
- Additional powdered sugar for decorating (optional)
Grapefruit Alfajores Cookies /Alfajores de Pomelo Filling Ingredients
- 1 cup dulce de leche homemade or storebought
Instructions
Grapefruit Alfajores Cookies /Alfajores de Pomelo Dough Instructions
- Whisk together the cornstarch, flour, and salt in a medium bowl.
- In a stand mixer fitted with a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until combined.
- Beat in the egg, then the grapefruit zest and vanilla extract.
- Beat in the flour mixture until just combined. Cookie dough will be thick, sticky, and soft.
- Remove cookie dough from mixer and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3-4 hours (preferably overnight), until dough is really cold and firm.
Grapefruit Alfajores Cookies /Alfajores de Pomelo BAKING INSTRUCTIONS
- When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350F.
- Line 2-4 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Sprinkle some powdered sugar over your work surface. Unwrap the dough and roll it out to ¼ -inch thickness on your powdered work surface.
- Use a small round cookie cutter (around 2 inches) to cut out as many cookies as possible. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets. They won’t spread as they bake, so you can fit 12-15 cookies per sheet. Repeat process with remaining dough.
- Refrigerate the cookie sheets for 10-15 minutes before baking. This is important!
- Bake cookies at 350F for 8-10 minutes, or until the cookies are firm to the touch and are just starting to brown around the edges.
- Remove baking sheets from oven. Let cookies cool for a few minutes on the sheets, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Make sure cookies are completely cooled before sandwiching.
Grapefruit Alfajores Cookies /Alfajoresde pomelo Assembly Instructions
- Spoon a healthy dollop of dulce de leche onto half of the cooled cookies. Top with remaining cookie halves and press lightly to spread the dulce de leche to the edges of the cookies.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.