Alfajores

The Alfajores, like many traditional Peruvian desserts, were brought from Spain until the Peruvian territory when the discovery of these lands by the conquerors occurred.

In principle, they were made by the nuns and nuns as desserts and sweet dishes for the Spaniards present in the area while they devastated the aborigines and “discovered” what the country contributed, such as fruits, minerals and raw materials for construction.

Then, as the years passed and the different confrontations and changes that occurred in Peru, this dessert was passing from the convents even the hands of the Peruvian citizens, who not only saw them as charity food, but as an option for consumption and even for courtship.

Little by little, the population adopted the caramel cookie as part of his preparations for festivals, celebrations and religious acts, until he was immersed as table tradition.

These small but rich Alfajores consist of two caps of wheat flour or cornstarch, filled with a thick cream of milk or various dense preparations of fruit or jam. Which can serve as gift, table presentation or to share in an afternoon accompanied by coffee, tea or a rich chocolate.

But, so that you are not only satisfied with this review and description, here is the recipe and preparation of this unique dessert.

Alfajores Recipe

Ingredients

For the tapas:

• 100 gr unsalted butter at room temperature
• 100 g of white sugar
• Yolks 4
• 2 tbsp water
• 250 grams of cornstarch
• 70 gr of flour without baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• 1 cup powdered sugar, cinnamon, or cocoa powder

For the filling:  

• 400 gr of evaporated milk
• 400 gr of condensed milk

Additional materials

• 1 deep pot
• 1 large bowl or mug
• Wooden spoon, fork, or paddle
• Hand whisk or balloon whisk
• Spatula
• Film paper
• Butter paper
• Preservative bottle
• Pastry bag
• Cookie cutter or glass
• Baking trays
• Heat resistant airtight packaging

Preparation

First you start by preparing the tapas of the Alfajores, the steps to follow are:

1. In a bowl and with the help of a hand mixer, mix the butter and sugar until you have a smooth and uniform paste
2. When achieving this consistency, add the yolks and water, continue mixing until everything is integrated
3. With the help of a fine strainer, sift the ingredients dry within the mix.
4. Together with a spatula, mix everything until it can no longer be mixed. Transfer the mixture to a table and continue mixing with your hands. Make sure not to knead the product, just stir it, since if it is kneaded, the dough will be very hard
5. Wrap the dough inside film paper and take her to refrigerate for 30 minutes to stretch it later. However, in case you want to finish the preparation another day, you can keep the product in the fridge for 4 days without damage, it only deserves that you take it out minutes before stretching it so that the butter softens a little and does not break
6. After the time has elapsed in the refrigerator, remove the dough and place it on top of a floured surface. Roll out with a roller until you have a few 3 mm of thickness. Make sure to move the dough across the table each roll so it doesn't stick.
7. From hand to circular shaped cookie cutter or glass, cut several lids and put them in a floured tray or covered with parchment paper
8. Take the preheated oven to 180 C for 8 minutes
9. When they are already cooked let cool to complete the filling

Now then, the steps of the filling:

1. For this white delicacy place in a large or deep pot both milks and stir little by little with a wooden trowel. Watch for the flame to position itself at a point medium low.
2. By achieving the integration of the milks and seeing that they took a caramel color, turn off the flame and remove the mixture from the pot. Place it in a container that resists the temperature and arrange to cool the mixture
3. With a spoon or the pastry bag, fill a lid (already done) and paste the next one that is without filling on top
4. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, cocoa or cinnamon and serve to your guests

Tips and suggestions for a good preparation 

Preparing these little ones at home is Easy and fun, but in order to be able to do them correctly and without disasters, we will shortly give you some tips so that you can do them in the best way in your home and so you can share with your family and friends.

1. So that the caps of the Alfajores achieve the characteristic texture and flavor, it is recommended prepare them a couple of days before to fill and eat them. This so that they harden and their biscuit flavor intensifies more
2. The filling can be dulce de leche, jam or delicate fruit, as long as it is thick, so it doesn't spill and over-wet the lids. And also, so that when you bite into the alfajor, you avoid spreading and disaster on the sides
3. If you want to present them on a table or give as a gift, a bundle they could use it. Likewise, this can be used so that they do not get wet with other products or with the filling of third parties. You can use plastic wrap or butter For this task
4. To decorate them better or to give them a touch more flavor and color, you can bathe them with milk chocolate or with cocoa mix, consensual milk, icing or pastry cream. For this you will have to place yourself on a rack, bathe them and wait for them to dry well
5. If you want the caps to have another color and flavor, you can add 2 or 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder to flour or cornstarch before starting to mix everything

Contribution to the consumer

El Alfajor It is a product both homemade and industrial, where its nutritional contribution is mainly commanded by the simple carbohydrates.

Although its calorie intake is lower when it comes to manual preparation, it is still a product low in nutritional value and rich in sugars. In addition, it tends to have low-quality fats such as trans.

In the same sense, the excess intake of simple carbohydrates generates a very harmful response in the body, by suddenly raising the glucose in the blood and therefore also the insulin. If this rough work is generated frequently to the body, it may induce failures in metabolism, having insulin problems as well as other health consequences such as increased body fat.

However, the consumption of Alfajores at a low level, it does not bring dire or unfavorable consequences for the body, so it is recommended to maintain a adequate and regular consumption. This means that you do not exceed your weekly intake by more than 3 or 4 servings.  

Information nutritional

These desserts are a treat available around the corner, because they are simple to perform for a picnic or simply for snacks for adults and children.

However, their nutritional content it is usually unknown, and therefore its consumption tends not to be adequate for each person. That is why in the following table you can see their nutrition indices and thus organize your consumption and preparation:

For each 100 gr edible portion:

• Calories 435 Kcal
• Proteins 6.3 gr
• Total fat 15 gr
  • Saturated 5 gr
  • Unsaturated 7 gr
  • trans 3g
• Carbohydrates 68 gr
• Simple sugars 55 gr
• Fiber 4.3 gr
• Sodium 120 mg