Havanna (flagship) ★ 4.0
Argentina's most recognised alfajor brand, founded 1948 in Mar del Plata. Now in every airport; the Florida pedestrian-street store is the busiest outpost.
Worth the queue: Alfajor de chocolate con dulce de leche
History
The alfajor traces to Andalusian Moorish baking and crossed to South America with Spanish colonisation; in Argentina the Spanish almond-paste filling was replaced with local dulce de leche. The Marplatense (Mar del Plata) version, dipped in chocolate, was invented by Havanna in 1948 in Mar del Plata and now sells about 300 million units a year nationally.
Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy, Egg
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 100g cornstarch (maicena)
- 100g plain flour
- 100g unsalted butter, soft
- 75g caster sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 300g dulce de leche (homemade or shop-bought)
- 200g dark chocolate, for coating (or 50g desiccated coconut for the rolled version)
Method
- Cream butter and sugar until pale. Beat in egg yolks, vanilla and lemon zest.
- Sift in flour, cornstarch and baking powder. Fold to a soft dough. Wrap and chill 30 minutes.
- Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to 5mm thick. Cut 5cm rounds; you should get 24.
- Place on lined baking trays. Bake at 170C (340F) for 10-12 minutes until set but not browned. Cool fully on the trays.
- Sandwich pairs of biscuits with 1 tablespoon of dulce de leche each.
- For chocolate-coated: melt dark chocolate; dip alfajores fully, place on baking paper to set.
- For coconut-rolled: roll the exposed dulce edge in desiccated coconut.
- Rest 2 hours before serving so the biscuits soften.
Tip from the editors. The biscuits should taste of butter and lemon and crumble like maicena, not snap like shortbread.
Where to eat alfajor
Alfajor in Buenos Aires
Confiteria La Argentina ★ 4.3
Caballito panaderia opened 1907, one of the oldest active bakeries in the city. Pasta frola, palmeritas, alfajores de maicena and a full factura counter.
Worth the queue: Pasta frola and palmeritas
Las Violetas ★ 4.5
Voted best Cafe Notable in Buenos Aires, opened 21 September 1884 at Rivadavia and Medrano. Belle-epoque stained glass, Italian marble, legendary merienda.
Signature drink: Merienda (tea, medialunas, tea sandwiches)
Gran Cafe Tortoni ★ 4.4
The oldest cafe in Buenos Aires, founded 1858 and on Avenida de Mayo since 1880. Cafe Notable, a Site of Cultural Interest; Borges and Gardel were regulars.
Signature drink: Submarino (hot milk with chocolate bar)
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