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

Yield Makes 12 alfajoresHands-on 45 minTotal 2 hrDifficulty Intermediate

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

  1. Cream butter and sugar until pale. Beat in egg yolks, vanilla and lemon zest.
  2. Sift in flour, cornstarch and baking powder. Fold to a soft dough. Wrap and chill 30 minutes.
  3. Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to 5mm thick. Cut 5cm rounds; you should get 24.
  4. Place on lined baking trays. Bake at 170C (340F) for 10-12 minutes until set but not browned. Cool fully on the trays.
  5. Sandwich pairs of biscuits with 1 tablespoon of dulce de leche each.
  6. For chocolate-coated: melt dark chocolate; dip alfajores fully, place on baking paper to set.
  7. For coconut-rolled: roll the exposed dulce edge in desiccated coconut.
  8. 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.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat alfajor

Alfajor in Buenos Aires

Havanna (flagship) ★ 4.0

microcentroDaily 08:00-22:00Walk-in onlyAlfajores and Argentine biscuits

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

Florida 273, C1005 Buenos Aires

Confiteria La Argentina ★ 4.3

caballitoMon-Sat 06:30-21:00Walk-in onlyClassic Argentine bakery and pasteleria

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

Avenida Rivadavia 5969, C1424 Buenos Aires

Las Violetas ★ 4.5

almagroWifi

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)

Avenida Rivadavia 3899, C1204 Buenos Aires

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