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 Vegan Alfajores — Peruvian Sandwich Cookies

Alfajores are the cookie that ruins all other cookies. Two melt-in-your-mouth shortbread rounds sandwiched with dulce de leche and rolled in coconut. They're a South American staple and once you make them vegan you will never stop making them.

Ingredients — Cookies:

2 cups cornstarch

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

Pinch of salt

1/2 cup vegan butter, cold and cubed

3 tbsp aquafaba (liquid from a can of chickpeas)

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp lemon zest

Ingredients — Vegan Dulce de Leche:

1 can full fat coconut milk

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Pinch of salt

For Rolling:

1 cup shredded coconut

Instructions — Dulce de Leche:

Combine coconut milk and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat

Stir until sugar dissolves then reduce to a low simmer

Cook uncovered 45-60 minutes stirring occasionally until thick and caramel colored

Add vanilla and salt, cool completely before using

Instructions — Cookies:

Whisk together cornstarch, flour, powdered sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt

Cut in cold vegan butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs

Add aquafaba, vanilla and lemon zest — mix until dough comes together

Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes

Preheat oven to 325°F

Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick and cut into 2 inch rounds

Bake 10-12 minutes — they should be pale, not golden

Cool completely before filling

Sandwich pairs with a generous spoonful of dulce de leche

Roll edges in shredded coconut

These keep in an airtight container for 5 days but they will not last that long.

Hungry for more plant-based inspiration? Head back to Vegan Good Eats for more creative vegan recipes straight from the kitchen.