Alfajores are soft and delicate traditional shortbread cookies from South America. The cornstarch in this recipe gives the dough a smooth texture, while the dulce de leche filling makes the cookie simply melt in your mouth.
Sift together flour, cornstarch, baking powder and baking soda and set aside.
Mix soft butter until creamy and smooth. Add sugar and mix until light and fluffy. Add one egg yolk at a time waiting for previous yolk to be fully incorporated. Add salt, vanilla extract and orange zest and combine well
Add flour all at once and mix until just combined. Press dough about 1/2 inch thick onto a plastic food film lined cookie sheet and place in refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until well chilled.
Meanwhile spread coconut on cookie sheet and place in oven for approximately 10 minutes or until coconut is lightly toasted.
Prepare 2 cookie sheets by lining with parchment paper or brushing with a thin coat of butter. Set aside.
On a lightly floured surface roll half of dough slightly thinner than 1/4 inch thick. Using round cookie cutters about 1 1/2 to 2 inch diameter cut circles and place on cookie sheets about a half inch apart. Repeat with remaining dough.
Bake until cookies are very light pale golden, about 8-10 minutes.
When cookies have cooled sandwich with about two teaspoons of dulce de leche and press just enough for the dulce de leche to come to edges. Roll edges in toasted coconut. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
