Lemon Alfajores with Lemon Curd (Tender, Buttery Cookies)

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These Lemon Alfajores are my remix of the traditional Peruvian alfajores. They’re delicate, buttery cookies sandwiched with a silky do-it-yourself lemon curd and dusted with powdered sugar. These little sunshine cookies (what I wish to name them) are excellent to take pleasure in on a heat Spring day with an iced latte.

What I like about these lemon alfajores is the traditional melt-in-your-mouth texture and the intense, citrusy taste from the lemon curd and lemon zest. Historically, Peruvian alfajores are crammed with manjar blanco (dulce de leche), however this lemon curd model is simply as creamy and complementary to the buttery however mildly flavored cookie. For those who’re as obsessive about lemons as I’m, you need to check out my lemon brownies, lemon layer cake, and lemon crinkle cookies.

Substances You’ll Want for Lemon Alfajores

Lemon zest + lemon juice – We would like as a lot lemon taste as potential. The oil within the zest carries a lot lemon taste, and the juice provides acidity and brightness.
Lemon extract – I simply love how a little bit of lemon extract actually enhances the flavour, however in the event you don’t have it, this recipe would nonetheless be scrumptious!
Cornstarch – Utilized in each the curd and the cookie dough, it thickens the curd and offers the cookies their gentle, tender texture.
Unsalted butter – Offers richness and construction for a easy dough and a shiny curd.
Powdered sugar – Retains the cookies gentle and delicate reasonably than crisp, and blends seamlessly into the dough with out graininess.
Eggs and egg yolks – The yolks are the bottom of the curd and enrich the dough, making a creamy filling and a young cookie.

For the remainder of the substances, please seek advice from the recipe index card beneath!

Fast Ideas for the Finest Lemon Alfajores

Rub the zest into the sugar first. This step intensifies the lemon taste by releasing the pure oils.

Pressure the lemon curd. It removes any cooked egg bits and ensures a easy, silky filling.

Chill the dough totally. A agency dough is a lot simpler to chop and helps the cookies maintain their form within the oven. We don’t need these to unfold.

Use an offset spatula to switch cookies. The dough is delicate, so this helps stop tearing when shifting reduce rounds.

Make-Forward & Storage

Make-ahead: The lemon curd might be made as much as 3 days prematurely and saved within the fridge. The dough will also be rolled and chilled in a single day.

Storage: Retailer assembled cookies in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Carry to room temperature earlier than serving for the most effective texture.

Freezing: You’ll be able to freeze the baked, unfilled cookies. Thaw and assemble when able to serve. Be light, the cookies are delicate.

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To Make the Lemon Curd:

To a medium saucepan, add the sugar and lemon zest. Rub the lemon zest into the sugar along with your fingers to launch the oils. Then add the eggs, egg yolks, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk till mixed. Then whisk within the lemon juice.
Place the pot over medium low warmth and proceed whisking till the combination thickens about 5 minutes. Then take away the pot from the warmth and whisk within the butter. Pressure the lemon curd right into a small bowl, cowl the floor with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at the least half-hour or till fully chilled.

To Make the Lemon Shortbread Cookie:

To the medium bowl, whisk collectively the all-purpose flour, sifted corn starch, powdered sugar and salt. Put aside.
To the bowl of a stand-up mixer (you can even use a medium bowl and an electrical hand-mixer), add the butter, lemon zest, lemon extract, and vanilla paste or extract. Beat till easy. Subsequent, add the egg yolk and blend simply till included.
Add the entire flour combination and slowly combine it collectively (being certain to not go too shortly or else the flour will fly out of the bowl), till mixed, about 1 minute.
Scoop the dough out of the bowl and sandwich it between two giant items of parchment paper. Roll out the dough till it’s about ¼-inch thick then switch to the fridge to sit back for about 1 hour till dough is agency.
Preheat the oven to 350 levels F. When the dough is finished resting within the fridge, utilizing a 2-inch cookie cutter, stamp out cookies as shut to one another as potential. Switch the cookies (I discovered it best to make use of an offset spatula to choose up the cookies) to a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 1-inch aside. Switch to the fridge to sit back for about 10 minutes, we would like them to be agency once they go into the oven. Repeat till you’re employed your method by way of the entire dough. I rerolled the dough about 2 extra occasions.
Rating the tops of the cookies with the tines of a fork. Switch to the oven to bake for about 11 to 13 minutes, till the cookies are a bit agency to the contact however have zero coloration on the perimeters. These cookies are baked simply till set. Permit to chill on the baking sheets till room temperature.

To Assemble the Lemon Alfajores:

When the cookies have cooled, flip half of the cookies on their reverse aspect. Switch the lemon curd to a piping bag with a piping tip connected (this half is optionally available). Pipe a spherical of lemon curd on the entire cookies going through their reverse sides.
Alternatively, you may additionally spoon the lemon curd onto every of the cookies and easy it out (gently as a result of the cookies are delicate) utilizing a butter knife.
Prime every of the cookies with one other cookie and frivolously press it down. Mud the tops of the cookies generously with powdered sugar and revel in!

Fast Ideas

Rub the zest into the sugar first. This step intensifies the lemon taste by releasing the pure oils.
Pressure the lemon curd. It removes any cooked egg bits and ensures a easy, silky filling.
Chill the dough totally. A agency dough is a lot simpler to chop and helps the cookies maintain their form within the oven. We don’t need these to unfold.
Use an offset spatula to switch cookies. The dough is delicate, so this helps stop tearing when shifting reduce rounds.

Make Forward & Storage

Make-ahead: The lemon curd might be made as much as 3 days prematurely and saved within the fridge. The dough will also be rolled and chilled in a single day.
Storage: Retailer assembled cookies in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Carry to room temperature earlier than serving for the most effective texture.
Freezing: You’ll be able to freeze the baked, unfilled cookies. Thaw and assemble when able to serve. Be light, the cookies are delicate.