Review + Giveaway: Amelia's Handmade Alfajores Cookies

Chances are, you’ve never heard of the cookie that I’m going to introduce you to today. They're called alfajores (pronounced alfa-hor-ays), and they come from South America. They're also insanely delicious!! Imagine two shortbread-like cookies filled with a generous helping of sweet dulce de leche (caramel). Alfajores originated in Spain and were eventually brought to South America -- mainly to Peru, Chile, and Argentina. Until recently, they weren’t seen that much in the United States. 

I first tasted an alfajore when Central Market featured foods from Argentina for a month last year. I immediately fell in love with these cookies, and I was so sad when they were no longer available in their bakery. Imagine my happiness when I recently discovered that a bakery in Colorado called Amelia’s Handmade Alfajores makes these delicious cookies and ships them all over the country! Roxana is the owner of the company, and she recently sent me a box of her handmade, Peruvian family-recipe alfajores to sample and introduce to you.

The alfajores arrived in a cute box with a logo label, and the cookies were packed carefully inside. Despite the insane Texas heat, they arrived in perfect condition. Her alfajores are really fantastic! Because of the dulce de leche, alfajores can be quite rich. She wisely keeps the size of her cookies small enough to not overwhelm your tastebuds...each one is about two bites big.

The cookies are soft, and the dulce de leche inside has just the right amount of sweetness...it's rich, but not overly sweet. This is one great little cookie...two or three with a glass of milk makes a fantastic snack or dessert. Roxana bakes her cookies fresh when each order is placed, then packs them in boxes of 20 for shipping. Her alfajores can be ordered at her website. She recommends eating the alfajores within three days of receiving them. I can assure you that that was NOT a problem at Casa Garcia!

Roxana has generously offered to send one of my readers a 20-cookie box of these amazing alfajores as part of my August Blogiversary Celebration! To enter, leave a comment below telling me why you want to try these cookies. Please BE SURE to include your e-mail address so I know where to find you if you're the winner!! For a second entry, you can like Amelia’s Handmade Alfajores on Facebook. For a third entry, like The Weekend Gourmet on Facebook...or tell me that you’re already doing so. 

Entries will be accepted through this Sunday at 1159 p.m., and the winner will be announced early next week. I’m headed to Houston for a little overnight visit with the family on Saturday, but that won't stop me from sharing a really great recipe this weekend. Think peanut butter...and white chocolate!