Keto Argentine cookie and caramel sandwiches (Alfajores)

Keto Argentine cookie and caramel sandwiches (Alfajores)

This keto cookie sandwich is a truly decadent treat. We tried our best to recreate these with clean ingredients. They might not be the easiest to whip up but definitely worth the trouble. They are big and scrumptious, the perfect keto treat to share!

Keto Argentine cookie and caramel sandwiches (Alfajores)

This keto cookie sandwich is a truly decadent treat. We tried our best to recreate these with clean ingredients. They might not be the easiest to whip up but definitely worth the trouble. They are big and scrumptious, the perfect keto treat to share!
USMetric
12 servingservings

Ingredients

Cookies
  • 1 cup 240 ml butter, softened
  • 13 cup (2½ oz.) 80 ml (70 g) erythritol
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch 1 pinch salt
  • 2 cups (8 oz.) 475 ml (230 g) fine ground, blanched almond flour
Caramel
  • 2 tbsp 2 tbsp butter or ghee
  • 13 cup 80 ml heavy whipping cream or coconut cream
  • ½ cup (323 oz.) 120 ml (110 g) erythritol
  • 1 tbsp 1 tbsp nut butter (optional)
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Instructions

Instructions are for 12 servings. Please modify as needed.

Shortbread cookies

  1. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sweetener until smooth.
  2. Add in the vanilla and salt and beat to combine.
  3. Add in the almond flour and mix until well incorporated then use a spatula to smooth it out.
  4. Transfer the dough to a piece of parchment paper and roll into a log.
  5. Wrap it up and let cool in the fridge to harden for one hour. In the meantime, let's prepare the caramel!

Caramel

  1. In a small sauce pot or skillet on medium heat melt the butter or ghee until browned.
  2. Add in cream and sweetener and bring to a simmer.
  3. Reduce heat to medium low and stir occasionally until the sweetener is dissolved and the liquid is thick and sticky and easily coats a spoon inserted in the mix.
  4. Remove from the heat and transfer it to a jar and let it cool at room temperature.
  5. Stir it every few minutes as it cools to make sure it does not separate.
  6. If your caramel does not thicken enough to spread on the cookies, mix in the nut butter!

Baking

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
  2. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
  3. Cut ¼ inch thick rounds of dough and lay each slice carefully on the sheet pan, using your fingers to shape the cookie to an even round shape with smooth edges. Make 12 cookies, you need an even number for the sandwiches.
  4. Leave 1-2 inches (3-5 cm) between them and bake for 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
  5. Remove from the oven and let them cool before transferring to a wire rack.
  6. When the cookies are room temperature, turn them over.
  7. Add a heaped tablespoon of caramel to every other cookie, then top with another cookie to make a sandwich, gently pressing down until the caramel reaches the edges.

Cristina's tips

For the caramel, Cristina recommends Brown Sugar Swerve or Lakanto Golden for a good color.

If you’re using coconut cream the caramel will take longer to thicken. Make sure not to rush the caramel or the erythritol will crystalize and it will be lumpy.

Store in an air tight container in the fridge and let come to room temperature to enjoy.

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💬 Have you tried this recipe?

What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

26 comments

  1. Alejandra
    Like a argentinean lady I must try this recipe, just you are missing the shredded coconut (unsweetened) on the sides of the cookies. =)
  2. joy
    Very delicious. Thanks
  3. Marlin
    Is there any way to find out the total carbs?
    Reply: #5
  4. Susana
    Where can I purchase nut butter
    Reply: #6
  5. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
    Add the Fiber to the Net Carb count.
  6. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    Where can I purchase nut butter

    They are usually in the grocery store near the peanut butter.

  7. Graziela
    How long should I cook the caramel ? I think I burnt the caramel ! : ( can you make a video of the caramel ? Thank you
  8. Guffers
    Do you need to use Erythritol or can you just have less sweet biscuits
    Reply: #9
  9. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    Do you need to use Erythritol or can you just have less sweet biscuits

    These may be very bitter without the sweetener, but we have not tested them without the erythritol.

  10. Dan
    Recipe is for 12 servings yet you are to cut the log into 12 cookies.... that's 6 servings if you are too use two cookies per. If not, then the nutrition is not accounting for the caramel filling.
    Reply: #27
  11. Terrance
    The caramel came out perfect for me but my cookies did not hold up so well. I am not sure if I need to refrigerate them longer but any tips would be greatly appreciated.
  12. Sarah
    These are delicious but has anyone else calculated the carb content? As without the icing one single biscuit ie not sandwiched together, is 3g of carbs.
    Reply: #26
  13. Marta
    I bunt the caramel and the cookies melted in the oven... Could you make a video? thank you!
  14. Casey Tevis
    Cookies came out fine for me. The Caramel however turned into the consistency of dough. Had to look online for another recipe. By the way, It doesn’t seem the Caramel mell recipe is equivalent to the cookie recipe. Meaning, it seems like if we’re going to do sandwiches the Caramel recipe should be half.
  15. Mary R
    Can you substitute a bit of monkfruit for the erythritol?
    Reply: #16
  16. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    Can you substitute a bit of monkfruit for the erythritol?

    Yes, generally monkfruit substitutes well for erythritol.

  17. Chris Oldroyd
    I was craving Christmas cookies, so I looked here for a cookie recipe. These are delicious! I only had monkfruit, not erythritol, so I substituted. Beware that erythritol is a 1:1 substitute for sugar and monk fruit is 1.5-2 times as sweet. My cookies are still delicious, but I will cut the monk fruit by almost half when I make these again.
  18. 1 comment removed
  19. Beth Loft
    225 ml of softened butter? That's crazy. You can measure melted butter in ml but unmelted requires grams!
    Reply: #20
  20. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    225 ml of softened butter? That's crazy. You can measure melted butter in ml but unmelted requires grams!

    This would be 215g butter.

  21. katinhen
    Is it salted butter for the cookies?
    Reply: #22
  22. Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor

    Is it salted butter for the cookies?

    We usually recommend unsalted for baking, but it is personal preference.

  23. Nabil
    The cookies "melted" 2 minutes after I placed them in the oven. I refrigerated them for the required time but I couldn't get it in the shape of as thick a log as I might've needed maybe?, So I had to kinda reshape them again, but still quite disappointing.
    Reply: #24
  24. Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor

    The cookies "melted" 2 minutes after I placed them in the oven. I refrigerated them for the required time but I couldn't get it in the shape of as thick a log as I might've needed maybe?, So I had to kinda reshape them again, but still quite disappointing.

    A couple of things to check, be sure you are using softened (room temperature) butter and not melted butter and avoid overmixing the dough which could lead to the butter melting further. If you enjoyed the taste of the cookie, you may want to try again and refrigerate a little longer.

  25. smontgo79
    I recommend making double quantity of the caramel so you have enough to sandwich and make 12 cookies
  26. Cassandra
    I think they are saying that you should halve each cookie and that is one serving, this is why it says they are big and to share, so 12 servings but 6 cookies. You cut the dough into 12 to make 6 to halve and share.

    These are delicious but has anyone else calculated the carb content? As without the icing one single biscuit ie not sandwiched together, is 3g of carbs.

  27. Cassandra

    Recipe is for 12 servings yet you are to cut the log into 12 cookies.... that's 6 servings if you are too use two cookies per. If not, then the nutrition is not accounting for the caramel filling.

    I think they are saying that you should halve each cookie and that is one serving, this is why it says they are big and to share, so 12 servings but 6 cookies. You cut the dough into 12 to make 6 to halve and share.

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