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Argentinian alfajores or “alfajores argentinos” are everywhere in Argentina, whether you’re searching for them or not. For the uninitiated, alfajores aren’t just a dessert in Argentina, they’re the uncontested national dessert (and probably a national treasure) – although Argentine gelato does come a close second!
The traditional Argentinian alfajor is made with two round, baked shortbread filled with (usually) dulce de leche covered with powdered sugar, desiccated coconut or chocolate. But they can get very fancy.
Argentinians are by far the world’s largest consumers of alfajores, which means there are a huge variety of alfajores in Argentina, only some of which are worth your time. In supermarkets and kioscos (convenience stores), you’ll see all of the typical big brands like Havanna, Cachafaz, Jorgito and others. Those are what we would call industrially produced alfajores, but what you want is the artisan-made alfajores.
We’ve rounded up the best of the artisanal alajores and where to get them in Buenos Aires because no traveler to Argentina should have to endure a bad alfajor. (We’ve also included a particularly fantastic alfajor in Bariloche). As you plan your Argentina itinerary, you’ll want to allocate sufficient time to alfajor tasting.
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4. Lattente
The smallest of them all, but certainly not to be overlooked, the cornstarch alfajor (alfajor de maicena) and the chocolate alfajor are super tasty and always made fresh. You simply won’t get this flavor from out-of-the-box alfajores; it’s only the artisanal bakers who can produce such an exceptional flavor and texture profile.
Lattente has also taken the crown as the best coffee in Buenos Aires. It’s the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon while people watching the young professionals and hipsters that define the Palermo neighborhood.
3. CeliGourmet
CeliGourmet earns its spot on our list of best Argentinian alfajores because they have somehow managed to experiment with traditional alfajores and create new flavors while retaining enough of the traditional flavor profile. Among those experimental flavors is the lemon mousse alfajor and the walnut alfajor, both of which are absolutely delectable in their own right.
In particular, the lemon mousse alfajor is soft and hard in the right places, and is an unexpected flavor profile in what is traditionally a dulce de leche dessert.
For those among us that are gluten-free, CeliGourmet has an excellent range of gluten-free alfajores.
2. Cosecha
Cosecha has a few locations in Buenos Aires, including Palermo and Almagro, both lively neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. Priding itself on having a huge variety of alfajores, Cosecha maintains top-quality taste for each of them.
The standout alfajor is the alfajor de maicena with walnuts. The balanced softness of the cookie is very nicely complemented by the crushed walnuts and a very good dulce de leche. Any good dessert is also made even more special by the atmosphere that surrounds it, and Cosecha has created a beautiful atmosphere that makes your alfajor just that bit sweeter.
Cosecha is also a vegetarian store and restaurant (with plenty of vegan options) and is known for its clean approach to baking and food, so it’s usually quite busy. You won’t need to queue for long, but it might be hard to find a space to sit – it’s worth the wait though!
And the best alfajor in Argentina is…
Kajue is a specialty café that makes a mean alfajor – and I say mean because it is thick and tall. The brilliant minds behind Kajue made a conscious decision to make the best alfajores you can find, and I would that they have very much succeeded in that mission.
There seems to be a covert competition throughout the city that nobody talks about, namely who can put the most dulce de leche in between the cookies. You would think that might not make the best alfajor, but the just-right hardness of the shortbread cookies combined with the perfect sweetness level of the dulce de leche makes the alfajor at Kajue the best in Buenos Aires.
Beyond laying claim to the best Argentinian alfajor in Buenos Aires, their savory food, vibe and spectacular service make Kajue a fantastic place to spend a couple of hours. In fact, if you do insist on going to Don Julio for lunch or dinner, Kajue is right next door to Don Julio so you can treat yourself to a pre-meal snack (although I highly suggest you share this between three).
Special Mention: Alfajor Rogel from Velo Bakery in Bariloche
If you’re planning to travel to Bariloche in Patagonia (and you should: it has some of the best natural scenery in the world), of the many alfajores that we tried in Argentina, the alfajor rogel from Vélo Bakery was truly special.
A rogel cake is traditionally a layered cake made from thin layers of crispy biscuit lathered with dulce de leche and topped with a light, marshmallow-like meringue (you can get a great one in Colonia Suiza). The team at Velo Bakery has managed to turn those layers crispy biscuit into an alfajor and it is every bit as tasty as it is innovative.
And if you’re craving more of Argentina’s best confections, Bariloche is the official home of chocolate in Argentina. Aside from the spectacular Andes mountains, Bariloche has some of the best chocolate shops in Argentina (if not the whole of Latin America).
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