Queen Maxima of the Netherlands shares her mother’s recipe for her ‘favourite cookies’

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Queen Maxima of the Netherlands has delighted royal fans by sharing her mother’s recipe for her ‘favourite cookies’ Argentine alfajores.

The royal, who was born in Argentina, posted the instructions to Instagram yesterday to mark her 49th birthday, which she spent at her home Huis ten Bosch in The Hague.

Glamming up for the occasion, King Willem-Alexander’s wife sported a stunning golden one-shouldered blouse, with an eye-catching cut-out feature, while holding a tray of the baked goods.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (pictured with her baked treats) has delighted royal fans by sharing her mother’s recipe for her ‘favourite cookies’ Argentine alfajores

The royal, who was born in Argentina, posted the instructions to Instagram yesterday to mark her 49th birthday. Pictured, grating lemon rind into the flour

She also shared step-by-step pictures (seen above) alongside the recipe, getting stuck in by rubbing butter into the dry ingredients

The royal, who was born in Argentina, posted the instructions to Instagram yesterday to mark her 49th birthday. She also shared step-by-step pictures (seen above) alongside the recipe 

How to make Queen Maxima of the Netherlands’ Argentine alfajores

Ingredients:

Biscuits:

  • 300g cornstarch
  • 200g flour
  • 200g butter (at room temperature)
  • 150g sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate
  • 2 level teaspoons of baking powder
  • Small vanilla pod or a pinch of vanilla powder
  • 1 lemon (grated)
  • 1 teaspoon of cognac

Filling:

  • Dulce de leche (ready-made or homemade with condensed milk and sugar)
  • Grated coconut

Method:

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees. In a bowl, mix all dry ingredients with the soft butter. Add the egg yolks and the cognac and knead by hand until firm. 

Form a ball and let it rest for about an hour. If the dough doesn’t appear to be sticking together, then add 2 spoons of lemon juice.

Roll out the dough into a 5mm to 7mm shape and cut out circles (with a glass) of about 4cm in diameter. Then place the cookie dough pieces on a baking tray lined with baking paper, about 2cm apart. 

Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes at 160 degrees. The cookies should discolor a little, but not too much otherwise they will become too dry and break. 

Take them out of the oven and let them cool before sticking two cookies together with a layer of dulce de leche. Spread the dulce de leche to the edge and roll in the grated coconut. 

She finished off the look with attention-stealing drop earrings, embellished with several tiny gems, and a smattering of glamorous makeup.

Revealing the recipe, Maxima said: ‘During this time I celebrate my birthday at home with a typical Argentine delicacy: alfajores with dulce de leche. 

‘I grew up with alfajores, they are my favourite cookies! I bake them according to my mother’s recipe, which I am pleased to share with you. So you can bake them yourself at home.’ 

The royal spent her birthday at home at the Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, along with her husband King Willem-Alexander, 53, and their three daughters: Catharina-Amalia, 16, Alexia, 14, and Ariane, 13. 

Revealing the recipe (pictured, the third step), Maxima said: 'During this time I celebrate my birthday at home with a typical Argentine delicacy: alfajores with dulce de leche'

Revealing the recipe (pictured, the third step), Maxima said: ‘During this time I celebrate my birthday at home with a typical Argentine delicacy: alfajores with dulce de leche’

The royal added: 'I grew up with alfajores, they are my favourite cookies! I bake them according to my mother's recipe, which I am pleased to share with you. So you can bake them yourself at home.' Pictured: One of the steps to the recipe

The recipe was shared along with helpful snaps (pictured) to show how to make the sweet treats

The royal added: ‘I grew up with alfajores, they are my favourite cookies! I bake them according to my mother’s recipe, which I am pleased to share with you. So you can bake them yourself at home.’ Pictured: Some of the steps to the recipe

The royal spent her birthday at home at the Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, along with her husband King Willem-Alexander, 53, and their three daughters: Catharina-Amalia, 16, Alexia, 14, and Ariane, 13. Pictured: The mixture placed on a tray ahead of baking

The royal spent her birthday at home at the Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, along with her husband King Willem-Alexander, 53, and their three daughters: Catharina-Amalia, 16, Alexia, 14, and Ariane, 13. Pictured: The mixture placed on a tray ahead of baking

The night before her birthday, Maxima’s family viewed the replacement Eurovision event, Europe Shine A Light, after the popular annual song competition was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

They shared an adorable family portrait of themselves together to Instagram ahead of the event.

Alongside the snap, King Willem-Alexander said: ‘Europe is going through a very rough time. Let’s keep our eyes and ears open for each other. Together, we stand strong. Europe, shine a light and keep the music alive!’ 

After the mixture is baked, the royal says two cookies should be stuck together with a layer of dulce de leche

Spread the dulce de leche to the edge and roll in the grated coconut (pictured)

After the mixture is baked, the royal says two cookies should be stuck together with a layer of dulce de leche (pictured left). Spread the dulce de leche to the edge and roll in the grated coconut (pictured right)

Glamming up for the occasion, King Willem-Alexander's wife sported a stunning golden one-shouldered blouse, with an eye-catching cut-out feature, while holding a tray of the baked goods (seen above)

Glamming up for the occasion, King Willem-Alexander’s wife sported a stunning golden one-shouldered blouse, with an eye-catching cut-out feature, while holding a tray of the baked goods (seen above)

Queen Maxima, an international financier by training, was born in Argentina and married into the Dutch royal family in 2002, three years after meeting her husband-to-be in Seville, Spain. 

She reportedly had no inkling that Willem-Alexander was heir to the throne when the pair first met.

Willem-Alexander became king after his mother, Beatrix, abdicated in April 2013 after 33 years as reigning monarch.

The night before her birthday, Maxima's family (pictured together ahead of watching the programme) viewed the replacement Eurovision event, Europe Shine A Light, after the popular annual song competition was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic

The night before her birthday, Maxima’s family (pictured together ahead of watching the programme) viewed the replacement Eurovision event, Europe Shine A Light, after the popular annual song competition was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic