Is it true that the word 'alfajor', as in the Argentine snack food, comes from an Arabic word?

Question

I read (with no source) that: The name alfajor is derived from Arabic الحشو IPA: [alḥaŝu], which means "stuffed" or "filled".

I was wondering if this is true and why it was used as the name for this South American food.

Answer 1

a direct quote from "Argentine Cookery" published by Maizal of Buenos Aires "The word alfajores is of Arab origin. In Argentina, alfajores are two circular pieces of pastry stuck to each other with fig or peach jam and, more often than not, dulche de leche ( whipped cream in the US). It is a sort of biscuit sandwich".

In the centuries since the Spanish conquest, the influx of immigrants to Argentina has brought the words and food from all over the world.

Answer 2

I wouldn't doubt it since Arabs lived for many centuries in Spain, and as you might know, Argentina is a former spanish colony. There are many words in spanish that come from arabic. It is probably called like that because the alfajor is two "cookies" filled with dulce de leche in the middle.

Answer 3

Pretty much all the words in Spanish that begin with "al" come from Arabic like almohada (pillow), alfombra (rug) etc.

Answer 4

You are right. Atleast that is what wikipedia says.