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Rainbow Cookies

These Rainbow Cookies are perfect for the holidays. Three colorful layers with jam sandwiched in between and then coated with chocolate, these cookies are a crowd-pleasing and impressive treat!

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Additional Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 57 mins
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 269 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups unsalted butter softened divided (340g)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
  • 1 (8-ounce/227g) package almond paste
  • 4 large eggs separated
  • 1½ teaspoons almond extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (240g)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Red food coloring
  • green food coloring
  • ½ cup raspberry jam (160g)
  • 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (312g)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Position oven racks in the upper third and lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly grease 3 (9x13-inch) baking pans or quarter sheet pans and line with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together ½ cup of butter, the sugar, and almond paste on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the remaining 1 cup of butter. Beat on medium until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. With the mixer on low, add the egg yolks and almond extract, beating until just combined. Gradually add flour and salt, beating until just combined. Stop occasionally and scrape down the bowl during mixing.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer with clean beaters or the whisk attachment on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Working in batches, gently fold the egg whites into the cookie batter until combined and no streaks of egg white remain. Divide the batter evenly among 3 bowls.
  5. Stir about 8 drops of red food coloring into one of the bowls of batter until fully combined. Spread into an even layer in 1 prepared pan. To another batter bowl, stir in about 8 drops of green food coloring and spread into another prepared pan. Spread the remaining plain batter into the remaining prepared pan.
  6. Place 2 pans on the upper third rack, ensuring the pans are not touching, and 1 pan on the lower third oven rack.
  7. Bake for 15 minutes, then rotate the pans on the top rack to the bottom rack and vice versa. Continue baking until a wooden pick inserted in the centers of each cookie pan comes out clean, about 12 minutes more. Let the cookies cool completely in the pans on wire racks.
  8. With the cooled green layer still in the pan, spread ¼ cup of the jam in an even thin layer over the top. Flip the plain (un-dyed) layer on top of the jammy green layer and carefully remove and discard the parchment from the plain layer. Spread the remaining ¼ cup jam in an even thin layer over the plain layer. Place the red layer on top of the jammy plain layer and remove and discard the parchment. Cover with a sheet of plastic wrap.
  9. Place one of the baking pans on top of the stacked layers. Evenly place weights (such as plates or canned vegetables) on top of the pan. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours.
  10. Once chilled, remove the weights and plastic wrap. Place a large cutting board on top of the stack and invert. Carefully remove and discard the parchment paper from the green layer.. Using a serrated knife, trim the edges to straighten. Place the stack, green layer up, on a wire rack set inside a large, rimmed baking sheet.
  11. In a medium, microwave-safe bowl, heat the chocolate chips in 30-second intervals stirring between each, until the chocolate is melted.. Spread the melted chocolate over the top and sides of the stack. Let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
  12. Using fork tines, scrape wavy lines into the chocolate. Refrigerate, uncovered, until the chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.
  13. Using a serrated knife, slice the slab into 2-inch squares. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

  • Using seedless raspberry jam is preferred. You can also press raspberry jam through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds.
  • Instead of microwaving the chocolate, you can place chocolate chips in a small heatproof bowl set over a small saucepan of 1-inch simmering water; constantly stir until the chocolate fully melts, about 5 minutes.
  • It is essential to have a clean and dry bowl for whipping the egg whites. The egg whites also cannot contain any egg yolk. You will have difficulty whipping up the whites if the bowl is not completely clean or yolk-free.
  • Eggs are easier to separate when cold, but egg whites whip up easier when closer to room temperature. I recommend separating them in advance.
  • Measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to the recipe is the most common mistake. The best and easiest way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you don’t have one, fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off.
  • Use a serrated knife to cut the rainbow cookies for the best-looking results. Serrated knives will cut smoothly through things with a hard exterior and softer interior. Run the knife under hot water before slicing, and clean the knife between each slice for a clean presentation of the layers.
  • Do not skip weighing down the layers. Doing so will let the jam absorb into the layers and help them stick together. Weighing the layers down also ensures that the cookies won’t fall apart when sliced.
  • This melted chocolate sets up much better if the rainbow cookie layers aren’t warm. The chocolate will melt off if you do not give enough time for the layers to chill.

Nutrition Information

Calories 269kcal (13%) Carbohydrates 27g (9%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 17g (26%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Trans Fat 0.5g Cholesterol 62mg (21%) Sodium 41mg (2%) Potassium 96mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 16g (32%) Vitamin A 405IU (8%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 18mg (2%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 24servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 269

% Daily Value*

Calories 269kcal 13%
Carbohydrates 27g 9%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 0.5g 25%
Cholesterol 62mg 21%
Sodium 41mg 2%
Potassium 96mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 16g 32%
Vitamin A 405IU 8%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 18mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.