Rainbow Cookies

Name: Rainbow Cookies
Yield: makes about 3 dozen
Ingredients: 2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened, cut into pieces, plus more for the pans; 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the pans; 8 ounces almond paste; 1 cup sugar; 4 large eggs, separated; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon red food coloring (gel or paste preferred); 1 teaspoon green food coloring (gel or paste preferred); Two 15-ounce jars smooth (not chunky) apricot jam; 1 1/2 pounds bittersweet chocolate, chopped

December 14, 2011

Image may contain Cutlery Fork and Plant

Photo by Chelsea Kyle

There are many traditional Italian almond-paste cookies, but rainbow cookies seem to have been created in America by Italian American immigrants to honor the colors of the Italian flag. The recipe requires patience, but it is not difficult. As with most baking recipes, follow the instructions carefully and you will be rewarded with cookies that everybody loves and that keep moist for more than a week. You can find them in Italian bakeries year-round, but they are especially popular at Christmastime.

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