venetians - rainbow cookies
(2 ratings)
Why pay $$$ per pound in a bakery when you can them at home for pennies less! There are several steps but so worth it! Easy, delicious, adaptable, addictive! Enjoy.
(2 ratings)
yield
serving(s)
cook time
8 Hr
Ingredients For venetians - rainbow cookies
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4large eggs, separated
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1 csugar
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1 (8) ozcan/tube of almond paste
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1 tspalmond extract
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2 call purpose flour
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1/2 tspsalt
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25drops each of red and green food (or any two colors of your choice) coloring (more or less depending on your preference)
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112 oz jar of apricot or raspberry preserves, heated and strained
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16 ozfine quality semisweet chocolate, chopped and melted
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2 1/2 stickunsalted butter, softened
How To Make venetians - rainbow cookies
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1Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 13 X 9 inch baking pan and line the bottom with parchment/wax paper, leaving a 2 in ch overhang on the ends (easier to remove), butter the paper.
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2Beat egg whites until they hold stiff peaks. Add 1/4 cup sugar (a little at a time) beating at high speed until whites hold stiff, slightly glossy peaks. Set aside.
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3In another bowl, beat together almond paste and remaining 3/4 cup sugar until well blended, approximately 3 minutes. Add butter and beat until pale and fluffy, another 3 minutes. Add yokes and almond extract and beat until combined well (approx. 2 minutes). Reduce speed to low, then add flour and salt and mix until just combined. Fold egg whites into almond mixture to lighten the mixture.
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4Divide batter evenly among 3 bowls. Stir red food coloring in one bowl; green in the other; leaving one bowl uncolored. Pour one bowl/batter into creased baking pan and spread evenly with offset spatula (layer will be about 1/4 inch thick). Bake 8 to 10 minutes until the edges just pick up color - do not overbake. REPEAT WITH REMAINING bowl/batter - Transfer layers to a wire rack to cool.
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5When all layers are cool, invert green onto a parchment or wax-paper-lined large baking sheet. Discard paper from layer and spread with half of preserves. Invert white on top of green layer, discarding paper. Spread with remaining preserves. Invert red layer on top of white layer and discard wax or parchment paper.
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6Cover with plastic wrap and chill several hours (at least 4 hours). (Recipe calls for you to weight the top down with a heavy object but I stopped doing that and it comes out fine.) Remove weight and plastic wrap. Bring layers to room temperature. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Keep chocolate over water.
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7Trim edges of cake and pour/spread chocolate over the top in a thin layer. Chill, uncovered, until chocolate is firm. OPTIONAL - you can flip the cake over and coat the underside with chocolate as well. Chill again.
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8When all is chilled, cut lengthwise into strips, then crosswise. TIP: THE COLDER THESE ARE, THE EASIER TO CUT ... MAKE SURE THEY ARE WELL CHILLED / EVEN SLIGHTLY FROZEN!
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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