Italian Rainbow Cookies

These tender cookies are made of brightly colored almond cakes layered with apricot preserves and topped off with a thin chocolate coating. Resembling the Italian flag, they were actually created in the United States by homesick Italian American bakers to commemorate their native land around the holidays.

Italian Rainbow Cookies
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Italian Rainbow Cookies

Makes 32 (3×1-inch) bars

Ingredients

  • 5 large eggs (250 grams), separated and room temperature
  • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar, divided
  • 8 ounces (225 grams) almond paste, chopped into ¼-inch pieces
  • 1 cup (227 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 teaspoon (4 grams) vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon (4 grams) almond extract
  • 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon (2.25 grams) kosher salt
  • 30 drops (3 grams) red food coloring
  • 20 drops (2 grams) green food coloring
  • cup (228 grams) strained apricot preserves
  • 6 ounces (175 grams) 70% cacao bittersweet chocolate baking bars, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon (5 grams) coconut oil
  • Flaked sea salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 3 (13×9-inch) baking pans with parchment paper, letting excess extend over sides of pan.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites at medium-high speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Gradually add ¼ cup (50 grams) sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Gently transfer to a medium bowl.
  • Clean bowl of stand mixer, and switch to the paddle attachment. Add almond paste to bowl. With mixer on medium-low speed, gradually add remaining ¾ cup (150 grams) sugar, beating until combined. Add cold butter, 1 tablespoon (14 grams) at a time, beating until well combined after each addition. Increase mixer speed to medium, and beat until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and kosher salt. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating just until combined. (Batter will be thick.) Stir one-fourth of egg white mixture into batter. Gently fold in remaining egg white mixture in three additions until well combined.
  • Divide batter among 3 bowls (about 1½ cups [356 grams] each). Add red food coloring to first bowl; using a silicone spatula, fold until well combined. Add green food coloring to second bowl; using a clean silicone spatula, fold until well combined. Leave third bowl uncolored. Spread each batter separately in prepared pans.
  • Bake until layers begin to pull away from sides of pan, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely in pans on wire racks.
  • To assemble, transfer green layer to a cutting board; spread half of preserves on top in an even layer. Top with uncolored layer; spread remaining preserves on uncolored layer. Top with red layer, and cover red layer with plastic wrap. Place an empty 13×9-inch baking pan on top; weigh down with cans. Refrigerate for 4 hours or up to overnight.
  • In a small microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate on high in 10-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth (1 to 1½ minutes total). Stir in coconut oil until well combined.
  • Using a small offset spatula, spread chocolate mixture onto layers. (It’s OK if some chocolate runs down sides.) Gently tap cutting board on counter to smooth chocolate into an even layer. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Using a warm serrated knife, trim edges. Cut into bars, dipping knife in warm water and wiping clean between each cut. Sprinkle with sea salt.

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