By Nicole Hunn | Published: | Posted In: Cookies, Desserts, Holiday season recipes, Holidays
It's (finally!) Christmas Cookie Baking Season! I take this time of year very seriously, as I am in love with just every single thing about baking cookies. There's something for everyone, and if I ever meet a person who swears that they just don't like cookies at all, I will make it my business to find the cookie they do like. These gluten free rainbow cookies are the Cadillac of Italian bakery cookies. They're the onesI always looked for first in the bakery box. Simply put, they're my favorite—and this sweet chocolate-covered almond cake treat is at least as good as the gluten-filled bakery cookies of my childhood.All 3 ofmy children love them, too, but that might at least be partly because they love a good competition and, well, they know they'll have to fight me for that last cookie.
I first posted a recipe for rainbow cookies on the blog over 3 years ago (that recipe now redirects to this one). Over the years, as I've learned more about gluten free flours and blends, I've tried reworking it. I thought I could make it better—even though it was already perfect. Well you can guess how that turned out. I just kept coming right back to the original recipe I created way back in 2010, so I've contented myself here with better pictures including plenty of (admittedly totallyunnecessary)step-by-step photos, and better instructions.
And you probably already know this since you're most likely not me as a small child, but all 3 layers taste exactly the same. They're just different colors. Okay part of me still thinks they taste different in the most subtle, but incredibly important, way. Still you should of course feel free to make three “natural” layers and skip the food colorings altogether if you're against that sort of thing.
We've got just over 3 weeks until Christmas Day, and I for one plan to make gluten free cookie baking amajor part of my life. Stay tuned for more cookies (always more cookies!) and keep that oven warm for me!
Gluten Free Rainbow Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies and Filling 16 tablespoons (224 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled 3/4 cup (150 g) sugar 4 eggs (240 g, weighed out of shell) at room temperature, beaten 2 cups (280 g) all purpose gluten free flour (I used Better Batter) 1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it) 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt Red liquid food coloring (8 to 10 drops) Green liquid food coloring (8 to 10 drops) 1/2 cup (160 g) seedless raspberry or strawberry jam Chocolate Topping 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/3 cup (2 2/3 fluid ounces) heavy cream
8 ounces almond paste (Love ‘n’ Bake brand and Solo brand are both gluten free, or you can use this homemade marzipan), broken up with a fork
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line 3 quarter sheet pans (each 9-inches x 12-inches) with unbleached parchment paper, and set them aside.
Make the cookie dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large bowl with a hand mixer), cream the almond paste and butter until well-combined. There may be some remaining small clumps in the almond paste, which is fine. Add the sugar and eggs, beating to combine well after each addition. The batter should be thick. Add the flour, xanthan gum and kosher salt, and mix until the dough comes together and is smooth.Divide the dough into three equal parts (each about 500 grams). Add the green food coloring to one part, and mix to combine. Add the red food coloring to another part, and mix to combine. Divide the 3 parts of dough among the three prepared pans. Stretch and press the dough into an even layer in each pan, using wet fingers and a wet spatula. The dough will be sticky.
Bake and assemble the layers. Place each pan, one at a time, in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes, or until the dough just begins to brown around the edges. Allow the layers to cool slightly in the pans. Carefully place the green layer on a piece of parchment paper, spread evenly with one half of the jam. Place the plain layer carefully on top, taking care not to handle the cakes too much or they may begin to crack. Spread the remaining jam on top of the plain layer, and top with the pink layer. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top, and place a few books on top of the stack to compress the layers. Place the stack of cakes in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, or until the layers have begun to flatten and compress.
Once the cookies are chilled, make the chocolate topping. Place the chopped chocolate in a medium-size heat safe bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the cream and butter over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the butter is melted and the cream is just beginning to simmer. Pour the hot cream and butter mixture over the chocolate, mixing to combine. The chocolate should be smooth and shiny. Pour the melted chocolate over the top of the chilled cookies, and spread into an even layer with an offset spatula or knife. Chill once more in the refrigerator until the chocolate topping is set (about 20 minutes). Using a large serrated knife, trim all of the edges and then slice into about 21 even rectangles. Serve immediately or wrap tightly and store in the freezer until ready to serve.
