Thursday, September 2, 2010

Red White and Blue Cookies!

Hi everyone! I'm happy to be joining Gnee for the Blog B-B-Q and Foodie Friday! I wanted to make something a little different that still fit the Labor Day Theme. I've had a basic Neopolitan recipe for years and this is the first time I made them, I just omitted the chocolate and nuts, and added blue food coloring.
Hope you love them if you try them:@)

Neopolitan Slices
1 C butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 C flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 C chopped maraschino cherries, pat dry
Red food coloring
1 square unsweetened chocolate (1 oz)
1/4 C walnuts

Cream butter and sugar, add egg and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients together and add to mixture.
Divide dough into three parts. Leave vanilla as is, add cherries and food coloring to another part. Melt chocolate and add to remaining third with nuts.
Chill all three parts separately until easily handled. Then pat into layers (with the pink in the middle) in a
5" x 9" bread pan lined with wax paper. Chill until firm-important!
Remove from pan and paper and cut lengthwise into two long pieces. Cut into 1/8" slices and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for 10-12 mins (I started checking mine at 8 minutes), until done but not browned.
Makes 6 dozen.

Notes for next time:
These were tasty but I would add half vanilla and half almond extract.
I would try smooshing the layers down smoother.
Paste food coloring is on my "to buy" list! Although I think these would be fun for a baby shower too.