Authentic Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe: A Delicious Burst of Color and Flavor (2024)

Bring a touch of Italy into your kitchen this holiday Season with this delightful and delicious recipe for Italian Rainbow Cookies.

Also known as Venetian or Tri-Color Cookies, these vibrant treats are a beloved staple of Italian-American bakeries. With their layers of almond sponge cake, raspberry jam, and chocolate coating, they are not only visually appealing but also incredibly delicious. We’ll guide you step by step through the process of creating these irresistible Italian Rainbow Cookies.

This recipe is part of The Sweetest Season, an annual virtual cookie swap co-hosted by Erin of The Speckled Palate and Susannah of Feast + West. Every year, food bloggers get together to share new holiday cookie recipes to make and give.

Ingredients for Italian Rainbow Cookies: Creating Layers of Flavor

• 1 cup sugar
• 8 oz almond paste
• 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 4 eggs, separate yolks and whites
• ¼ cup milk
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• 2 cups flour
• ½ teaspoon red food color
• ½ teaspoon green food color
• ½ cup raspberry jam
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Step-by-Step Preparation

Preheat oven to 325 and prepare 3 square baking pans with baking spray

In a large mixing bowl combine sugar, almond paste, and butter until smooth

Add in the egg yolks one at a time

Mix in the milk and almond extract

Add in the flour mixing until combined then set mixture aside

In a separate bowl beat the egg whites to stiff peaks then fold into cake mixture

Separate the mixture in equal amounts into 3 separate bowls

Add red food color to one bowl, green food color to another, and leave the 3rd bowl as is

Place each batter in a separate prepared baking pan

Bake 10-12 minutes, cool completely

Place the green cake on a plate and spread half of the jam on top

Next place the regular colored cake on top and spread the remaining jam on top

Lastly, place the red cake on top

Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring until smooth

Spread evenly on top of the chilled cake, use a fork to add texture and design if desired

Chill for an additional 30 minutes until the chocolate is set

Slice the rectangle into 1 inch squares

Serve and enjoy!

By following this recipe, you’ll be able to recreate the magic of traditional Italian Rainbow Cookies in your own kitchen. Prepare to impress your friends and family with these visually stunning and utterly delicious treats. Happy baking!

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Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe

Yield: 48

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Additional Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes

Learn how to make authentic Italian Rainbow Cookies with this step-by-step recipe. These vibrant and delicious treats feature layers of almond sponge cake, raspberry jam, and chocolate coating. Get ready to enjoy a burst of color and flavor!

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 8 oz almond paste
• 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 4 eggs, separate yolks and whites
• ¼ cup milk
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• 2 cups flour
• ½ teaspoon red food color
• ½ teaspoon green food color
• ½ cup raspberry jam
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 and prepare 3 square baking pans with baking spray
2. In a large mixing bowl combine sugar, almond paste, and butter until smooth
3. Add in the egg yolks one at a time
4. Mix in the milk and almond extract
5. Add in the flour mixing until combined then set mixture aside
6. In a separate bowl beat the egg whites to stiff peaks then fold into cake mixture
7. Separate the mixture in equal amounts into 3 separate bowls
8. Add red food color to one bowl, green food color to another, and leave the 3rd bowl as is
9. Place each batter in a separate prepared baking pan
10. Bake 10-12 minutes, cool completely
11. Place the green cake on a plate and spread half of the jam on top
12. Next place the regular colored cake on top and spread the remaining jam on top
13. Lastly, place the red cake on top
14. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours
15. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring until smooth
16. Spread evenly on top of the chilled cake, use a fork to add texture and design if desired
17. Chill for an additional 30 minutes until the chocolate is set
18. Slice the rectangle into 1 inch squares

Did you make this recipe?

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