7-layer rainbow cookies

from Peta Eats

makes a lot of cookies

• Ingredients
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1-1/2 cups sugar, divided
• 1 cup (4-1/2 oz) almond meal
• 1-1/4 cups (10 oz) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or since it is Christmas some brandy or rum extract)
• 2 cups all-purpose (plain) flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon red food colouring
• 1 tablespoon green food colouring
• 1 cup (12 oz) apricot jam heated and strained
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (7 oz) fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened)
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 teaspoon sugar

1. Put an oven rack in the middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Line a 13-inch by 9-inch baking pan baking paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 ends.

3. Beat egg whites in mixer fitted with whisk attachment at medium-high speed until they just hold soft peaks. Add 1/4 cup of the sugar gradually, beating at high speed until whites hold just stiff, slightly glossy peaks. Put this in another bowl as you’ll need the mixer bowl for the next step.

4. Switch to your paddle attachment, then beat together the ground almonds, butter and the remaining sugar until its pale and fluffy. Add the egg yolks, vanilla and almond extract and beat until it’s combined well. Turn off the mixer and add the flour and salt and mix until just combined. I have to put a tea towel over the mixer to stop the flour flying everywhere.

5. Beat 1/3 of the egg white mixture into the almond mixture then remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.

6. Divide batter among 3 bowls. Stir red food colouring into one and green food colouring into another, leaving the third batch plain. Set the white batter aside. Put the green batter, covered into the refrigerator.

7. Pour the red batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly with an offset spatula (layer will be about 1/4-inch thick).

8. Bake in a preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes, until just set. (The cakes won’t look cooked but a tester does come out clean.)

9. Using the paper overhang, transfer the layers to a rack to cool, about 15 minutes. Clean the pan and re-line with parchment paper. Bake the white layer in prepared pan for 8 to 10 minutes, until just set. As white layer bakes, bring green batter to room temperature. Transfer the white layer to a rack. Prepare the pan again and bake the green layer in the same manner as before. Transfer to a rack to cool.

10. When all layers are cool, invert green onto a parchment lined large baking sheet. Discard paper from layer and spread with half of the preserves. Invert white on top of green layer, discarding paper. Spread with the remaining preserve. Invert red layer on top of white layer and discard wax or parchment paper.

11. Cover with plastic wrap and weight with a large baking pan and 6 tins of fruit or soup. Chill at least 8 hours.

12. Remove weight and plastic wrap. Bring the layers to room temperature.

13. Chop the chocolate into small bits put half the chocolate, 1 teaspoon of butter and 1 teaspoon of sugar in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, once it’s melted and smooth take the bowl off the pan of water and turn off the heat. Throw in the rest of the chocolate and stir until it’s smooth. Put the bowl of chocolate back over the water you don’t want it too start to set.

14. Trim the edges of assembled layers with a long serrated knife. Quickly spread half of chocolate in a thin layer on top of cake. Chill, uncovered, until chocolate is firm, about 15 minutes. Cover with another sheet of wax paper and place another baking sheet on top, then invert cake onto sheet and remove paper. Quickly spread with remaining chocolate. Freeze until firm, at least 1 hour. You can freeze the whole thing like this until you want to use it. Don’t thaw it before cutting.

15. Cut into 1-inch squares or into 1-1/2 inches wide strips then cut the strips crosswise into 3/4-inch wide cookies.

Important notes from Smitten Kitchen
1. Don’t stack cooled cakes if you use wax paper: they might stick together or if you get grease on the top and bottom the chocolate doesn’t stick well.

2. Be careful dividing your jam: Heat the jam, strain out any lumps and then weigh it or use only enough to put a thin even layer over the layers. Too much jam and it oozes out and makes it harder to cut.

3. Cookies keep, layered between sheets of wax paper or parchment, in an airtight container at room temperature 2 weeks. They’ll keep even longer in the freezer.

my ultimate favorite chocolate chip cookies

adapted from The Great Book of Chocolate by David Lebovitz

makes about 4 dozen cookies

• Ingredients
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (I use Trader Joe’s)
• 1 cup walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped *See note below

*NOTE: I’ve found the best way to toast nuts is in a pan on the stove over medium low. When I put them in the oven, I burn them. This way, on the stove, it’s also easier to periodically give them a toss to make sure they toast evenly.

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Line your baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper for easier cookie removal and clean up.

Beat the butter, granulated, and brown sugar together until smooth. Stir in the egg, baking soda, and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Add it to the butter-sugar mixture and stir until combined.

Finally, stir in the walnuts and chocolate chips.

Scoop the dough by tablespoons onto the baking sheets. I do overflowing scoops using my favorite half-tablespoon mini-scooper.

For chewy cookies, bake for 10-12 minutes.

For crispier cookies, bake for 15-18 minutes, until pale golden brown.

Cool on a wire rack. But make sure you steal one warm, gooey, falling apart cookie and dip it in milk. Or shove it straight in your mouth.

Best when eaten within 2-3 days.