Colorful Spumoni Slices - Festive Italian Christmas Cookies
Add a festive touch to your holiday celebrations with these delightful Colorful Spumoni Slices. These tri-colored Italian Christmas cookies are not only visually stunning but also wonderfully flavorful. With rich chocolate, sweet candied cherries, and a hint of pistachio, each slice offers a delightful bite that embodies the spirit of the season. Perfect for gifting or sharing at holiday gatherings, these cookies will be a hit on your dessert platter and will leave your guests asking for the recipe!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
14
Ingredients
Ingredients
shortening
1/2 cup (softened)
butter
1/2 cup (softened)
all-purpose flour
3 cups (sifted)
sugar
1 cup (granulated)
egg
1 (beaten)
milk
2 tablespoons (divided)
vanilla extract
1 teaspoon (pure)
baking soda
1/2 teaspoon (none)
semi-sweet chocolate baking square
1 ounce (melted and cooled)
chopped candied red cherries
1/3 cup (drained)
chopped pistachio nuts
1/2 cup (unsalted)
rum flavoring
1/4 teaspoon (none)
green food coloring
3 drops (for tinting dough)
powdered sugar icing or melted chocolate
to taste (for drizzling (optional))
Instructions
1
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the shortening and butter using an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy, about 30 seconds.
2
Gradually add half of the flour, sugar, egg, 2 tablespoons of milk, vanilla extract, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Mix well, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed until thoroughly combined.
3
Stir in the remaining flour until well blended, then divide the dough evenly into three portions.
4
To one portion, fold in the melted chocolate and 2 teaspoons of milk until fully incorporated.
5
In the second portion, mix in the chopped candied red cherries until evenly distributed.
6
For the third portion, add the chopped pistachios, remaining milk, rum flavoring, and green food coloring, mixing until the desired green hue is achieved.
7
To shape the cookies, line the bottom and sides of an 8 x 4 x 2 inch loaf pan with clear plastic wrap, ensuring there is some overhang to help with removal later.
8
First, press the pink dough evenly into the bottom of the lined loaf pan. Next, layer the chocolate dough on top, smoothing it out evenly. Finally, press the green dough on top to create a layered effect.
9
Cover the pan and chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, or up to 24 hours for better flavor development.
10
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Once chilled, invert the pan to remove the dough block and carefully peel off the plastic wrap.
11
Slice the dough into 1/4 inch thick pieces, then cut each slice crosswise into three smaller pieces.
12
Place the cookie pieces 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
13
Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.
14
For an extra festive touch, drizzle the cooled cookies with green-tinted powdered sugar icing or melted chocolate before serving.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Colorful Spumoni Slices?
Colorful Spumoni Slices are festive tri-colored Italian Christmas cookies featuring layers of chocolate, candied cherry, and pistachio, inspired by the traditional Italian dessert.
What three flavors are included in these cookies?
The cookies feature a rich chocolate layer, a sweet candied red cherry layer, and a pistachio layer with a hint of rum flavoring.
What size loaf pan should I use to shape the dough?
An 8 x 4 x 2 inch loaf pan is recommended for layering the dough to achieve the classic spumoni look.
How long does the dough need to chill?
The dough needs to chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, though up to 24 hours is recommended for better flavor development.
What is the correct baking temperature for these cookies?
The oven should be preheated to 375°F (190°C) before baking the sliced cookies.
How long should the cookies bake?
Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
How should I slice the chilled dough block?
Slice the block into 1/4 inch thick pieces, then cut each of those slices crosswise into three smaller rectangular pieces.
Do I need to grease the cookie sheet?
No, the instructions specify placing the cookie pieces on an ungreased cookie sheet.
In what order should the layers be pressed into the pan?
First, press the pink cherry dough into the bottom, followed by the chocolate dough, and finally the green pistachio dough on top.
What ingredients are used for the green layer?
The green layer consists of dough mixed with chopped pistachio nuts, milk, rum flavoring, and green food coloring.
How is the pink layer made?
The pink layer is created by mixing chopped candied red cherries into one portion of the plain dough.
What kind of chocolate is used in the recipe?
The recipe calls for one ounce of semi-sweet chocolate baking square, which should be melted and cooled before mixing.
What fats are used to make the dough?
The recipe uses a combination of 1/2 cup softened shortening and 1/2 cup softened butter.
Should the cherries be prepared in any special way?
Yes, the candied red cherries should be chopped and drained before being added to the dough.
How many eggs are required for this recipe?
One beaten egg is required for the cookie dough.
What type of flour is recommended?
The recipe calls for 3 cups of sifted all-purpose flour.
How should I line the loaf pan for easy removal?
Line the pan with clear plastic wrap, ensuring there is enough overhang to lift the dough out once it has chilled.
Can I add a topping to these cookies?
Yes, you can drizzle the cooled cookies with green-tinted powdered sugar icing or melted chocolate for an extra festive touch.
How much rum flavoring is used?
The recipe uses 1/4 teaspoon of rum flavoring, added specifically to the pistachio layer.
What is the first step in making the dough?
The first step is to cream together the shortening and butter using an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy, which takes about 30 seconds.
How far apart should I place the cookies on the sheet?
Place the cookie pieces 2 inches apart to prevent them from sticking together while baking.
What kind of nuts are used?
The recipe uses 1/2 cup of unsalted chopped pistachio nuts.
What gives the cookies their green color?
The green color comes from approximately 3 drops of green food coloring added to the pistachio dough portion.
Is salt included in the dough?
Yes, the recipe includes a pinch of salt mixed with the initial wet ingredients and flour.
What type of sugar is used?
The recipe requires 1 cup of granulated sugar.
Does the recipe use vanilla?
Yes, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract is added to the main dough mixture.
How do I remove the dough from the pan after chilling?
Invert the pan to drop the dough block out and then carefully peel away the plastic wrap.
What makes these cookies a good holiday gift?
Their unique tri-color appearance and festive flavors make them visually stunning and perfect for dessert platters or gift boxes.
How many total ingredients are needed?
There are 14 ingredients used in this recipe, including the optional decorative drizzle.
What is the texture of the cookies?
They are slice-and-bake style cookies that are wonderfully flavorful and have a classic festive cookie texture.