Festive Neapolitan Layer Cookies
Delight your tastebuds with our Festive Neapolitan Layer Cookies, a colorful and delicious fusion of flavors inspired by the classic Italian dessert. These vibrant cookies boast layers of vanilla, rich cocoa, and aromatic nutty almond or hazelnut flavors, perfectly suited for any occasion, yet particularly enchanting during the holiday season. Enjoy the intricate textures and flavors that these cookies bring to your dessert table, making them a cherished favorite throughout the year.
60
Servings
N/A
Calories
11
Ingredients
Ingredients
flour
2 1/2 cups
sugar
1 1/2 cups
butter
1 cup (softened)
egg
1 large
baking powder
1/2 teaspoon
vanilla extract
1 teaspoon
salt
1/2 teaspoon
almond or hazelnut extract
1/2 teaspoon
red food coloring
5 drops
chopped walnuts or pistachios
1/2 cup
cocoa powder
1/4 cup (good quality)
Instructions
1
Prepare a loaf pan by lining the bottom with waxed paper to ensure easy removal after chilling.
2
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, softened butter, egg, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt using an electric mixer. Beat the ingredients together on medium speed for about 3 minutes until a smooth dough forms.
3
Divide the cookie dough into three equal portions, each to be flavored and colored differently.
4
For the first portion, add almond or hazelnut extract along with 5 drops of red food coloring. Mix well to ensure an even coloration, resulting in pink/red dough.
5
For the second portion, mix in the chopped walnuts or pistachios to create a contrasting texture for the white dough.
6
In the third portion, incorporate the cocoa powder, blending thoroughly to yield chocolatey brown dough.
7
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to be ready for baking after chilling the dough.
8
In the prepared loaf pan, carefully layer the doughs one on top of the other, starting with the pink/red dough, followed by the white and finishing with the chocolate dough. Cover the loaf pan tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the dough to firm.
9
Once chilled, gently remove the entire layered dough from the loaf pan. Slice the loaf lengthwise down the center, then make additional crosswise slices to form approximately 15 cookie slices from each section, totaling about 60 cookies.
10
Place slices on a baking sheet, spacing them evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the edges are slightly golden and the cookies are set.
11
Remove from oven and transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Festive Neapolitan Layer Cookies?
These are vibrant, three-layered cookies inspired by the classic Italian Neapolitan dessert, featuring vanilla, cocoa, and nutty almond or hazelnut flavors.
How many cookies does this recipe yield?
This recipe makes approximately 60 cookies.
What is the recommended baking temperature?
The cookies should be baked in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C).
How long should the cookies bake?
Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges are slightly golden and the cookies are set.
How long does the dough need to be refrigerated?
The dough must be refrigerated in the loaf pan for at least 4 hours to allow flavors to meld and the dough to firm.
What extracts are used in these cookies?
The recipe uses vanilla extract for the base and either almond or hazelnut extract for the pink/red layer.
Which nuts are recommended for the white layer?
The white dough layer uses 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pistachios to create a contrasting texture.
How do you achieve the pink or red color?
The pink/red layer is created by mixing 5 drops of red food coloring into one of the dough portions.
What is the order of layers in the loaf pan?
The layers should be stacked starting with the pink/red dough at the bottom, followed by the white dough, and finishing with the chocolate dough.
How should the loaf pan be prepared?
Line the bottom of a loaf pan with waxed paper to ensure the layered dough is easy to remove after chilling.
How do you slice the dough into cookies?
Once chilled, slice the loaf lengthwise down the center, then make crosswise slices to form about 15 cookies from each section.
What ingredients make up the base dough?
The base dough consists of flour, sugar, softened butter, an egg, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt.
How long should the base ingredients be mixed?
Beat the base ingredients together on medium speed for about 3 minutes until a smooth dough forms.
What type of cocoa powder should be used?
The recipe recommends using 1/4 cup of good quality cocoa powder for the chocolate layer.
How much butter is required for the recipe?
The recipe requires 1 cup of softened butter.
Is there any salt in this cookie recipe?
Yes, 1/2 teaspoon of salt is included in the base dough.
Do I need to grease the baking sheet?
The instructions suggest placing slices on a baking sheet, but do not specifically require greasing; however, spacing them evenly is important.
What should I do after the cookies finish baking?
Remove them from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
How many portions do you divide the dough into?
The base dough is divided into three equal portions to be flavored and colored differently.
Can I use hazelnut extract instead of almond?
Yes, either almond or hazelnut extract can be used for the aromatic pink layer.
What gives the chocolate layer its color?
The chocolatey brown color is achieved by incorporating cocoa powder into the third portion of the dough.
Is baking powder used in this recipe?
Yes, the recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder.
How much sugar is in the recipe?
The recipe uses 1 1/2 cups of sugar.
What size egg is needed?
The recipe specifies 1 large egg.
How much flour is required?
You will need 2 1/2 cups of flour for the base dough.
Are these cookies suitable for the holidays?
Yes, while great year-round, they are described as particularly enchanting during the holiday season.
What is the primary inspiration for these cookies?
They are a fusion of flavors inspired by the classic Italian Neapolitan dessert.
How do you ensure even coloration in the red dough?
Mix the extract and food coloring well into the dough portion to ensure an even pink/red color.
What is the total count of ingredients?
There are 11 ingredients used in this recipe.
How should the cookies be stored?
Once cooled completely on a wire rack, the cookies can be served or stored in an airtight container.