Festive Striped Icebox Delight Cookies
Celebrate the holidays with these visually stunning and delicious Festive Striped Icebox Delight Cookies! Perfect for sharing at gatherings or gifting, these cookies feature vibrant stripes that can be customized to represent any season or holiday. The base dough is enriched with the warmth of butter and sugar, then layered with crushed peppermint candies, rich chocolate, and festive nonpareils. Ideal for making ahead, the icebox technique allows you to prepare the dough in advance and slice fresh cookies whenever the craving strikes. Each bite offers a delightful crunch, a mix of colors, and a taste that's sure to bring smiles all around!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
11
Ingredients
Ingredients
unsalted butter
1 cup (softened (NO SUBSTITUTIONS))
sugar
1 1/2 cups
large egg
1
all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups
baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons
salt
1/4 teaspoon
finely crushed peppermint candies
2 tablespoons
red food coloring
1-2 drops
semisweet chocolate
1 ounce (melted (1 square))
multicolored sugar nonpareils
1 tablespoon
green food coloring
1-2 drops
Instructions
1
Start by lining a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with wax paper or parchment paper, smoothing out any wrinkles for a neat finish.
2
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg until well combined.
3
In a separate medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually incorporate this dry mixture into the creamed butter mixture until a soft dough forms.
4
Divide the dough into three equal portions, placing each one in its own small bowl.
5
To the first portion, add the finely crushed peppermint candies and 1-2 drops of red food coloring. Mix thoroughly, using your hands if necessary to ensure even color distribution.
6
In the second portion, pour in the melted semisweet chocolate and mix until fully combined, again using your hands if needed.
7
For the third portion, add the multicolored nonpareils and 1-2 drops of green food coloring, mixing until the dough is uniformly colored.
8
Carefully spread the red dough into an even layer at the bottom of the prepared loaf pan, followed by the chocolate dough, and finally top with the green dough. Cover the loaf pan with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or pop it in the freezer for about 1 hour.
9
Once the dough is chilled and firm, remove the loaf from the pan by lifting out the wax paper or parchment.
10
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
11
Place the loaf of dough flat on a cutting board. Using a large knife, slice the dough lengthwise down the middle, then cut crosswise into 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick slices to reveal the festive stripes.
12
Arrange the cookie slices 1 inch apart on lightly greased baking sheets, and bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to brown.
13
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Festive Striped Icebox Delight Cookies?
These are visually stunning cookies featuring vibrant stripes of peppermint, chocolate, and nonpareil-flavored dough, perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting.
Can I substitute the butter in this recipe?
No, the recipe specifically states to use 1 cup of softened unsalted butter with no substitutions.
How do I prepare the baking pan for the dough?
Line a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with wax paper or parchment paper, ensuring you smooth out any wrinkles for a neat finish.
How do I mix the butter and sugar?
Cream the softened unsalted butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy.
How many eggs are required for the dough?
The recipe requires one large egg, beaten into the creamed butter and sugar mixture until well combined.
Which dry ingredients should be sifted together?
Sift together 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
How should the dough be divided?
Divide the soft dough into three equal portions and place each into its own small bowl for flavoring and coloring.
What goes into the red dough layer?
Add 2 tablespoons of finely crushed peppermint candies and 1-2 drops of red food coloring to the first portion of dough.
What is added to the second portion of dough?
Mix 1 ounce of melted semisweet chocolate into the second portion until fully combined.
What makes the green dough layer festive?
The third portion is mixed with 1 tablespoon of multicolored sugar nonpareils and 1-2 drops of green food coloring.
In what order should the layers be placed in the pan?
Layer the red dough at the bottom first, followed by the chocolate dough in the middle, and top it with the green dough.
How long does the dough need to chill in the refrigerator?
Cover the loaf pan with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Is there a faster way to chill the dough?
Yes, you can place the dough in the freezer for about 1 hour if you are in a hurry.
How do I remove the chilled dough from the pan?
Once the dough is firm, lift it out of the loaf pan using the edges of the wax paper or parchment paper.
What is the recommended oven temperature?
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) before baking the cookies.
How should the dough loaf be sliced?
Slice the loaf lengthwise down the middle first, then cut crosswise into individual cookies.
How thick should the cookie slices be?
The dough should be sliced into pieces between 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick to reveal the festive stripes.
How much space should be between cookies on the baking sheet?
Arrange the cookie slices 1 inch apart to allow for heat circulation and slight spreading.
Do I need to grease the baking sheets?
Yes, the cookie slices should be placed on lightly greased baking sheets.
How long should the cookies bake?
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes.
How can I tell when the cookies are finished baking?
The cookies are done when the edges are just starting to turn brown.
What is the cooling process for these cookies?
Let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
What is an icebox cookie?
Icebox cookies are made from dough that is shaped into a log or loaf, chilled until firm, and then sliced and baked.
Can I use my hands to mix the food coloring?
Yes, using your hands can help ensure even color distribution throughout the dough portions.
What kind of chocolate is used in the recipe?
The recipe calls for 1 ounce (1 square) of semisweet chocolate, melted.
Are these cookies good for making in advance?
Absolutely! The icebox technique allows you to prepare the dough in advance and bake fresh cookies whenever you want.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 11 ingredients total, including the food coloring and decorative elements.
Can I change the colors of the stripes?
Yes, the stripes can be customized with different food colors to represent any season or holiday.
What provides the crunch in these cookies?
The crushed peppermint candies and sugar nonpareils add a delightful crunch to the soft dough base.
What type of flour is best for this recipe?
The recipe specifies using 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour for the best results.