Suggested by Bernard Deconinck
UW Department of Applied Mathematics
This is adapted from a well-known traditional recipe, easily found on line, sometimes referred to as Rainbow Cake. I use more eggs, and my chocolate covering is better than the recipe I started from 20 years ago.
Rainbow cookies originate in Italy, but Italian Americans added the color schemeto celebrate their heritage. The yellow layer used to be a white layer, so you'd have the Italian flag. My wife's family is partially Italian American and these used to be her favorite cookies. My first time making these, Isent her a care package when she was down in Mississippi helping out after Hurricane Katrina. The main compliment I received was that her grandmother didn't serve themwhen the family came over, but reserved them to share with her best friends, proudly proclaiming her grandson-in-law made them.When one of my PhD students graduates, I always throw them a dessert party when we're not in a pandemic. These are always featured and popular.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of sugar
- 12 ounces almond paste
- 2 sticks of butter
- 5 eggs
- 2 cups of flour
- 12 drops of food coloring each of green, red, yellow
- Raspberry jam (6.5 oz)
- Apricot jam (6.5 oz)
- 200 grams Chocolate chips, plus 1/3 cup of cream, plus 25 grams butter for chocolate glaze
- Chocolate sprinkles
Preparation
- Grease three 13x9 deep baking pans, and line each with parchment paper. Grease the parchment paper.
- Separate eggs yolks (big bowl) and egg whites (smaller bowl).
- Add almond paste, butter and sugar to yolks.
- Knead until smooth (can be done with hands).
- Gradually add in flour. Knead until smooth.
- Beat egg whites with a tablespoon of sugar until solid.
- Fold egg whites into dough.
- Separate dough in three equal parts (roughly).
- Color each part with a different color.
- Spread dough parts in baking pans, try to get full coverage and as level as possible.
- Bake all three parts at 350F for 12 minutes.
- Remove from pans onto wire racks. Remove all parchment paper. Let cool.
- Place green layer on large piece of plastic wrap.
- Spread evenly with raspberry jam.
- Top with yellow layer.
- Spread evenly with apricot jam.
- Top with red layer.
- Wrap completely with plastic wrap. Put in fridge overnight, covered with something heavy, like a phone book.
- Melt 200 grams chocolate chips with 1/3 cup of cream and 25 grams butter, making chocolate sauce. Let cool until it thickens.
- Spread evenly on top of red layer, and sides if you have enough sauce.
- Add sprinkles, mush them into the chocolate sauce a little.
- Let cool in fridge.
- Cut with sharp hot knife. Clean knife regularly. Discard edge pieces (i.e., eat on the spot).
