Ombré Rainbow Cookies Food

RAINBOW COOKIES

Steps:

• You'll need three 9-by-12-inch jelly roll pans or rimmed baking sheets to make these layered cookies.
• Prep the pans: Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour three 9-by-12-inch jelly roll pans or rimmed baking sheets and line with parchment paper.
• Make the batter: Combine the almond paste and 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until the mixture is in fine crumbles. Beat in 2 1/2 sticks butter, a few pieces at a time, until well combined. Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time, until smooth.
• Sift 2 cups flour onto a sheet of parchment and sprinkle the salt on top; add to the mixer bowl and beat until just combined.
• In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until foamy; while whisking, slowly add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and whisk until firm peaks form (or use a hand mixer). Fold about one-third of the egg white mixture into the batter with a rubber spatula, then gently fold in the rest. The batter should be fluffy.
• Color the batter: Divide the batter evenly among 3 bowls. Stir enough red food coloring into 1 bowl to make a deep salmon color. Stir enough green food coloring into another bowl to make a medium green color. Leave the third bowl uncolored.
• Bake the layers: Transfer the batter to the prepared pans (one pan for each color). Dip an offset spatula in water and spread the batter to the edge of each pan, smoothing the tops. Bake, switching the position of the pans halfway through, until the cakes are cooked through and just beginning to brown around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely in the pans on wire racks.
• Assemble the layers: Spread half of the jam evenly over the green cake layer almost all the way to the edges. Unmold the plain cake layer by inverting it onto another pan or cutting board; peel off the parchment.
• Carefully slide the plain layer onto the green layer (use a wide offset spatula to help you, if necessary). Spread the remaining jam on top of the plain layer. Unmold the red cake layer and slide it onto the plain layer.
• Cover the cake with plastic wrap and top with one of the empty pans; place several heavy cans on top to weigh down the layers. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Unmold the cake: Remove the cans and plastic wrap. Place a cutting board on top of the cake and flip to unmold it onto the cutting board. Remove the parchment from the top of the green layer.
• Trim the cake: Trim the sides with a knife to make straight edges. Spray a wire rack with cooking spray; set the rack over a baking sheet. Carefully slide the cake onto the rack, using a wide offset spatula to help you, if necessary.
• Cover in chocolate: Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; pour over the cake. Dip an offset spatula in the hot water and smooth the top and sides. Let set slightly. Scrape wavy lines into the chocolate with a fork; let cool a few more minutes until the chocolate is mostly set but still slightly tacky.
• Cut into pieces: Slide the cake back onto the cutting board. Slice crosswise into 6 strips, then cut each strip into 8 rectangular pieces. For clean edges, dip the knife in warm water and wipe it with a cloth between cuts. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
• If the lines in the chocolate don't hold their shape, let the chocolate set a little longer and try again.

OMBRE RAINBOW COOKIES

Steps:

• Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 350°F. Lightly coat three 13x9" baking dishes with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper, leaving overhang on both long sides. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter, sugar, almond paste, oil, and salt in a large bowl until mixture is well combined and fluffy, 5-8 minutes.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition to incorporate before adding the next. Continue to beat mixture until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to low and, with motor running, gradually add flour. Continue mixing just until combined. Divide batter evenly among 3 bowls. (Scoop out about 2 1/4 cups per bowl, or weigh out 500 g/1 lb. 2 oz. batter for each.)
• If making matcha cookies, mix 4 drops green food coloring and 1/2 tsp. matcha into batter in first bowl. Mix 3/4 tsp. green food coloring and 1 1/2 tsp. matcha to batter in second bowl. Mix 5 tsp. green food coloring and 3 tsp. matcha into batter in last bowl. (This will create three shades of green batter.)
• If making raspberry cookies, pulse raspberries in a food processor to create a fine powder. Mix 4 drops red food coloring and 1 1/2 tsp. raspberry powder to batter in first bowl. Mix 3/4 tsp. red food coloring and 1 Tbsp. plus 1 1/2 tsp. raspberry powder into batter in second bowl. Mix 5 tsp. red food coloring and 2 Tbsp. raspberry powder into last bowl of batter. (This will create three shades of red/pink batter.)
• Scrape a bowl of batter into each prepared pan and smooth tops. Bake cakes, rotating pans halfway through, until center springs back when gently pressed, 12-15 minutes. Let cakes cool completely in pans.
• Remove lightest-colored cake from pan, turning out onto a surface, and carefully peel away parchment paper. Spread half of jam evenly over top. Remove medium-colored cake from pan, peel away parchment paper, and place on top of light cake. Spread evenly with remaining jam. Remove darkest-colored cake from its pan, peel away parchment paper, and place on top. Press down gently to adhere layers and wrap tightly in plastic; chill at least 1 hour.
• To make cookies, trim edges to square off; about 1/2" on each side should do it. Then, using a serrated knife, cut cake crosswise into 1 1/2"-wide strips (you should have 8 total). Cut strips crosswise into 3/4"-thick pieces.
• Do Ahead
• Cakes can be assembled 5 days ahead; wrap tightly and keep chilled. Cut into pieces just before serving.

RAINBOW COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line three 9x13 inch baking pans with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, break apart almond paste with a fork, and cream together with butter, sugar, and egg yolks. When mixture is fluffy and smooth, stir in flour to form a dough. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold egg whites into the dough. Divide dough into 3 equal portions. Mix one portion with red food coloring, and one with green food coloring. Spread each portion into one of the prepared baking pans.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned. Carefully remove from pan and parchment paper, and cool completely on wire racks.
• Place green layer onto a piece of plastic wrap large enough to wrap all three layers. Spread green layer with raspberry jam, and top with uncolored layer. Spread with apricot jam, and top with pink layer. Transfer layers to a baking sheet, and enclose with plastic wrap. Place a heavy pan or cutting board on top of wrapped layers to compress. Chill in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight.
• Remove plastic wrap. Top with melted chocolate chips, and refrigerate 1 hour, or until chocolate is firm. Slice into small squares to serve.

OMBRE COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. With an electric mixer, cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture; beat until combined. Divide dough in half; flatten into disks. Wrap each in plastic and freeze until firm, at least 20 minutes, or place in a resealable plastic bag and freeze up to 3 months (thaw in refrigerator overnight before using).
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment. Remove one disk of dough; let stand 5 to 10 minutes, then roll it out 1/8 inch thick between two sheets of lightly floured parchment, dusting with more flour as needed. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Using a spatula, transfer to prepared baking sheets. (If dough gets soft, refrigerate 10 minutes.) Reroll scraps; cut more shapes. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges are golden, 10 to 18 minutes (depending on size). Let cool completely on wire racks.
• Place 1/2 cup buttercream in each of four small bowls. For the bright-pink color, add 1/4 teaspoon Berry food color. For the bright-red color, add 1/4 teaspoon Berry and 1/8 teaspoon Sunflower. For the bright-orange color, add 1/4 teaspoon Sunflower and a pinch of Berry. For the bright-yellow color, add 1/4 teaspoon Sunflower. Let stand 10 minutes before using to allow dyes to fully saturate.
• Frost a few cookies using an offset spatula, then add a couple of tablespoons of white buttercream to each bowl to lighten the colors. Continue frosting cookies, then adding more white buttercream to achieve an ombre effect. Reserve remaining buttercream for another use.