Rainbow Cookie Bars 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.

ITALIAN RAINBOW COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease three 8-by-4-inch loaf pans and line them with parchment paper that comes at least 2 inches up the long sides of the pan. If you don't have 3 loaf pans, you can bake the layers in batches.
• In a large bowl or in a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. With the mixer running on medium, gradually add 2 tablespoons of the sugar. Increase the speed to medium high and beat to stiff peaks. Set aside.
• In a large bowl or in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the butter, almond paste, salt and remaining 1/2 cup sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium and add the yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the lemon juice and almond extract, then reduce the speed to medium low and gradually add the flour. Mix to combine. Use a rubber spatula to fold in the whites.
• Transfer one-third of the mixture to one of the loaf pans and use a small offset spatula to spread it out evenly. Transfer another third of the mixture to a separate bowl and fold in the green food coloring. Fold the red food coloring into the remaining third. Transfer these into the remaining 2 loaf pans, spreading them out evenly.
• Bake until the tops are just set and no longer shiny; begin checking for doneness at 12 minutes. Let cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then lift them out and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
• Stack up the loaves (from bottom to top: green, white, red) with 1 1/2 tablespoons jam between the layers. Wrap the loaf firmly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or by microwaving it in 30-seconds increments, stirring after each. Remove it from the heat and stir continuously until it is no longer hot. Spread it over the top and sides of the cookie loaf and refrigerate to firm up for about 15 minutes. Cut into 1-inch squares.

RAINBOW COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms. Press dough into pan evenly with floured fingers.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edge is light golden brown. Cool 15 minutes in pan on wire rack. Pick up foil edges and carefully remove cookie from pan to cooling rack; cool 15 minutes. Turn cookie upside down onto another cooling rack; remove foil. Place cookie on large serving platter.
• Spread frosting on top and sides of cookie. Place foil baking cup in one corner of cookie; fill with yellow jelly beans. Arrange remaining jelly beans on cookie to look like a rainbow. For 12 bars, cut into 4 rows by 3 rows.

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.

ITALIAN RAINBOW BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray; line with cooking parchment paper, leaving 1 inch of paper overhanging at 2 opposite sides of pan. Spray paper with cooking spray.
• In small bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt with whisk until blended. In medium bowl, beat butter, sugar, almond paste and almond extract with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until blended. On low speed, beat in flour mixture.
• Spread one-third of the batter (1 1/2 cups) evenly in pan (layer will be very thin). Freeze 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix green food color into one-third (1 1/2 cups) of the batter. Gently spread over batter in pan. Freeze 5 minutes. In separate small bowl, mix red food color into remaining batter. Gently spread over green batter.
• Bake 24 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 1 hour. Spread jam over bars. In microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate and whipping cream on High about 1 minute, stirring once, or until mixture is smooth. Spread chocolate mixture over jam. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. Use paper to lift out of pan. Trim edges, if desired. Cut into 8 rows by 4 rows. Store loosely covered.

RAINBOW CHIP COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, softened butter and eggs until soft dough forms. Stir in chips. Spread batter evenly in pan.
• Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Frost bars. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store loosely covered.

RAINBOW VANILLA CHEESECAKE COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Press crushed cookies into the bottom of the prepared pan to make the crust.
• Beat cream cheese and sugar together in a bowl using an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, sour cream, flour, and vanilla extract; beat until combined. Spoon 1/2 the batter into the prepared crust.
• Divide remaining batter evenly into 6 bowls. Add red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet food colorings separately to individual bowls until desired colors are achieved. Spoon colored batters onto the plain batter in a random pattern and swirl gently with a knife.
• Bake in the preheated oven until center jiggles just slightly, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool on the counter for 2 hours. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours; cut into 24 squares.

MAGIC RAINBOW COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 for glass dish).
• In a 9 x 13 inch baking pan, melt margarine in oven. Sprinkle crumbs over margarine; pour Eagle Brand evenly over crumbs. Top with remaining ingredients; press down firmly.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Chill thoroughly if desired. Cut into bars. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

MAGIC RAINBOW COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Combine butter and crumbs; press onto parchment paper-lined 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumbs.
• Sprinkle with candies, then coconut and nuts; press down firmly.
• Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or unitl lightly browned. Cool. Remove paper and cut into bars.
• NOTE: Bake at 325F for glass pans.