The holiday baking season has begun, at least at our house. I am testing recipes for Cookie Exchanges and just to mix up my normal holiday dessert repertoire. Be sure to check out of Italian Butter Cookies too
Although growing up in an Italian household, we never made these at home Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe with Almond Filling
I remember trying them once or twice with a bakery assortment. I slightly adapted this recipe from my Sister In law’s Sister.
ITALIAN RAINBOW COOKIES RECIPE:
They do require a lot of steps but it is fairly easy. Just be sure your oven racks are even….mine were not incorrectly the first time I made them but this time was much better.
I did not realize it until after the layers were almost finished baking.
What else are Italian Rainbow cookies referred as?
Italian rainbow cookies are generally referred to by several different names — Italian flag cookies, Napoleon cookies, seven-layer cookies, seven-layer cake, tri-color cookies, or Venetian cookies.
What are Rainbow Cookies?
These are not to be confused with our Sugar Rainbow Cookie. This Italian Cookie recipe is called a Rainbow Cookie, often called Tricolor because of its resemblance to the Italian flag, and sometimes called Napoleon Cookies or Seven Layer Cookies (3 cake, 2 chocolate, and 2 jam).
What you need to make Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 2 Sticks of Butter, softened
- 4 Eggs
- 2 Cups AP Flour
- 1 Cup ALMOND FILLING
(this is different from most recipes) - 2 Tsp Green Food Coloring
- 3 Tsp. Red Food Coloring
- 1/4 cup Seedless Raspberry or Apricot Jam
- 1 Cup Chocolate Morsels (We Prefer Bittersweet for a richer flavor)
- 3 11 x 7 Pans
- Parchment Paper (Optional but suggested)
(this is different from most recipes)
Do I use Almond Paste or Almond Filling
While searching online for the recipe to link to I found several different recipes, almost all with almond paste.
I accidentally bought Almond Filling and then found a review that this “mistake” actually makes the cookie/ cake moister. Either way, they were awesome.
How to Make Italian Rainbow Cookies
Separate the batter into 3 bowls, about 1 1/2 cups each.
Bake 12-14 minutes making sure not to burn the edges. Allow the layers of Italian Rainbow cake to cool in the pan or carefully transfer to a wire rack. (we only had 2 pans so we moved the cakes to a wire rack)
HOW TO MAKE 7 LAYER COOKIES
Either heat or stir the preserves until you can easily spread them. Start with the green layer and add a thin layer of preserves, add the yellow one and repeat. Top with the Red cake layer.
Cover the pan with foil and place in the fridge with books or heavy cans for 4 hrs or until overnight.
HOW TO TOP Italian Rainbow Cookie recipe
Melt Chocolate chips with a Tablespoon of butter or shortening in the microwave until smooth. Spread over one side and if you want to allow it to harden and turn over and cover the other side with chocolate.
Allow the chocolate to harden completely and using a serrated knife
cut them into the desired serving size.
CAN I FREEZE ITALIAN 7 LAYER COOKIES
I made 5 dozen for a cookie exchange. I made the 3 different color layers, added the jam in between, wrapped tightly and froze them.
Once they were out of the freezer for several minutes, I added the chocolate topping. Boy does it set quickly.
We cut these Italian Rainbow Cookies with Almond Filling into 36 pieces. Depending on how big you want them. Be careful, they will go fast.
OTHER ITALIAN COOKIES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Easy Pumpkin Biscotti Recipe (Plain, chocolate chips or craisins)
Homemade Olive Oil Almond Biscotti Recipe
Homemade Chocolate Brownie Biscotti
Traditional Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe
Yield: 36 Slices
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Cooling Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 27 minutes
A traditional Italian Christmas Cookie. Rainbow Cookie Recipe is well worth the few extra steps.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 2 Sticks of Butter, softened
- 4 Eggs
- 2 Cups AP Flour
- 1 Cup ALMOND FILLING (this is different from most recipes)
- 2 Tsp Green Food Coloring(or less if using Paste)
- 3 Tsp. Red Food Coloring (less if using paste)
- 1/4 Cup Seedless Raspberry or Apricot Jam
- 1 Cup Chocolate Morsels (We Prefer Bittersweet for a richer flavor)
- 3 11x7 x 2 1/2 " pans
- Parchment Paper (Optional but suggested)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease and line the pans with parchment paper. (I did not the first time and they came out without a problem
- Beat sugar and butter together in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Let it get light and fluffy.
- Add the Almond Filling and mix well.
- Add the eggs 2 at a time, making sure they are well blended in between each addition.
- Add flour and mix until blended. (do not overbeat)
- Separate batter into 3 bowls, about 1 1/2 cups each.
- Mix in food color to make a green, red and keeping one plain (yellow)
- Place batter in prepared pans and using an offset spatula flatten the mixture evenly into the pans.
- Bake 12-14 minutes making sure not to burn the edges. Allow to cool in the pan or carefully transfer to a wire rack. (we only had 2 pans so we moved the cakes to a wire rack)
- Either heat or stir the preserves until you can easily spread them. Start with the green layer and add half of the preserves to make a thin layer, add the yellow one and repeat. Top with the Red cake layer.
- Cover the pan with foil and place in the fridge with books or heavy cans for 4 hrs or until overnight.
- Melt Chocolate chips with a Tablespoon of butter or shortening in the microwave until smooth. Spread over one side and if you want to allow it to harden and turn over and cover the other side with chocolate.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 36Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories 149Total Fat 9gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 35mgSodium 71mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 1gSugar 8gProtein 3g
All information and tools presented and written within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on stayingclosetohome.com should only be used as a general guideline.
