Checkerboard Icebox Cookies Recipes

CHECKERBOARD COOKIES

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until well blended, 1 to 2 minutes. Add vanilla extract, lemon extract, and salt. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, scraping down sides of bowl.
• Turn dough out onto a clean work surface; it will be loose and crumbly. Knead dough by pushing small amounts away from you with the heel of your hand for 1 to 2 minutes. Divide dough in half. Sprinkle cocoa powder over one of the halves. Knead until cocoa has been fully incorporated.
• Place each half of the kneaded dough between 2 sheets of plastic. Using a rolling pin, shape dough into two 7-inch squares, about 3/8 inch thick. Using a sharp knife and a ruler, slice each square into nine 3/4-inch-wide strips.
• Whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon water. Cover work surface with plastic wrap. Place 3 strips of dough on plastic, alternating white and chocolate strips. Brush tops and in between the strips with egg wash. Gently press strips together. Repeat, forming second and third layers, alternating colors to create a checkerboard effect. Wrap assembled log in plastic. Repeat process for second log, reversing color pattern. Refrigerate 30 minutes, or freeze 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat baking mat or parchment paper. Slice each log into 1/4-inch-thick slices; place on baking sheet. Bake until done, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove baking sheet from oven, and let cookies cool 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

ICEBOX COOKIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts if desire. , On a lightly floured surface, shape the dough into three 10-in. x 1-in. rolls. Tightly wrap each roll in waxed paper. Freeze for at least 12 hours. , Cut into 3/8-in. slices and place on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 6-8 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

CHECKERBOARD COOKIES

Steps:

• In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix together the butter and sugar for 2 minutes.
• Add in the egg, the yolk, vanilla, baking powder, and salt and mix for 1 minute until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Turn the mixer to low and add in the flour, mixing until just combined.
• Divide the dough in half, removing half from the mixing bowl.
• Add in the cocoa powder to the remaining dough in the mixing bowl and mix until incorporated.
• Form each dough into a squared off log, 2- inches tall and 6- inches long. Make sure both are the same size.
• Place dough on a baking sheet and cover with cling wrap. Place dough into the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour.
• Using a sharp knife slice the dough into thirds, longwise. Then turn the dough one turn and cut into thirds again. You will have 9 strips. Repeat the process with the other dough. You will have 18 strips total.
• Lay 1 piece of vanilla dough, one piece of chocolate, and another piece of vanilla on a flat surface next to each other. Top the 3 strips with alternating colors. Repeat this once more, so you have a square log. Press the dough strips together tightly, keeping the square shape. Repeat this with the remaining dough.
• Refrigerate again for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with Reynolds Kitchens® Parchment Paper.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and slice into 1/4- inch pieces.
• Place the pieces on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 9-10 minutes, or until set. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

CHECKERBOARD COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla. Add flour and salt and blend well. Divide dough in half. Add cocoa to 1/2 of dough. Let rest. Roll 1/4 inch cylinders of chocolate and plain vanilla dough about 12 inches long. Arrange in checkerboard by alternating 6 cylinders of chocolate and vanilla dough, contrasting each time to six layers total. Press tightly. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least 1/2 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With a sharp knife, slice the dough into rounds about 1/3-inch thick. Place 1 inch apart on a parchment covered baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes or until lightly golden.

CHECKERBOARD ICEBOX COOKIES

Steps:

• For the vanilla dough, beat the butter, icing sugar and granulated sugar well, using electric beaters or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until smooth and fluffy. Add the egg, egg yolk and vanilla and beat in well. Add the flour and salt and mix until the dough comes together (it will be soft.) Shape the dough into 2 discs, wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 2 hours. Alternatively the dough can be made ahead and frozen, then thawed in the fridge before baking.
• For the chocolate dough, beat the butter, icing sugar and granulated sugar well, using electric beaters or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until smooth and fluffy. Add the egg, egg yolk and vanilla and beat in well. Add the flour, cocoa powder and salt and mix until the dough comes together (it will be soft.) Shape the dough into 2 discs, wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 2 hours. Alternatively the dough can be made ahead and frozen, then thawed in the fridge before baking.
• On a lightly floured surface, divide the first disc of vanilla dough in half, knead each piece lightly to soften and roll out each to a rectangle that is about 8-x-5-inches (20-x-12-cm) and ½-inch (12 mm) thick. Set aside and do the same with the chocolate dough.
• Brush the surface of one of the chocolate dough pieces with a little water and place a vanilla piece on top. Brush this with water and top with a chocolate piece, brush again and finish with the vanilla dough. Trim away the edges of all 4 sides. Cut strips lengthwise that are ½-inch (12 mm) thick. If the dough starts to get soft as you work with it, pop it in the fridge to chill 10-15 minutes.
• Take the second disc of chilled chocolate dough, divide it in half and roll out into a rectangle that is ¼-inch (6 mm) thick but the width of the checkerboard piece and at least 8-inches (20 cm) long. Brush the checkerboard lightly with water and place it close to one short end of the dough. Roll up the checkerboard in the chocolate dough, brushing each side with water as you go. Trim the dough so the seam is not visible (it works best to make the seam on a flat side, not a corner of the dough) and trim the ends. Now your checkerboard is framed with chocolate cookie dough. Wrap and chill the dough to set it, about an hour. You can repeat this process with vanilla dough for the other checkerboard log. Any excess dough can be rolled, measured and shaped again, or simply roughly stacked for a marble effect when sliced.
• Preheat the oven to 350 ­­°F (180 ­­°C) and line 2 baking trays with parchment paper. Slice the checkerboard dough into cookies that are ¼-inch (6 mm) thick and lay them out on the baking trays, leaving an inch (25 mm) in between them. Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes, until the cookies lift easily from the tray and are lightly golden on the bottom. Cool the cookies on the baking tray before removing.The cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

ICEBOX COOKIES II

Steps:

• Cream shortening with sugars. Mix in beaten eggs. Sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mix into creamed mixture. Stir in nuts and vanilla.
• Make rolls about 2 inches in diameter. Refrigerate overnight.
• Slice about 3/8 inch thick, and place on greased cookie sheets.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 12 to 15 minutes.