Icebox Swirl Cookies Recipes

CHOCOLATE VANILLA SWIRL ICEBOX COOKIES

Steps:

• Begin with the vanilla dough. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until fully combined. Add the flour and salt and mix until just combined. Place the dough in a bowl or on a clean counter while you prepare the chocolate dough.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Beat in the egg yolk, cooled chocolate, and vanilla extract until fully combined. Add the flour, cocoa powder and salt and mix until just combined. Place the dough in a separate bowl. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1-2 hours.
• Once the dough has firmed up, use your fingers to roll about 2 tablespoons of vanilla dough into a a long snake about 8″ long. It helps to do this on a flat, non-stick surface. Repeat until you have three rolls of vanilla dough and three rolls of chocolate. Combine the smaller rolls into one big roll and twist together carefully - you don't want to break the dough.
• You should have a thick, twisted log of dough at this point. Roll the dough gently to flatten out the sides, being careful not to make the log too thin - it should be about 2" diameter. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least one hour or up to 2 weeks. Repeat with the remaining dough until all has been used.
• Preheat oven to 325°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice cookies 1/4" thick and place 1 inch apart on baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges.
• Dough can be frozen for up to 6 months.

ICEBOX SWIRL COOKIES

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer (stand or hand-held), cream together butter and sugar until pale and creamy, then beat in whole egg. Scrape down sides of bowl. Beat in milk, almond and vanilla extracts and salt. Gradually add flour and ground almonds, mixing until a soft dough forms (you may need to mix in the last additions of flour by hand).
• Divide dough into 3 equal portions, each in its own bowl. Leave one plain, tint the second with green food colouring and the third with red. Mix in colourings thoroughly. Cover each dough with plastic wrap and chill until firm and no longer sticky, about 45 min.
• Cut 3 pieces of parchment paper at least 10 x 12 in. (25 x 30 cm) in size. Using a floured rolling pin, roll each dough into a 7 x 9-in. (18 x 23 cm) rectangle, approx. 1/8 in. (3 mm) thick on its own piece of parchment. Patch edges as required to attain size. Chill dough, still on parchment, on baking sheets until firm.
• In a small bowl, beat egg white. To layer, place red dough (still on parchment) on work surface and brush with egg white. Lining up the edges, invert plain dough onto red one and peel off parchment from plain dough. Brush with egg white and invert green dough on top, again peeling away parchment. Use a sharp knife to lightly trim edges, wiping blade clean between cuts to keep colours distinct.
• Place longest side of dough nearest to you and tightly roll up into a log, smoothing and straightening as you roll (lift parchment to help release red dough). Gently press edge of log together to seal. If log's diameter is thicker than approx. 2 in. (5 cm), gently hand-roll to lengthen. Wrap log in plastic wrap and chill until firm, approx. 2 hr. (or overnight).
• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Slice log into 1/4-in. (5 mm) thick rounds, wiping blade clean between cuts. Set about 1 in. (2.5 cm) apart on 2 parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake 12 to 14 min., until firm but not browned. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

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.

HOLIDAY ICEBOX COOKIES

Steps:

• Using the electric mixer, mix the butter and the sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and the salt, and mix well. Beat in milk and vanilla. Add flour a little at a time, mixing it in until all of it has been incorporated.
• Divide the dough into balls, one for each color. For chocolate dough, add cocoa (1/4 cup is enough to flavor half a batch). Mix well with electric mixer. For colored dough, start with 1/4 teaspoon food coloring, and mix well. Add more in tiny amounts for darker colors. Gel-paste coloring can be intense, so add it gradually.
• Wrap each ball of dough in its own sheet of plastic wrap; pat flat into a rectangle. Refrigerate at least one hour or until ready to use.
• Parchment or waxed paper makes a good work surface. Sprinkle generously with flour, then roll out each piece of dough 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick to make the swirls; you can use thicker layers for the bull's-eyes.
• The bench scraper is a good tool for trimming dough's edges to make them even. The egg white, brushed on with a pastry brush, will act as a glue, making the layers stick together.
• For center, with your hands, roll chocolate dough into a 1/2- to 1 1/2- inch-thick rod; chill 20 minutes. Place rod on edge of rolled-out dough that's been brushed with egg white.
• Roll rod inside sheet of dough. Cut the dough where it meets up. Seal by pinching and pressing gently. Chill 20 minutes, then repeat to add other layers. To decorate, go to step 7, or jump to step 8 for plain.
• For spirals, measure and trim two or more colors of dough to same size. Brush on egg white, then stack layers. Brush top with egg white. Starting at one end, roll up the dough.
• Smooth and straighten the layers as you roll them so there are no gaps, then gently pinch and press the edge of the roll to seal it. Now the dough is ready to decorate. If you want plain cookies, skip to step 18.
• Add your favorite toppings (try coconut, colored sanding sugar, chopped nuts, or chocolate sprinkles): Spread topping in baking sheet, brush dough with egg white, and roll the log in topping.
• Roll each log in parchment or waxed paper; twist the ends of the paper closed. To help the logs keep their round shape, set each in a cardboard paper-towel roll that you have sliced open lengthwise.
• To remember what colors you have already used, with crayons, draw the designs onto key tags; tie the tags onto the paper covering the logs. Chill logs until they are solid, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Cut 15 inches of dental floss (or double thickness of thread). Let log soften for about 10 minutes. Remove parchment. Wrap floss around log and pull through. Make the slices thin: 1/4 inch or less.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place slices on an ungreased baking sheet (lined with parchment paper). A grown-up should bake the cookies 12 to 15 minutes, until firm but not browned. Let cool on baking sheet for several minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.