Vanilla Chocolate Checkerboard 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.

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.

VANILLA CHOCOLATE CHECKERBOARD COOKIES

Steps:

• Draw a 5x15 inch rectangle on each of two large pieces of parchment paper; set aside.
• To prepare vanilla dough, use vanilla dough ingredients. Using medium speed of an electric mixer, beat butter until creamy. Add icing sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla until blended. Reserve and refrigerate egg white for assembling checkerboard logs.
• Using low speed, gradually beat flour into butter mixture just until dough comes together. Gather dough into a ball. Flip one piece of parchment paper over so the rectangle marking is facing down and place dough on parchment paper. Using rectangle marking as a template, shape dough into a 5x15 inch rectangle with a smooth top.
• Wrap rectangle with parchment paper and refrigerate for 2 hours. Meanwhile, to prepare chocolate dough, use chocolate dough ingredients and repeat vanilla dough procedure, omitting vanilla and adding cocoa with flour.
• Remove both rectangles from refrigerator and unwrap. Trim about 1/4 inch off edges of rectangles. Dough trimmings can be gathered together, shaped into a log and sliced for marble cookies.
• Cut trimmed rectangles in half crosswise. Cut each half lengthwise into 9 strips. There should be 18 vanilla strips and 18 chocolate strips, each measuring about 1/2x7 1/4 inch.
• To prepare one checkerboard log, lay 1 chocolate strip on centre of a large piece of plastic wrap. Brush some reserved egg whites on both sides of chocolate strip. Place 1 vanilla strip on each side. Brush tops of strips with some reserved egg whites. Repeat procedure twice with alternating strips, forming a three layer checkerboard pattern. Do not brush tops of strips with egg whites on final layer. Wrap log with plastic wrap and gently press down on all sides to seal any gaps between strips.
• Prepare three more logs, reversing checkerboard pattern for two of them. Refrigerate wrapped logs for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Remove logs from refrigerator and unwrap. Cut each log into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place slices 2 inches apart on parchment paper-lined cookie sheets.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until cookies are firm.
• Let cookies stand for 5 minutes on cookie sheets. Remove from cookie sheets and cool on racks. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 1 week. May be frozen.