Tri-Color Cookies

The one word that comes to mind when I think of tri-color cookies is LOVE!  I have been completely crazy about these little gems since childhood.  Maybe it's because they're so colorful, or maybe it's because they look like little presents! I would always wonder how they could get all those colors in one little cookie, and more importantly how anything could taste sooo delicious!?  Every time my mom would take me to the bakery, which to me was like going to a party, I knew exactly what I was going to get. I didn't want any part of anything else.  Well except for maybe a whipped cream eclair, or a piece of that heavenly banana cream pie from Conte's bakery. Okay that's another blog post... Now back to the tri-colors, if the bakery was out of them complete devastation ensued.  I know I tend to be a bit on the theatrical side, but they are the best thing in an Italian bakery.

If I was going to get technical I would say that they are more of a petit four than a cookie due to the fact that they are three thin layers of almond flavored sponge cake layered with raspberry jam and enrobed in chocolate.  Some bakeries layer them with apricot jam and marzipan, but that just doesn't cut it for me.  My recipe is pretty quick aside from the fact that you have to bake the three layers separately.  Don't let that deter you, they are worth every minute you spend making them!

Colored Batters

Yellow layer fresh out of the oven

Stacked and filled with jam

Ready to be glazed...
*note* I glaze them on a cooling rack on top of a piece of wax paper so the excess  drips off  and the clean up is 123

All dressed up and going in the fridge

• 7 oz. almond paste
• 6 oz. unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup AP flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 4.5 oz. dark chocolate
• 2.5 oz. unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon light corn syrup
• seedless raspberry jam

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and grease three 8x8" pans.
2. Cream almond paste, butter, and sugar in mixer till light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time and then extract.
4. Fold in flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Divide batter evenly(1 cup each) into 3 separate bowls.
6. Color batter and pour into prepared pans.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes till cakes start to pull away from edges.
8. When cakes are completely cool stack layers and fill with jam.
9. Melt butter and chocolate in a double boiler and add corn syrup.
10. Pour warm glaze over cookies.
11. Refrigerate for a few hours and then slice.
12. These cookies should be kept refrigerated and can be frozen for up to 2 months.