Authentic Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe: A Delicious Burst of Color and Flavor (2024)


Bring a touch of Italy into your kitchen this holiday Season with this delightful and delicious recipe for Italian Rainbow Cookies.

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Also known as Venetian or Tri-Color Cookies, these vibrant treats are a beloved staple of Italian-American bakeries. With their layers of almond sponge cake, raspberry jam, and chocolate coating, they are not only visually appealing but also incredibly delicious. We’ll guide you step by step through the process of creating these irresistible Italian Rainbow Cookies.

This recipe is part of The Sweetest Season, an annual virtual cookie swap co-hosted by Erin of The Speckled Palate and Susannah of Feast + West. Every year, food bloggers get together to share new holiday cookie recipes to make and give.

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Ingredients for Italian Rainbow Cookies: Creating Layers of Flavor

Authentic Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe: A Delicious Burst of Color and Flavor (3)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 8 oz almond paste
  • 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 4 eggs, separate yolks and whites
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons almond extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • ½ teaspoon red food color
  • ½ teaspoon green food color
  • ½ cup raspberry jam
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
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Step-by-Step Preparation

Preheat oven to 325 and prepare 3 square baking pans with baking spray

In a large mixing bowl combine sugar, almond paste, and butter until smooth

Add in the egg yolks one at a time

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Mix in the milk and almond extract

Add in the flour mixing until combined then set mixture aside

In a separate bowl beat the egg whites to stiff peaks then fold into cake mixture

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Separate the mixture in equal amounts into 3 separate bowls

Add red food color to one bowl, green food color to another, and leave the 3rd bowl as is

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Place each batter in a separate prepared baking pan

Bake 10-12 minutes, cool completely

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Place the green cake on a plate and spread half of the jam on top

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Next place the regular colored cake on top and spread the remaining jam on top

Lastly, place the red cake on top

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Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring until smooth

Spread evenly on top of the chilled cake, use a fork to add texture and design if desired

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Chill for an additional 30 minutes until the chocolate is set

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Slice the rectangle into 1 inch squares

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Serve and enjoy!

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By following this recipe, you’ll be able to recreate the magic of traditional Italian Rainbow Cookies in your own kitchen. Prepare to impress your friends and family with these visually stunning and utterly delicious treats. Happy baking!

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Authentic Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe: A Delicious Burst of Color and Flavor (16)
Authentic Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe: A Delicious Burst of Color and Flavor (17)

Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe

Yield: 48

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Additional Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes

Learn how to make authentic Italian Rainbow Cookies with this step-by-step recipe. These vibrant and delicious treats feature layers of almond sponge cake, raspberry jam, and chocolate coating. Get ready to enjoy a burst of color and flavor!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 8 oz almond paste
  • 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 4 eggs, separate yolks and whites
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons almond extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • ½ teaspoon red food color
  • ½ teaspoon green food color
  • ½ cup raspberry jam
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 and prepare 3 square baking pans with baking spray
  2. In a large mixing bowl combine sugar, almond paste, and butter until smooth
  3. Add in the egg yolks one at a time
  4. Mix in the milk and almond extract
  5. Add in the flour mixing until combined then set mixture aside
  6. In a separate bowl beat the egg whites to stiff peaks then fold into cake mixture
  7. Separate the mixture in equal amounts into 3 separate bowls
  8. Add red food color to one bowl, green food color to another, and leave the 3rd bowl as is
  9. Place each batter in a separate prepared baking pan
  10. Bake 10-12 minutes, cool completely
  11. Place the green cake on a plate and spread half of the jam on top
  12. Next place the regular colored cake on top and spread the remaining jam on top
  13. Lastly, place the red cake on top
  14. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours
  15. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring until smooth
  16. Spread evenly on top of the chilled cake, use a fork to add texture and design if desired
  17. Chill for an additional 30 minutes until the chocolate is set
  18. Slice the rectangle into 1 inch squares

Did you make this recipe?

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Authentic Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe: A Delicious Burst of Color and Flavor (2024)

FAQs

What is the origin of the Italian rainbow cookie? ›

Rainbow cookies originated in Italian immigrant communities of the United States during the 1900s to honor their native country. They are also called "tricolore" because of the resemblance to the Italian flag with white, red, and green layers.

Do they eat rainbow cookies in Italy? ›

While there is no direct analogue to rainbow cookies in Italy, Italian food historian Mary Taylor Simeti speculates that the Italian-American rainbow cookie is based on the tri-colored gelato di campagna, a nougat with the same colored layers.

What do the colors of the rainbow cookie represent? ›

Rainbow cookies are an Italian-American sweet treat that was created by Italian immigrants in New York City. The red, white, and green layers represent the color of the Italian flag, which Italians (and Italian-Americans) are very proud of!

What are those Italian cookies called? ›

In a hurry?
Cookie NameRegion of OriginFlavor Profile
CantucciTuscanyCrunchy, Nutty
AmarettiLombardySweet, Soft
RicciarelliTuscanySoft, Chewy
PignoliSicilySoft, Nutty
3 more rows
Dec 24, 2023

What is the oldest cookie in the world? ›

It is known to be one of the oldest cookies and is probably to have developed from the ancient Roman crustulum. Pizzelle are also known as ferratelle or nevole in some parts of Abruzzo, as ferratelle in Lazio, and as ferratelle, cancelle, or pizzelle in Molise.

Which of the following is a very popular cookie from Italy? ›

Biscotti: Perhaps one of the most famous Italian cookies, biscotti are crispy, twice-baked treats that are perfect for dipping in coffee or wine. Traditionally flavored with almonds and fragrant anise, these long-lasting cookies are a staple in every Italian household.

What is the most eaten cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

What is the best-selling cookie in Italy? ›

Italian Brand Cookies: The Best-Selling by Bell Italia Abroad
  • Authentic Italian Flavors: Pan Di Stelle Cookie Brand. ...
  • Italian Elegance: Di Leo Cookie Brand. ...
  • Galbusera: A Leading Tale in the World of Cookie Brands. ...
  • Balocco: A Sweet Success Story Among Top Cookie Brands. ...
  • Doria's Cookie Brands: The Bucaneve and Atene Selections.
Jan 6, 2024

What cookie originated in Italy? ›

Biscotti, also known as cantuccini or mandelbrot (Mandel bread), are traditional Italian cookies with a long history and rich cultural significance.

What is the story of rainbow cookies? ›

Rainbow cookies originate in Italy, but Italian Americans added the color scheme to celebrate their heritage. The yellow layer used to be a white layer, so you'd have the Italian flag.

Is Oreo making rainbow cookies? ›

The brand has new flavors that come out ALL the time, like Tiramisu and Strawberry Frosted Doughnut. Now, they're releasing brand-new limited edition sleeves of rainbow cookies to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. We love to see it! That's right: rainbow Oreos are back.

What are the seven lovely colors in the rainbow? ›

The colours of the rainbow or the rainbow order is the following – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

What is the most popular Italian cookie in the United States? ›

Biscotti Amaretti is the most famous Italian cookie of all. Made without flour or any added fat this almond macaroon is light, crunchy and intensely almond.

What is the most popular biscuit in Italy? ›

Virginia's baci di dama (that's Italian for 'lady's kisses') are one of Italy's most famous biscuits – and it's no surprise why. Each one is made with two small hazelnut cookies sandwiched together by rich dark chocolate. The cookies are crisp and crumble in the mouth.

What cookies are in an Italian cookie tray? ›

Our Classic Italian assortment is a great way to sample of our traditional sweets. This tray includes Cranberry Almond Biscotti, Amaretto Biscotti with Almonds, Chocolate Almond Macaroons and Pignoli Cookies.

What is the history of Italian cookies? ›

Biscotti History

Biscotti has its origins in ancient Rome, where soldiers enjoyed them as a hardtack-like food that could be easily transported and stored. The cookies were made with a simple mixture of flour, water, and sometimes nuts or honey.

What is the history of rainbow Bakery? ›

Rainbow Bakery was established in 1917 by Russian immigrants Abraham and Samuel Kaplan, who were originally grain millers back in the Ukraine. Upon their arrival in Providence, in 1912, they quickly went about setting up business.

Where did the cookie originate and how did it gets it name? ›

From 1808, the word "cookie" is attested "...in the sense of "small, flat, sweet cake" in American English. The American use is derived from Dutch koekje "little cake", which is a diminutive of "koek" ("cake"), which came from the Middle Dutch word "koke".

What is the history of Florentine cookies? ›

One of the supposed origins of Florentine biscuits can be traced back to a pastry chef that worked for the Medici family in Florence. During the mid-15th century, he came to Brittany in France where he served these sublime lacy biscuits at the table of King Louis XII and his wife Anne, duch*ess of Brittany.

References

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