Checkerboard Cookies
Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
4.7 out of 5 stars
(150)
Ingredients
30-36 servings
- 1 3/4 cups (230 grams) all-purpose flour, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon (3 grams) fine sea or table salt
- 1/3 cup (65 grams) granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup (40 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 cup (8 ounces or 225 grams) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, separated
- 1/4 cup (20 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
- Colored sanding sugar, to finish
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Preparation
Step 1
Combine the sugars, salt, and 1 1/2 cups (195 grams) of the flour in a food processor. Add cold, diced butter and mix until it disappears, then keep running the machine until it just begins to clump.
Step 2
Add egg yolk (save the egg white for later) and vanilla and pulse until combined, forming one large or a few smaller smooth masses.
Step 3
Divide dough in half. Add 1/4 cup (35 grams) remaining flour to one half and mix until just combined to make vanilla dough. For the other half, add cocoa powder to make chocolate dough.
Step 4
Roll each dough half between two pieces of parchment paper into approximately 4 to 5×10-inch rectangles that are 1/4-inch thick. Freeze for 10 to 15 minutes until firm.
Step 5
Stack the chocolate and vanilla dough layers, cut the stack in half the long way and stack again, forming one long striped slab. Freeze again until very firm.
Step 6
Remove the slab from the freezer and cut it the long way into eight 1/4-inch-wide slices. Arrange the slices into a checkerboard log, flipping two of the slices over for contrasting colors. Freeze until solid.
Step 7
Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
Step 8
Slice the checkerboarded log into 1/4-inch-thick cookies. Brush with egg white, roll in sanding sugar, and arrange on a baking sheet.
Step 9
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until golden brown underneath. Cool on a rack.
Step 10
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Chef's notes
You can use different sanding sugar colors for a festive look.
Baked cookies keep for 3 weeks in a tin at room temperature.
Inspired by Susan Spungen’s expert cookie styling and marbling techniques.
