Rainbow Cookie Bars Recipes

VENETIAN MARZIPAN RAINBOW COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F and grease three 13 x 9 inch metal baking pans; line the bottom of each with parchment paper, letting it extend at 2 opposite ends, and butter the paper and the sides of the pans
• Scale first 2 ingredients (500g almonds and 500g sugar) into the TM bowl; mill for one minute from 1-10 using the spatula to keep the mixture toward the blade
• Mill for one more minute on 8
• Remove mixture into a large bowl and add 2 cups of sugar and the 2 teaspoons of almond extract, stir
• Portion about 1/4 of the mixture back into the TM bowl; mill one minute 1-10 keeping sides of bowl near the blade
• Pour into different large bowl; repeat 3 times until completed and the first bowl is empty
• Portion 1/3 of the mixture back into the TM bowl; mill one minute 1-10 keeping sides of bowl near the blade (the machine and mixture will get warm near the end of the minute)
• Place back into first bowl: repeat 2 more times until entire mixture has become a paste (see photos: it will be crumbly, but is warm and moist and can be shaped into a ball)
• If necessary, repeat last step one more time until mixture can be formed into a ball
• Mix butter in a large mixing bowl with the paddle attachment on medium low speed just until smooth; add the prepared almond paste and sugar mixture in a slow steady stream, and beat until lightened in colour, about 3 minutes
• Add the egg yolks and vanilla, beating well to combine; scraping down the sides of the bowl, as needed
• Combine salt and flour and blend at low speed in three additions until just incorporated
• Beat egg whites in a clean mixing bowl with the whip attachment on medium speed until frothy; increase the speed to medium high and continue beating until firm peaks form
• Using a rubber spatula, gently fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the batter to lighten the mixture; fold in the remaining egg whites gently, in two more additions
• Divide dough into thirds (about 3 1/3 cups or 750g each) and place in separate bowls; stir green food coloring into one third and red food coloring into another until well blended, leaving one third plain
• Spread each dough separately into each pan, smoothing with an off set spatula; be sure the batter is evenly distributed, especially to the corners
• Bake each individually 12 - 13 minutes until the tops are firm to the touch and very slightly browned; stand on wire racks until cool enough to handle
• Invert each onto a rack pan and peel off the parchment
• Have a large sheet of plastic wrap placed on a cookie sheet; place this over the green layer, and invert the green layer onto the plastic wrap top side down (flip it as quickly as possible)
• Using 4 tablespoons of raspberry preserve and an offset spatula, spread the surface evenly with a thin layer of the jam
• The second layer is harder to place, as it cannot be flipped into an empty pan: place the plain layer, top side down, on top of the raspberry jam by angling it over the green layer, and then quickly flipping it out over it
• Align the two layers, and press them together (it is not so easy to align these once flipped, so do as well as you can the first time placing the layer)
• Using 4 tablespoons of raspberry preserve and an offset spatula, spread the surface evenly with a thin layer of the jam
• This is the hardest step as the pink layer is to be placed top side up, on top of raspberry preserves; to do this, invert into an empty pan lined with paper
• This layer is not sticking to the parchment, as it is now loose on an empty pan so it can break easily when flipped as there is no paper holding it together in the back; therefore, either freeze it for 2 hours to provide extra stability before flipping, or be sure to firmly secure the bottom tray with a wet cloth to the counter and be very deft with your flipping this layer out of the pan and onto the other two layers
• Be sure to align the three layers, then press them together, again
• Wrap this layered stack tightly with plastic wrap, sealing the ends securely; place it on a clean cookie sheet, and place another cookie sheet on top of it and weigh it down with several cookbooks or bricks to compress the layers
• Let this rest at room temperature for at least 24 hours, turning it over once or twice during the weighting period
• Unwrap the stack, and set it on a cutting board
• Trim 1/4inch from all sides using a large serrated knife; cut the stack into 12 equal strips each measuring about 1 1/4 inches wide
• Separate the strips and place them over a large wire rack set over a cookie sheet
• Place the apricot preserves and 4 tablespoons of water in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil, then simmer for one minute; pass through a fine strainer into a bowl and discard the pulp
• Brush a thin layer of the warm glaze on all sides of each strip; let stand for 30 to 60 minutes to "dry"
• Place the chocolate in a double boiler over an inch or two of simmering water; melt it, watching carefully to insure it does not get too hot, or place it in the Thermomix and melt for 5 minutes at 37ºC at speed 1
• Remove when almost melted, and sit to finish melting; when coating, if it becomes too thick, reheat it carefully
• Set all of the bars on a wire rack over parchment paper
• Cover one bar at a time spooning chocolate down the length of the strip, then use an offset spatula to spread the chocolate over the top and down the sides, taking care to smooth all surfaces
• Leave the bar on a wire rack over parchment to set at room temperature until the coating hardens; this can take several hours
• Wrap individually in plastic wrap, and freeze. When serving, cut into 5/8th inch slices; there will be 18 cookies per bar, not including the ends

RAINBOW COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms. Press dough into pan evenly with floured fingers.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edge is light golden brown. Cool 15 minutes in pan on wire rack. Pick up foil edges and carefully remove cookie from pan to cooling rack; cool 15 minutes. Turn cookie upside down onto another cooling rack; remove foil. Place cookie on large serving platter.
• Spread frosting on top and sides of cookie. Place foil baking cup in one corner of cookie; fill with yellow jelly beans. Arrange remaining jelly beans on cookie to look like a rainbow. For 12 bars, cut into 4 rows by 3 rows.

ITALIAN RAINBOW COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar 2-3 minutes or until thick and lemon-colored. Gradually add almond paste; mix well. Gradually add flour, butter, salt and extract., Divide batter into thirds. Tint one portion red and one portion green; leave remaining portion plain. Spread one portion into each of three well-greased 11x7-in. baking dishes., Bake 7-11 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and edges begins to brown. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Place red layer on waxed paper; spread with 2 tablespoons jam. Top with plain layer and remaining jam. Add green layer; press down gently. , For glaze, in a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Spread half over green layer. Refrigerate 20 minutes or until set. Turn over; spread remaining glaze over red layer. Refrigerate 20 minutes or until set. , With a sharp knife, trim edges. Cut rectangle lengthwise into fourths. Cut each portion into 1/4-in. slices.

MAGIC RAINBOW COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 for glass dish).
• In a 9 x 13 inch baking pan, melt margarine in oven. Sprinkle crumbs over margarine; pour Eagle Brand evenly over crumbs. Top with remaining ingredients; press down firmly.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Chill thoroughly if desired. Cut into bars. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

RAINBOW CHIP COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, softened butter and eggs until soft dough forms. Stir in chips. Spread batter evenly in pan.
• Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Frost bars. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store loosely covered.

ITALIAN RAINBOW BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray; line with cooking parchment paper, leaving 1 inch of paper overhanging at 2 opposite sides of pan. Spray paper with cooking spray.
• In small bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt with whisk until blended. In medium bowl, beat butter, sugar, almond paste and almond extract with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until blended. On low speed, beat in flour mixture.
• Spread one-third of the batter (1 1/2 cups) evenly in pan (layer will be very thin). Freeze 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix green food color into one-third (1 1/2 cups) of the batter. Gently spread over batter in pan. Freeze 5 minutes. In separate small bowl, mix red food color into remaining batter. Gently spread over green batter.
• Bake 24 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 1 hour. Spread jam over bars. In microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate and whipping cream on High about 1 minute, stirring once, or until mixture is smooth. Spread chocolate mixture over jam. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. Use paper to lift out of pan. Trim edges, if desired. Cut into 8 rows by 4 rows. Store loosely covered.

RAINBOW COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line three 9x13 inch baking pans with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, break apart almond paste with a fork, and cream together with butter, sugar, and egg yolks. When mixture is fluffy and smooth, stir in flour to form a dough. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold egg whites into the dough. Divide dough into 3 equal portions. Mix one portion with red food coloring, and one with green food coloring. Spread each portion into one of the prepared baking pans.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned. Carefully remove from pan and parchment paper, and cool completely on wire racks.
• Place green layer onto a piece of plastic wrap large enough to wrap all three layers. Spread green layer with raspberry jam, and top with uncolored layer. Spread with apricot jam, and top with pink layer. Transfer layers to a baking sheet, and enclose with plastic wrap. Place a heavy pan or cutting board on top of wrapped layers to compress. Chill in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight.
• Remove plastic wrap. Top with melted chocolate chips, and refrigerate 1 hour, or until chocolate is firm. Slice into small squares to serve.

RAINBOW VANILLA CHEESECAKE COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Press crushed cookies into the bottom of the prepared pan to make the crust.
• Beat cream cheese and sugar together in a bowl using an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, sour cream, flour, and vanilla extract; beat until combined. Spoon 1/2 the batter into the prepared crust.
• Divide remaining batter evenly into 6 bowls. Add red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet food colorings separately to individual bowls until desired colors are achieved. Spoon colored batters onto the plain batter in a random pattern and swirl gently with a knife.
• Bake in the preheated oven until center jiggles just slightly, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool on the counter for 2 hours. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours; cut into 24 squares.

MAGIC RAINBOW COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Combine butter and crumbs; press onto parchment paper-lined 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumbs.
• Sprinkle with candies, then coconut and nuts; press down firmly.
• Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or unitl lightly browned. Cool. Remove paper and cut into bars.
• NOTE: Bake at 325F for glass pans.