Welcome back to another delightful baking adventure! This week, I eagerly participated in my second “Bake Along” challenge, graciously hosted by the wonderfully talented Danielle from Hugs & Cookies XOXO. Her initiative consistently inspires home bakers like me to step out of our culinary comfort zones and explore new, exciting recipes. This particular challenge centered around her legendary “Rockin’ Rainbow Cookies,” a treat renowned for its vibrant colors, delicate almond flavor, and luscious raspberry filling.
For as long as I can remember, cooking has been a profound passion of mine. The freedom to experiment with flavors, the improvisation, and the sheer joy of creating a delicious meal have always drawn me in. Baking, however, has always felt like a different beast entirely. It demands precision, adherence to measurements, and a scientific approach that, frankly, often intimidated me. I’ve never truly considered myself much of a baker, tending to stick to familiar, simpler recipes or relying on boxed mixes when the craving for something sweet struck.
It was precisely this apprehension that motivated me to join Danielle’s “Bake Along” series. I knew from the outset that these challenges would push me to attempt recipes I would normally shy away from – complex pastries, intricate cookie designs, and techniques I hadn’t yet mastered. The goal wasn’t just to bake, but to learn, to grow, and to prove to myself that I could tackle more demanding projects in the kitchen. And let’s be honest, it’s also incredibly fun to connect with a community of fellow baking enthusiasts, sharing triumphs and learning from each other’s experiences. The supportive environment of the “Bake Along” makes every whisk and fold an exciting step forward.
Danielle’s “Rockin’ Rainbow Cookies” are a testament to her baking prowess. She often boasts that these are the first cookies to vanish from her cookie plates, and after seeing her exquisite creations, it’s easy to understand why. Her cookies boast perfectly even layers, a smooth, glossy chocolate coating, and an undeniable allure that speaks of professional-level craftsmanship. While my own attempts often fall short of such aesthetic perfection, seeing her results always serves as a powerful source of inspiration. Her attention to detail and consistent results are what many of us aspire to achieve in our home baking journeys.
A Festive Spin: Crafting Christmas Rainbow Cookies
With the holiday season just around the corner, I decided to put my own festive spin on Danielle’s classic Rainbow Cookies. Instead of the traditional multi-colored layers, I opted for a Christmas-themed palette, using vibrant red, pure white, and cheerful green batter. This modification aimed to transform these delightful treats into the perfect addition for any holiday gathering, bringing a touch of seasonal cheer to a beloved cookie.
For the outer coating, I chose white chocolate, hoping its creamy texture and stark color would beautifully complement the festive layers within. The idea was to create a truly unique Christmas Rainbow Cookie, a delightful surprise that would stand out on any holiday dessert platter. This creative deviation, while exciting, also added another layer of complexity to my baking challenge.
Troubleshooting My Way to Deliciousness: The Glazing Dilemma
As I embarked on the final stages of decorating, I encountered a few unexpected hurdles. Danielle’s method involved expertly dunking her cookies in melted chocolate, a technique that yielded a wonderfully smooth and complete coating. The original recipe suggested frosting the tops, but I was inspired by Danielle’s flawless technique and decided to follow her lead and dunk my Christmas Rainbow Cookies into the melted white chocolate.
However, my experience was a little less glamorous. As I dipped each cookie, delicate crumbs from the cakey layers began to fall into the chocolate, adhering stubbornly to the outside of the cookie. It seemed the white chocolate itself was much thicker than anticipated, making a smooth, even coat a real challenge. This unexpected texture made it difficult to achieve the pristine finish I had envisioned. Perhaps my chocolate wasn’t at the ideal temperature, or maybe the cookies hadn’t chilled sufficiently, leading to the crumbly issue. Baking, after all, is a continuous learning process of trial and error.
After dunking a few and attempting to camouflage the crumbs with festive sprinkles, I quickly realized a change of strategy was needed. For the remaining cookies, I opted to simply “frost” the tops, spreading the white chocolate carefully with a spatula. While this wasn’t my initial plan, it offered a much cleaner finish and prevented further crumb-related mishaps. The overall lesson here was adaptability – sometimes, you have to pivot mid-recipe to ensure a successful, or at least salvageable, outcome.
Despite these minor cosmetic imperfections, the true magic of these cookies lay in their taste. The combination of sweet raspberry jam and the distinct almond flavor truly shines through. Each bite offers a delightful balance of fruity tang and nutty richness, a classic pairing that never disappoints. I also decided to cut mine with a biscuit cutter, giving them a charming, rounded shape that contrasted slightly with the traditional square or rectangular slices, making them even more inviting.
The Rockin’ Rainbow Cookie Recipe
Ready to try your hand at these delightful treats? Here is the recipe for Hugs & Cookies XOXO’s famous Rainbow Cookies. This recipe is known for doubling well, perfect if you’re baking for a crowd or wish to use larger 9×13 inch pans. For those pictured above, the cookies were cut using cookie cutters and fully dipped in melted chocolate for a beautiful finish. Don’t be afraid to get creative with sprinkles or other toppings to make them truly your own!
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Print Recipe
Rainbow Cookies
10 minutes
10 minutes
20 minutes
American
Rainbow Cookies
6
Cookies
735
kcal
Michaela Kenkel
Ingredients
- 8 OUNCES ALMOND PASTE
- 3/4 C SUGAR
- 1/2 TSP. ALMOND EXTRACT
- 3/4 C. BUTTER 1 1/2 STICKS
- 3 EGGS
- 1 C. FLOUR
- 1/4 TSP. SALT
- 2/3 C. RASPBERRY JAM
- 1 BAG GHIRADELLI BITTERSWEET CHOC CHIPS
Instructions
- LINE THREE 8X8 PANS WITH NONSTICK FOIL. PREHEAT OVEN TO 350°F. IN MIXER, BEAT ALMOND PASTE, SUGAR, EXTRACT AND BUTTER TILL CREAMY. ON MEDIUM, ADD EGGS TILL INCORPORATED. ON LOW, ADD FLOUR AND SALT. DIVIDE THE BATTER EVENLY INTO 3 BOWLS – APPROX. 1 CUP IN EACH. TINT EACH BOWL A DIFF COLOR: PINK, YELLOW, GREEN (or Red, White, Green for a festive touch!). SPREAD EACH INTO ONE OF THE PANS AND SPREAD EVENLY WITH OFFSET SPATULA. BAKE 10-12 MINS UNTIL JUST BEGINNING TO BROWN IN CORNERS. DON’T LET CAKES BROWN EXCESSIVELY. COOL 30 MINUTES IN PANS. FLIP ONE LAYER ONTO COOKIE SHEET LINED WITH NONSTICK FOIL AND PEEL AWAY THE FOIL IT BAKED ON. SPREAD ON 1/3 C. JAM. FLIP ANOTHER LAYER ONTO THE JELLY – REMOVE FOIL AND SPREAD WITH THE REST OF THE JAM. TOP WITH FINAL LAYER. IF YOU LIKE YOURS FLATTER, PLACE FOIL ON TOP AND WEIGH DOWN WITH HEAVY BOOKS AND/OR CASSEROLE DISHES TO FLATTEN WHILE CHILLING IN FRIDGE. (I DID NOT WEIGH THESE DOWN AS I WANTED A TALLER PRESENTATION.) ONCE FIRM, MELT CHOC CHIPS IN MICROWAVE AND SPREAD ON TOPS. CHILL AGAIN. LET SIT A FEW MINS AT ROOM TEMP BEFORE CUTTING OR CHOCOLATE WILL CRACK.
Nutrition
Serving:
1
|
Calories:
735
kcal
|
Carbohydrates:
89
g
|
Protein:
10
g
|
Fat:
39
g
|
Saturated Fat:
17
g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat:
20
g
|
Trans Fat:
1
g
|
Cholesterol:
154
mg
|
Sodium:
380
mg
|
Fiber:
3
g
|
Sugar:
56
g
The Sweet Reward: Taste Over Perfection
Reflecting on this baking challenge, I can confidently say it was far from a total failure. While my Christmas Rainbow Cookies may not have achieved the picture-perfect aesthetic of Danielle’s “Rockin’ Rainbow Cookies,” their flavor was absolutely exceptional. The delightful combination of almond and raspberry, coupled with the soft, cake-like texture, made them incredibly delicious. It reinforced a valuable lesson: sometimes, the beauty of homemade treats lies not in their flawless appearance, but in their heartfelt creation and incredible taste. A cookie that tastes this good simply cannot be bad in my book!
The ultimate stamp of approval came from my oldest daughter, who, with an endearing innocence, keeps asking for “another one of those colored zebra cakes!” Her comparison, while humorous, perfectly encapsulates the fun, vibrant, and utterly irresistible nature of these layered cookies. It’s a reminder that simple joys and delicious flavors are often what truly resonate, especially with our toughest critics – our children.
This bake along journey, featuring the festive Rainbow Cookies, was more than just a recipe; it was an experience. It taught me about perseverance, adapting when things don’t go exactly as planned, and most importantly, that the joy of baking comes from the process and the delicious memories created, not just the final pristine product. I encourage you to embrace your inner baker, try new challenges, and savor every moment, even the crumbly ones.