RAINBOW BUTTER COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks and vanilla, one at a time. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl. Once the dry ingredients are well mixed, gradually add to the creamed mixture.
• Divide the dough into 3 equal portions; tint each a different color. Roll each portion of dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper into a 9 inch by 5 inch rectangle. Freeze for 10 minutes.
• Cut each rectangle in half lengthwise. Lightly brush to top of one rectangle with egg white. Top with another colored dough. Repeat with remaining 4 dough portions so you have six alternating layers of colored dough. Press together lightly. Cut in half lengthwise again. Wrap each with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap the dough and cut into 1/8 inch slices. Place 2 inches apart ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Cool for 1-2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

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.