crafTuesday - baking Neopolitan cookies

My sister and her hubby came down from Seattle last weekend for my grandmother's surprise 80th birthday party, and while she was here, I took advantage of the extra baking bod and put her to work in the kitchen with my kiddos, baking Christmas vittles.

I let the girls go through the cook books and cookie magazines, and Payton's choice were these Neopolitan cookies.  They wouldn't normally have been something I would have gravitated towards, but since I happened to have the ingredients on hand we went for it, and it turned out to be a great cookie and a lot of fun to make.

The recipe:

Neopolitan cookies (from a Taste of Home cookie book)

1 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon almond extract
4 drops red food coloring
1/2 cup flaked coconut
4-1/2 teaspoons chocolate syrup
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1-1/2 teaspoon shortening

The process:

1.  Line a 9x5 inch loaf pan with waxed paper; set aside.  In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well.

2.  Divide dough into thirds.  Add almond extract and red food coloring to one portion; spread evenly into prepared pan.  Add coconut to second portion; spread evenly over first layer.  Add chocolate syrup to third portion; spread over second layer.  Cover with foil;  freeze for 4 hours or overnight.

3.  Unwrap loaf and cut in half lengthwise.  cut each portion widthwise into 1/4inch slices.  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.  Remove to wire racks to cool.

4.  In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth.  Dip one end of each cookie into chocolate; allow exce4ss to drip off.  Place on waxed paper; let stand until set.

Yield:  5-1/2 dozen



I loved that this was a two day process.  We did steps one and two with the kids before bed on Friday, and Saturday morning after breakfast finished things up.  They turned out delightful, much better than expected.  I highly recommend this one as a great cookie to bake with kids.  Payton in particular really had a lot of fun with it, as did Alyca.

Have a great day!  Davinie