Rainbow ribbons refrigerator cookies

4 Dozen

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
3½ cup Flour
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Margarine or butter, softened
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
½ teaspoon Salt
2 larges Eggs
1 teaspoon Instant espresso coffee powder
2 teaspoons Hot tap water
2 tablespoons Cocoa
½ teaspoon Anise extract
Green food coloring
Red food coloring
4 Hours or 1 week ahead:

Directions

1. Combine first six ingredients in large mixer bowl. Beat on low speed until well blended. Divide dough into thirds; place each in a bowl.

2. In a cup, stir instant espresso and 2 teaspoons hot tap water until dissolved. Stir espresso mixture and cocoa into one third of dough; with hand, knead until well blended. To second third of dough, add anise extract and enough green food coloring to tint dough a pretty green; knead until well blended. To remaining dough, add enough red food coloring to tint dough pink; knead until well blended. Shape each dough into a ball; wrap each with plastic wrap and regrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to handle (or, place dough in freezer 30 minutes).

3. On sheet of waxed paper* with floured rolling pin, roll pink dough into 12 x 7½" rectangle. On another sheet of waxed paper, roll chocolate dough into 12 x 7 ½" rectangle. On another sheet of waxed paper, roll green dough into 12 x 7 ½" rectangle. Invert chocolate dough onto pink dough; invert green dough onto chocolate dough.

4. Fold dough into thirds: Starting from one 12-inch side, fold one third of dough over middle one third; fold opposite one third over both to make 12 x 2 ½" rectangular log. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to slice (or place dough in freezer 30 minutes).

5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut dough cross-wise into ¼-inch-thick slices. Place slices, cut-side down, on ungreased cookie sheets, about 1 inch apart. Bake 10 minutes or until very lightly browned around edges. Remove to wire rack to cool. Store in tightly covered container and use within 1 week.

* To keep waxed paper from slipping on counter, dampen counter slightly with a sponge before laying down waxed paper.

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