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Neapolitan Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 150 reviews

Delightfully soft and chewy Neapolitan cookies featuring three distinct flavors: classic vanilla, rich chocolate, and subtly fruity strawberry. These cookies are visually charming with stripe or layered dough and offer a perfect balance of flavors in every bite, ideal for sharing or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon freeze dried strawberry powder
  • Granulated sugar for rolling

Wet Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Red food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare baking sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and set aside.
  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Set this mixture aside for later use.
  3. Cream wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, cream together the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy. This should take a few minutes.
  4. Add egg and vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract on high speed until the dough is light and fluffy, ensuring good incorporation of ingredients.
  5. Combine dry and wet mixtures: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in 2 to 3 smaller additions, mixing well after each addition, until a uniform dough forms.
  6. Divide and flavor the dough: Divide the dough into three equal portions. Leave one part as the plain vanilla dough, mix cocoa powder into the second portion for chocolate flavor, and mix freeze-dried strawberry powder with optional red food coloring into the last portion to create the strawberry dough.
  7. Portion the dough: Cut each flavored dough into 18 equal pieces. Then take one piece of each flavor to create a tricolor cookie.
  8. Form cookies: Roll each piece into a small cylinder, sandwich the vanilla dough between chocolate and strawberry portions, then either roll the sandwich into a ball or press into a 1.5–2 tablespoon cookie scoop for a precise circle.
  9. Coat and arrange: Roll each formed cookie in granulated sugar for a sweet, textured exterior. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart to allow space for spreading.
  10. Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 7–9 minutes or until the edges are just lightly golden to keep centers soft and chewy.
  11. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Change the look: Instead of stacking the dough into a striped pattern, try centering the three colors in a circular swirl pattern for a different visual effect.
  • Sugar coating: For extra sparkle and crunch, consider rolling the cookies in coarse sugar sprinkles instead of granulated sugar.
  • Food coloring: The freeze-dried strawberry powder gives a very soft pink hue. Adding a drop or two of red or pink gel food coloring enhances the vibrancy but is optional.
  • Don’t overbake: Cookies are done when edges turn just lightly golden, ensuring soft and chewy centers.
  • Storage: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze them for up to 3 months to maintain freshness.

Keywords: Neapolitan cookies, three flavor cookies, vanilla chocolate strawberry cookies, striped cookies, soft chewy cookies, holiday cookies, layered cookie recipe

Find it online: https://deliciousdishspot.com/neapolitan-cookies-recipe/