Spunoni Slices

Another new recipe this year, Spunoni Slices from Taste of Home.

While we love our traditional striped cookies, this version is not only easier to pull off, but the flavor is an absolute home run. I ended up with a batch of 7 dozen! To hit that number, I found I had to cut them a bit smaller than the original Taste of Home instructions. I’m planning to tinker with the bake times and sizing throughout the year to get them perfectly dialed in for our kitchen.

Ingredients-

1 cup butter, softened

1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 large egg, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted

1/2 cup chopped pecans

3 to 5 drops green food coloring

1/4 cup finely chopped candied red cherries

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

3 to 5 drops red food coloring

Method-

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. 

Beat in egg and vanilla. 

Gradually add flour and mix well.

 Divide the dough into 3 portions. 

Stir the chocolate into 1 portion. 

Add pecans and green food coloring to the second portion. 

Add cherries, almond extract, and red food coloring tothe third.

Roll each portion between 2 pieces of waxed paper into an 8x6-in. rectangle. 

Remove waxed paper. 

Top the chocolate rectangle with the green and pink rectangles; press together lightly. 

Wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the oven to 375°. 

Cut chilled dough in half lengthwise. 

Return 1 half to the refrigerator. 

Cut the remaining rectangle into 1/8-in. slices. 

Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake until set, 5-7 minutes. 

Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. 

Repeat with the remaining dough.