Neapolitan Swirl Cookies (Printer-friendly)
Soft buttery cookies featuring vibrant chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry spirals for a stunning Italian-American dessert.
# What You'll Need:
→ Basic Cookie Dough
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
→ Chocolate Layer
08 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
→ Strawberry Layer
09 - 2 teaspoons freeze-dried strawberry powder (or strawberry gelatin powder)
10 - Pink food coloring (optional, for enhanced color)
# How To Make It:
01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix until combined.
03 - Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until a dough forms.
04 - Divide dough into three equal portions.
05 - Mix one portion with cocoa powder until fully incorporated.
06 - Mix one portion with freeze-dried strawberry powder (and a drop of pink food coloring, if desired) until even color is achieved.
07 - Leave the third portion plain for the vanilla layer.
08 - Roll each dough portion between two sheets of parchment paper into rectangles of equal size (about 10x6 inches). Chill each sheet for 20–30 minutes until firm.
09 - Carefully stack the dough layers: Place the chocolate layer on the bottom, top with the vanilla layer, then the strawberry layer. Gently press together.
10 - Starting from the long edge, tightly roll up the stacked dough into a log. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour until very firm.
11 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
12 - Slice chilled dough log into 1/4-inch rounds. Place cookies 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
13 - Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are just lightly golden. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- These cookies look like they came from a specialty bakery but they are actually surprisingly straightforward to make at home
- The combination of chocolate vanilla and strawberry creates that nostalgic ice cream flavor everyone remembers from childhood
- They stay soft for days and actually get better after resting overnight
02 -
- Chilling each layer before stacking prevents them from smearing together and muddying the distinct swirls
- A sharp knife dipped in hot water and wiped clean between slices creates the cleanest edges on your cookies
- If the dough becomes too soft while working with it simply pop it back in the fridge for 15 minutes
03 -
- Work quickly when the dough comes out of the fridge because warmth makes the layers blur together
- Freeze the log for 30 minutes before slicing if you want extra sharp edges on your cookies