Zebra Striped Shortbread Cookies

 

These are so pretty and great for the holidays! Mine were shaped more like a square than a circle.  I was able to make them into 2 logs. I worked with one log at a time, dividing it half so one half was rolled in red sugar crystals and the other in green sugar crystals. I had egg whites available so brushed with egg whites before coating with sugar. I baked them at 350 for a total of 10 min, rotating them at 5 min.

Zebra Striped Shortbread Cookies (~from Bon Appetit)

INGREDIENTS

2⅓ cups all-purpose flour, divided

1½ tsp. kosher salt, divided

⅓ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder

1¼ cups (2½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

⅔ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup powdered sugar

1 large egg yolk

1 tsp. vanilla extract or paste

1 large egg, beaten to blend

¼ cup sanding sugar (any color)

 

DIRECTIONS

Step 1 Whisk 1⅓ cups flour and ¾ tsp. salt in a medium bowl. Whisk cocoa powder, remaining 1 cup flour, and remaining ¾ tsp. salt in another medium bowl. These are the bases for your chocolate and vanilla doughs.

 

Step 2 Beat butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add egg yolk and vanilla and beat until smooth. Divide mixture between the 2 bowls of dry ingredients (about 1 cup in each). Scrape vanilla mixture back into stand mixer bowl (save the mixing bowl) and beat on low speed just until combined. Return to reserved bowl. Repeat process with chocolate mixture.

 

Step 3 Arrange 2 large sheets of parchment paper on a work surface. Dollop one-quarter of chocolate dough in the center of each sheet and pat into rough 6x2" rectangles. Dollop one-quarter of vanilla dough on top of each chocolate slab and pat into rectangles the same size and shape so that you have 2 layers each. Repeat entire process so you have 4 alternating layers. Tightly press stacked dough into cylinders about 1½" wide and 8" long, using the parchment to help you. Wrap logs in plastic wrap and chill until very firm, at least 2 hours. (made 2 logs)

 

Step 4 Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°. Working one at a time, unwrap dough and brush with egg. Carefully sprinkle surface with sanding sugar and roll logs in sugar to coat well (really press dough into sugar so it sticks). Slice into rounds a generous ¼" thick, rotating after every few cuts to keep slices round. Arrange cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing 2" apart. Bake, rotating baking sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until edges are just set, 12–14 minutes (Baked 5 min, then rotated and baked 5 more min). Let cool on baking sheets.

 

Step 5 Do Ahead: Dough can be made 3 days ahead; keep chilled. Cookies can be baked 5 days ahead; store airtight at room temperature.