1 Dough Layered Cookies

Featured in Sweet Endings: Irresistible Desserts.

Start with one buttery dough to make three layers packed with flavor—chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Use a loaf pan for neat, beautiful stripes.
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Updated on Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:37:23 GMT
Stacked cookies with chocolate, vanilla, and pink layers finished with sea salt sprinkles. Pin it
Stacked cookies with chocolate, vanilla, and pink layers finished with sea salt sprinkles. | linacooks.com

These Neapolitan cookies light up my home with their stunning stripes of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Each buttery mouthful blends flavors that take me back to my favorite childhood ice cream, now in soft cookie form. Whenever I bake a batch, they quickly become the highlight of any cookie collection.

Flawless Results Guaranteed

The thing I adore about these treats is how one basic dough transforms into something wonderful. I bake them for birthday parties or just regular weekends, and they always get rave reviews. Their tender, buttery feel and those eye-catching three-color layers make them impossible to resist.

Ingredients List

  • Foundation Dough: I use my go-to butter cookie mix with plenty of vanilla.
  • Dark Layer: Quality chocolate and cocoa combine for that rich taste.
  • Pink Layer: A mix of fruit preserves, flavoring and a touch of coloring creates the magic.
  • Added Flour: A small amount helps counter wetness from the jam.
  • Beaten Egg: Gives that beautiful shine when dusted with sugar.
  • Finishing Ideas: I might add crystal sugar or coat edges with melted chocolate.

Cookie Creation Steps

Prepare Your Foundation
I work the dough until completely blended then split it into three equal parts.
Add Different Tastes
Each section gets unique ingredients for chocolate, vanilla and that gorgeous strawberry combo.
Stack Everything Up
With parchment in my bread pan, I press layers starting with pink, then white, finishing with brown on top.
Rest and Cool
Don't rush this part; letting it firm up completely means you'll get clean-cut slices.
Last Decorative Touch
A light coating of whipped egg white and sugar makes them glisten wonderfully.

Complete Cookie Happiness

These treats bring a special touch to any gathering. I'm amazed how my bread pan makes the whole process so simple, and I can switch up flavor combinations whenever I want. They're fantastic for Christmas or Valentine's Day, but I honestly find myself making them throughout all seasons.

Helpful Hints

You can't skip that cooling time if you want sharp edges and crisp layers. I always grab the freshest vanilla and top-shelf chocolate because it really ups the taste. I'll cut them thicker when I want soft centers or go thin for cookies with more snap.

Creative Variations

I enjoy trying new twists with these layered treats, like adding coffee powder to the dark section for a tasty coffee-chocolate blend. Sometimes I'll try blackberry jam instead or mix shredded toasted coconut into the middle part. Every change brings new excitement to these pretty cookies.

Storage Secrets

These colorful treats stay tasty in a sealed container for up to seven days. When I'm looking ahead to family gatherings, I freeze them on a flat tray first, then stack them with baking paper between. They defrost perfectly with all the wonderful flavors and colors staying just right.

Great Companions

I like to put these cookies next to spicy ginger treats and candy cane goodies on holiday plates. There's nothing better than munching on one with your afternoon tea or hot coffee. At parties, they're always the first ones grabbed from the tray.

Easy Formation

Using a bread pan makes these cookies way easier than they look. No tricky rolling or careful measuring needed, just push those colorful layers into your pan and let them chill. You'll get beautiful slices every time with minimal work.

Fast Facts

  • Flavor Experiments: I sometimes add a dash of almond flavoring to the white section or swap in butterscotch for the chocolate part.
  • Clean Cutting: Use your sharpest knife and press straight down to keep those pretty layers intact.
  • Bigger Batches: You can easily double everything, just grab a larger container or make several small batches.
A stack of layered brownies with pink frosting on top and a creamy yellow middle, arranged neatly on a marble surface. Pin it
A stack of layered brownies with pink frosting on top and a creamy yellow middle, arranged neatly on a marble surface. | linacooks.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why do we chill the dough for hours?
Giving the dough enough chill time keeps it firm for easier slicing and helps the layers stay sharp while baking.
→ Is freeze-dried strawberry okay?
No, freeze-dried strawberries don’t spread evenly. Stick to jam and extract for the perfect strawberry layer.
→ What’s the trick for sharp layers?
Press each section evenly and firmly into the loaf pan. Chill completely and use a sharp knife. Cut edges for clean lines.
→ Can I prepare these in advance?
Absolutely! Chill dough for up to 4 days or freeze it for 3 months. Already baked cookies freeze just as well for 3 months.
→ Why recommend gel coloring?
Gel coloring gives bright hues and won’t alter the texture. Liquid versions can make the dough too soft.

Layered Treat Cookies

Delightful layers of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla come together in these cookies, all from one dough recipe.

Prep Time
200 Minutes
Cook Time
12 Minutes
Total Time
212 Minutes
By: Paolina

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Difficult

Cuisine: American

Yield: 32 Servings (Makes 32 cookies)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 2 and a half cups of plain flour.
02 Half a teaspoon of salt.
03 Half a teaspoon of baking powder.
04 A cup of butter, softened.
05 One cup of white sugar.
06 One large egg and one extra yolk.
07 One and a half teaspoons of vanilla.
08 1 1/2 tablespoons of flour for the strawberry mix.
09 One tablespoon of strawberry jelly.
10 Half a teaspoon of almond flavoring.
11 A bit of pink coloring for food.
12 One and a half tablespoons of cocoa.
13 1 ounce of melted semi-sweet chocolate.

Instructions

Step 01

Stir together the flour, salt, and baking powder until combined.

Step 02

Whip the butter with sugar until it’s smooth. Add eggs and vanilla, then fold in the dry ingredients.

Step 03

Divide the dough into three pieces, about 10 ounces per piece.

Step 04

Mix one dough portion with the extra flour, jelly, almond flavor, and pink coloring.

Step 05

Add cocoa and melted chocolate to another dough piece. Mix it together.

Step 06

Put the dough layers in a loaf pan: first strawberry, then plain, and finally chocolate.

Step 07

Chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours, or toss it in the freezer for an hour.

Step 08

Slice into half-inch pieces. You can trim the edges if you want them neater.

Step 09

Pop them in the oven at 350°F for 11–13 minutes till the edges just start to brown.

Notes

  1. Stick with gel colors for brighter results.
  2. You can freeze the dough in advance to save time later.
  3. Try dipping the cookies in chocolate as an extra treat.

Tools You'll Need

  • Hand or stand mixer.
  • A 9x5 loaf pan.
  • Two baking trays.
  • Parchment paper for lining.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains milk.
  • Contains eggs.
  • Contains wheat.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 180
  • Total Fat: 8 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 25 g
  • Protein: 2 g