Neapolitan Swirl Cookies (Printable)
Buttery soft layers of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry dough swirled together create these stunning tri-color treats perfect for any occasion.
# 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)
# Directions:
01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract; mix until fully combined.
03 - Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until a dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
04 - Divide dough into three equal portions. Mix one portion with cocoa powder for the chocolate layer. Mix another portion with strawberry powder and optional food coloring. Leave the third portion plain for vanilla.
05 - Roll each dough portion between two sheets of parchment paper into rectangles of equal size (approximately 10x6 inches). Chill each sheet for 20-30 minutes until firm.
06 - Stack the dough layers with chocolate on the bottom, vanilla in the middle, and strawberry on top. Gently press layers together to ensure they adhere.
07 - Starting from the long edge, tightly roll the stacked dough into a log. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour until very firm.
08 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
09 - Slice chilled dough log into 1/4-inch rounds. Place cookies 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
10 - Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before storing.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The triple swirl looks like you spent hours at a fancy bakery, but the secret is in the simple layering technique anyone can master
- Each bite delivers all three ice cream parlor flavors in one buttery, tender cookie that disappears from the plate faster than you can bake them
02 -
- Chilling the dough layers is nonnegotiable—warm dough will blur the colors together instead of keeping those crisp lines
- Use a sharp knife and saw gently through the log, pressing straight down without dragging to maintain the swirl pattern
03 -
- If your dough feels too sticky to roll, chill it for 15 minutes before trying again—this saves so much frustration
- Rotate the log 90 degrees after every few slices to keep it round and prevent one side from flattening