Vegan Italian Rainbow Cookies With Chocolate Ganache
These classic Italian cookies, reminiscent of the country’s flag, are a staple dessert delicately blending the flavors of almond, fruit, and chocolate. The vibrant colors of the cookies create a stunning visual effect, making them a perfect choice for special occasions and gifts. To create this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
 

  
• ½ cup aquafaba

  

• 1 (8-ounce) tube almond paste

  

• 1 cup sugar

  

• 3 flax eggs (9 tablespoons water + 3 tablespoons ground flax)

  

• 1¼ cups vegan butter, softened

  

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  

• 2 cups flour

  

• Green vegan food coloring

  

• Red vegan food coloring

  

• ½ cup apricot preserves, divided

  

• ½ cup vegan dark chocolate chips

  

• 2 tablespoons vegan milk

These ingredients are the foundation of the recipe, which requires some effort and patience to execute. However, the end result is well worth the effort, as the cookies are both delicious and visually stunning. To begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line three 8-inch square baking pans with parchment paper. Next, place one oven rack in the top third of the oven and the second rack in the bottom third. This will ensure that the cookies bake evenly and prevent them from becoming too dark or too pale. In a large bowl, pour the chickpea liquid and whip it with an electric mixer on high speed for 4 to 5 minutes, until stiff peaks form. This step is crucial in creating the light and airy texture of the cookies. In a second large bowl, use your hands to crumble the almond paste, then use an electric mixer to break it up further for 1 minute. Add the sugar and mix until small crumbles form, resembling sand. In a small bowl, combine the flax and water and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the flax to gel. Add the vegan butter and whip it with an electric mixer until it is fluffy, about 3 minutes. Pour in the flax and vanilla extract and gently mix on low speed for 30 seconds until just incorporated. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour. After all the flour is added, increase the speed to medium and continue to mix the batter until it is combined. Add a third of the whipped aquafaba and mix with a spatula to loosen the batter slightly. Then add the remaining aquafaba and gently fold it in so the batter doesn’t lose its airiness. Divide the batter into thirds. Dye one batch green and one batch red, leaving the third batch as is. This will create the colorful layers of the cookies. Into the prepared baking pans, add the batters and use an offset spatula to spread and make the tops flat and even. Bake the cookies for 15 minutes, until they are slightly golden and dry on top. Allow the layers to cool in the pans for 1 hour. Before assembling the cookies, remove the white and green layers from the pans and peel off the parchment paper; leave the red layer in the pan. To assemble, use an offset spatula to thinly spread half of the apricot preserves over the red layer. Place the white layer on top. Spread the remaining preserves over the white layer, then set the green layer on top. Place a clean 8-inch square baking pan on top of the green layer and weight down with heavy cans of food to compress and adhere the layers. Place the pan in the refrigerator to chill for at least 4 hours or overnight. After the cookie layers have chilled, melt the chocolate chips with vegan milk in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval. This step is crucial in creating the smooth and creamy chocolate ganache. Remove the pan from the refrigerator, remove the top pan, and carefully remove the layered dessert from the pan. Remove the parchment paper from the bottom red layer and place the stack on a rimmed baking sheet. Spread the chocolate mixture evenly over the layers. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour, or until the chocolate is set. Using a serrated knife, cut the chocolate-topped layers into 16 squares and serve. These delicious and visually stunning cookies are a perfect gift for friends and family, and they can be easily customized to fit any occasion or theme. With their colorful layers and delicious flavors, they are sure to be a hit at any gathering.