Spumoni Slices - Italian Christmas Cookies

Total Time: 57 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 (1 ounce) semi-sweet chocolate baking square, melted and cooled
• 4 teaspoons milk
• 1/3 cup chopped candied red cherries
• 1/2 cup chopped pistachio nut
• 1/4 teaspoon rum flavoring
• 3 drops green food coloring
• powdered sugar icing (optional) or melted chocolate (optional)

Recipe

• 1 beat shortening and margarine or butter about 30 seconds or till softened.
• 2 add half the flour, the sugar, egg, 2 tablespoons milk, vanilla, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoons salt.
• 3 beat till thoroughly combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.
• 4 stir in remaining flour.
• 5 divide dough into thirds.
• 6 into one portion, mix chocolate and 2 teaspoons of the milk.
• 7 into second portion, mix cherries.
• 8 into third portion mix nuts, remaining milk, flavoring, and enough green food coloring to tint dough.
• 9 to shape dough, line bottom and sides of an 8 x 4 x 2 inch loaf pan with clear plastic wrap.
• 10 press pink dough evenly in pan.
• 11 top with chocolate dough.
• 12 top with green dough.
• 13 cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.
• 14 preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• 15 invert pan; remove dough.
• 16 remove plastic wrap.
• 17 cut dough into 1/4 inch thick slices; cut each slice crosswise into three pieces.
• 18 place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• 19 bake in 375 oven 8 to 10 minutes or till edges are lightly browned.
• 20 remove and cool on rack.
• 21 drizzle with powdered sugar icing tinted green or with melted chocolate.