CHECKERBOARD COOKIES

Ingredients

• 1 lb. unsalted butter
• 1 c. sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 egg white
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 5 c. flour,
• 3 tbsp. Dutch-process cocoa

Directions

1. Make the dough: Beat the butter using a mixer set on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the sugar gradually and continue to beat until pale and fluffy. Add the whole eggs one at a time and blend in the vanilla. Combine the salt and flour and stir it into the butter mixture. Remove half of the dough and set aside. Mix the cocoa into the remaining dough on low speed, until fully incorporated. Pat the vanilla and the chocolate doughs each into an 11- by 9-inch rectangle. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill until firm.
2. Make the checkerboards: Brush the vanilla dough with egg white and place the chocolate dough on top. Press gently and cut in half lengthwise. Brush one half with egg white and stack the remaining half on top, making certain the vanilla and chocolate doughs alternate. Cut the resulting stack in half lengthwise and set one stack aside. Slice one stack into thirds lengthwise and flip the middle stack over; lightly brush the sides with egg white and gently press together to form a checkerboard-patterned log. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until firm. Repeat with the remaining stack.
3. Bake the cookies: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking pans with parchment paper. Slice a checkerboard log crosswise into 1/4-inch cookies. Place the cookies on the baking pans, 1 inch apart, until firm -- 12 to 15 minutes. Rotate pans once while baking. Cool completely on a rack. Cookies can be stored for up to 1 week in an airtight container.