Rainbow Cookies

These are a fun and colorful way to enjoy some color with your cookies.  Normally you would make these in rainbow colors, but you could also make the layers with just red and green for Christmas.

• 1 (17 oz) roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• Food coloring
• Sugar (optional)

Allow dough to soften at room temperature.  Divide dough into 4 equal parts.  To first portion of dough, add 2 or 3 drops of blue food coloring and mix well so you have blue dough.  To the second portion, add 2 or 3 drops of green food coloring and mix well so you have green dough.  To the third portion, add 2 or 3 drops of yellow food coloring and mix well so you have yellow dough.  To the fourth portion, add 2 or 3 drops of red food coloring so you have red dough.  On plastic wrap or waxed paper, shape the blue dough into an 8" long log.  Press dough slightly to flatten the bottom while keeping the top and sides rounded.  Cover the log carefully with the green dough, making sure you keep the semi-circular shape.  In the same manner, layer the yellow and red doughs, gently pressing the layers of dough together.  Wrap and chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Using a sharp knife, slice the roll into 1/8" slices.  (You're cutting the log into 36 slices, so I would suggest making score marks with the knife before cutting at the half-way mark, then in half again, then each section into thirds, then thirds again to get even slices.)  Place cookies about 1" apart on ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.  Sprinkle with sugar if desired.  Cool slightly on the cookie sheet before removing to a wire rack to cool.  Makes 36 cookies.