How to Make Menorah Hanukkah Cookies

Instructions

Step 1: Divide the Dough 

Start with a ball of chocolate and vanilla sugar cookie dough. Divide the chocolate dough into 3 equal pieces. Use a ¼ cup measure to scoop 4 pieces of the vanilla dough.

Step 2: Create a Tube

Cut a plastic smoothie straw in half. Use the remaining vanilla dough to fill the straw. Do this by either using the straw like a cookie cutter and pressing it into the dough, or use your fingers to push small pieces of dough up into the straw. Once the straw is full, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate/freeze until firm. Form the remaining dough into a ball, wrap and refrigerate.

Step 3: Roll out Pieces

Working between 2 pieces of plastic wrap, roll out each of the pieces of chocolate to 1/16 inch (these spacers help). Wrap each flat piece in a piece of plastic wrap. Repeat with the remaining pieces of chocolate and the 4 pieces of vanilla. Refrigerate until firm.

Step 4: Release Straw

Remove the straw from the refrigerator. Starting at one end, gently push the dough out of the straw, like you would a tube of toothpaste. If necessary, refrigerate again until firm before cutting in half lengthwise. Place the flat side down and line up the two pieces. Trim this center piece to approximately 7 inches long. 

Step 5: Create a Rainbow

Remove the smallest of the chocolate sheets from the refrigerator. Place the vanilla piece from the straw on top of the chocolate. Make sure there is enough chocolate underneath to cover the length of the vanilla. Cut a straight line. Line the vanilla piece up against this edge. Roll around the curved edge of the vanilla. Stop once you’ve reached the flat side.  Cut along the edge of the chocolate. Wrap and chill.

Using a sheet of the vanilla dough, wrap around the chocolate layer just like
previous step.

Continue wrapping the the dough. Alternate between the chocolate and vanilla until there are 4 layers of chocolate and 4 layers of vanilla.

Wrap in an additional 2 layers of vanilla.

Step 6: Create the Center Base

Re-roll the scrap pieces of chocolate between 2 pieces of saran
wrap.

Cut the log in half lengthwise, making sure to cut down the center vanilla piece (the piece from the straw). Take one of these pieces and place the exposed side onto the chocolate.  Carefully lift the saran wrap to transfer the chocolate onto the log. Return the other half of the log to close the chocolate “sandwich” layer.  

Wrap in a layer of vanilla.

Step 7: Fill and Finish

Roll the vanilla ball + any scraps into a thick piece. Layer this piece over the top (flat portion) of the cookie log. Cut off excess dough. If desired, additional vanilla scraps can be rolled to wrap the entire log. Wrap in saran wrap or freezer paper and store in the freezer until use.