Neopolitans

Ingredients

• Dark dough:
• 1 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups sifted flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1 cup coarsely ground nuts
• 1(6 oz.) package semisweet chocolate chips, ground
• Light dough:
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 cups sifted flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup finely chopped raisins
• 12 candied cherries, chopped

Directions

1. To make dark dough, cream shortening and sugar together in bowl until light and fluffy; add eggs and beat well.

2. Sift flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves together into separate bowl; add to shortening mixture and blend well. Add nuts and ground chocolate; mix well.

3. Line 10x5x3-inch loaf pan with waxed paper; pack half the dark dough firmly into pan.

4. To make light dough, cream shortening and sugar together in bowl until light and fluffy; add egg, vanilla, almond extract, and water. Beat thoroughly.

5. Sift flour, salt, and baking soda together into separate bowl; add to shortening mixture. Add remaining ingredients; blend well.

6. Pack light dough on top of dark dough in loaf pan. Add remaining dark dough and pack well; refrigerate for 24 hours.

7. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

8. Turn dough out of loaf pan; cut into thirds lengthwise. Cut each third into 1/4-inch thick slices. Bake for 10 minutes.

Submitted 6/13/05.
Source: Creative Cooking: Desserts
Submitted By: Linda Wilson
lwilson@gatecom.com
Neopolitans