Checkerboard Cookies

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It’s always the season for fun and festive cookies! These vanilla chocolate checkerboard cookies, also known as schackrutor, are a fun addition to the cookie tray.

Every year my family has a cookie competition, where we kick off the holiday season by making a lot of cookies.

Now that my kids are getting older, the competition is starting to get pretty fierce, so you have to make more than just a chocolate chip cookie. Needless to say, we attempt to try all the fun cookie recipes out there.

This year I went for checkerboard cookies, a vanilla and chocolate shortbread-style cookie. The classic flavors combine in one cookie to make a cute patterned snack.

Checkerboard cookies can be more complicated in their pattern, but I stuck with the 2×2 pattern I remembered from eating Swedish Christmas cookies growing up.

If you’re a fan of shortbreads, you’re going to enjoy these cookies!

Ingredients for checkerboard cookies

These cookies only require a few ingredients, so the dough is easy to mix up.

Granulated sugar – This is regular white sugar, not brown sugar. I do not recommend swapping in a sugar substitute.

Butter – Plenty of butter is needed to make this rich dough. You can use salted butter or unsalted butter. I personally like to use salted butter in my cookies!

Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature.

Flour – Use all-purpose flour for these cookies.

Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract is added to half the dough. It will color the dough just slightly, so if you prefer a lighter vanilla side, you can use clear vanilla flavoring.

Cocoa powder – For the dark half of the dough, we’ll add cocoa powder. I like dutch-process cocoa powder, but you can also use black onyx cocoa powder for an intensely rich and dark chocolate cookie.

How to make checkerboard cookies

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and softened butter. Beat with an electric mixer or paddle attachment on a stand mixer until blended.

Scrape down the sides and add the flour.

Beat until the flour is incorporated and the dough comes together.

It will look really shaggy at first, but keep mixing and it will fully blend. 

Dump the dough onto a clean work surface and knead to bring it together into a smooth ball.

Divide evenly in half. Set one half aside and place the other half back into the bowl.

Add the vanilla extract to the bowl and knead the dough to mix the extract into it.

Place the other half of dough into a bowl and add the cocoa powder. Knead to mix in the cocoa powder. Once it is mostly mixed, place it on the work surface and knead until the color is uniform.

Divide each color in half. Roll each piece into a long log about 12 inches in length.

Flatten the sides and top so that the logs are squared. Using two flat surfaces like bench scrapers will make this easier.

Place a vanilla and chocolate log next to each other and squeeze gently to stick, squaring up the sides again as needed.

Now place the remaining vanilla log on top of the chocolate log, and vice versa. Press gently to adhere, then square up the sides and top.

Wrap in plastic wrap, square up the sides again, and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking liner.

Once the dough has chilled, remove it from the refrigerator and unwrap. Slice into cookies about ¼-inch thick and place on the baking sheets. 

Bake for 8-10 minutes, until lightly golden. Let cool on the baking sheet a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips for success

• Use a kitchen scale to evenly divide the cookie dough into sections.
• Be sure to chill the dough before slicing the cookies. This helps them keep their shape while baking.
• Using a flat tool (or two) like a bench scraper will help you get flat edges for shaping the cookie logs. You can also use the flat edge of a box.
• Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or a reusable silicone liner. This will make cleanup easier, prevent sticking, and create a more even bake.
• Don’t overbake the cookies. The vanilla parts will be lightly browned, but do not let the edges get too dark.
• Let the cookies rest on the pan briefly after baking to set before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Use a spatula!

Recipe variations

Because this recipe is so simple, there are tons of ways to customize the flavors! You can omit the cocoa powder and try any variation below.

Add extracts – Try maple extract, almond extract, peppermint extract, or root beer flavoring. 

Add food coloring – Just a few drops of liquid or gel food coloring can make your cookies pop, or use natural food colorings like beet powder.

Other options – Try culinary matcha, finely chopped nuts or maraschino cherries, or orange zest.

Top it – Add icing decorations on top or dip the bottoms in melted chocolate.

Storage tips

These checkerboard cookies will keep well in an airtight container for about 7 days. 

They are perfect for freezing, too! 

After baking, make sure they are completely cooled, then place them in a freezer-safe container.

I recommend putting a sheet of waxed paper between the layers to prevent any sticking. 

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Frozen cookies will keep for about 3 months.

More holiday cookie recipes

Create your cookie buffet with these options!

• Iced Gingerbread Spritz Cookies
• Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
• Raspberry Jam Cookies
• Ginger Molasses Cookies
• Stained Glass Cookies
• Raspberry White Chocolate Cookies
• Cookie Butter Cookies

This recipe is part of The Sweetest Season, an annual virtual cookie swap co-hosted by Erin of The Speckled Palate and Susannah of Feast + West. Every year, food bloggers get together to share new holiday cookie recipes to make and give.

This year we are raising money for Cookies 4 Kids’ Cancer, which is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative and less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer.

Since 2008, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer has granted nearly $18 million to pediatric cancer research in the form of 100+ research grants to leading pediatric cancer centers across the country. From these grants have stemmed 35+ treatments available to kids battling cancer today.

Help us raise money for this important cause! Donate through our fundraising page.

Another exciting thing is that Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is in a matching window with their friends at OXO, meaning OXO will be matching every dollar raised through the end of 2022, up to $100,000. Whatever money we raise will automatically double on our fundraising page!