2⅔ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
1½ teaspoons baking powder, divided
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
½ cup Dutch process cocoa powder
Instructions
In a mixing bowl, beat together ½ cup butter and ½ cup sugar with a mixer at medium speed until creamy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, beating until combined.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1⅔ cups flour, ¾ teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. With mixer at low speed, gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until a dough forms.
Turn out dough onto a large piece of parchment paper. (If any flour bits remain, knead dough by patting dough and folding it in half.) Shape dough into a 6-inch-long log. Press sides into a 1¾-inch square. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
In another mixing bowl, beat together remaining ½ cup butter and remaining ½ cup granulated sugar with a mixer at medium speed until creamy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add remaining 1 egg and remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, beating until combined.
In another medium bowl, whisk together remaining 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour, cocoa powder, remaining ¾ teaspoon baking powder, and remaining ½ teaspoon salt. With mixer at low speed, gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until a dough forms.
Turn out dough onto a large piece of parchment paper. (If any flour bits remain, knead dough by patting dough and folding it in half.) Shape dough into a 6-inch-long log. Press sides into a 1¾-inch square. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 400°. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
Using a sharp knife, trim edges of sugar cookie dough and chocolate cookie dough, creating 2 equal rectangular logs. Slice each dough rectangle log lengthwise into 3 equal strips. With strips stacked, cut stack in thirds lengthwise to create 9 equal strips.
Arrange a chocolate strip, a vanilla strip, and a chocolate strip side by side lengthwise. Stack a vanilla strip, a chocolate strip, and a vanilla strip side by side on top of first layer of strips. Stack a chocolate strip, a vanilla strip, and a chocolate strip side by side on top of second layer of strips to create a checkerboard-pattern rectangular log. Repeat with remaining dough strips to create another checkerboard-pattern rectangular log, but begin pattern with a vanilla strip, a chocolate strip, and a vanilla strip. Gently press together strips of each checkerboard dough log. Place logs on another rimmed baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
Using a sharp knife, slice each log crosswise into 24 (¼-inch-thick) square cookies. Trim edges, as needed. Place cookies 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
Bake until bottoms are lightly golden, 7 to 8 minutes. Let cool for 1 minute. Transfer to wire racks and let cool completely.
Notes
Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare checkered dough logs, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw before slicing.
Recipe by TeaTime Magazine at https://teatimemagazine.com/checkboard-cookies/