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Stained Glass Cookies Recipe

Stained Glass Cookies Recipe
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★★★★★

5.2 from 19 reviews

These Stained Glass Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring buttery sugar cookies with colorful melted candy centers that resemble beautiful stained glass windows. Perfect for festive occasions or as charming edible ornaments, these cookies combine classic flavors with a dazzling visual appeal.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cookies

  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)

For the Stained Glass

  • Assorted hard candies (such as Jolly Ranchers or Life Savers), separated by color and crushed

For Decorating

  • Powdered sugar (for dusting)
  • Ribbon or string (if hanging as ornaments)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Form the dough into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
  2. Prepare the Candies: While the dough chills, place separated hard candies into zip-top bags by color. Use a rolling pin or meat mallet to crush the candies into small pieces, ensuring they are not too fine or too coarse. Set the crushed candy aside in bowls by color.
  3. Shape the Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use large cookie cutters to cut out shapes, then use a smaller cutter of the same shape to cut out the centers. Transfer the cookies to prepared baking sheets and spoon crushed candy into the center of each cookie, spreading it evenly to fill the cut-out space.
  4. Bake and Cool: Bake the cookies for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are just turning golden and the candy centers have melted. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5–10 minutes so the centers can firm up. Carefully transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  5. Dust and Decorate: Once the cookies are completely cool, dust the outer edges with powdered sugar if desired. For ornament cookies, use a straw to poke a small hole at the top of each cookie while still warm, then thread with ribbon or string after cooling fully.

Notes

  • Ensure the crushed candy pieces are not too fine to prevent the candy from burning or spreading too much during baking.
  • The almond extract is optional but adds a nice depth of flavor if included.
  • To make cookie ornaments, poke the hole while the cookies are still warm to avoid cracking.
  • You can store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
  • If desired, try using different shaped cookie cutters to create a variety of designs.

Nutrition

Keywords: stained glass cookies, holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, sugar cookies, edible ornaments, festive cookies, hard candy cookies

Find it online: https://cheframiflavor.com/stained-glass-cookies-recipe/