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Stained Glass Cookies

These Stained Glass Cookies are as beautiful as they are delicious! Melted hard candies create a stunning stained glass effect within these buttery, sweet cookies, perfect for the holidays.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Assorted hard candies (Jolly Ranchers, Life Savers, etc.)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
  3. Divide the dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
  4. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  5. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about 1/8 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes. Use a smaller cookie cutter to cut out a shape in the center of each cookie for the “stained glass” effect.
  6. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets. Crush the hard candies into small pieces using a food processor or by placing them in a sealed bag and crushing with a rolling pin.
  7. Fill the center cutouts of the cookies with the crushed candy pieces.
  8. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden and the candy is melted.
  9. Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets before removing. The candy will harden as it cools.

Notes

For a festive touch, use different colored candies to create a rainbow effect. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.