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Stained Glass Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 123 reviews

These delightful Stained Glass Cookies combine buttery sugar cookie dough with melted hard candy centers to create a colorful, eye-catching treat. Perfect for holidays or special occasions, these cookies feature a crisp texture with a sweet, translucent candy window that adds both flavor and charm.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (50 g) light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Candy Centers

  • Assorted hard candies (like Jolly Ranchers or Life Savers), crushed into small pieces

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which helps create a tender and airy cookie texture.
  3. Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined, ensuring the dough has a uniform consistency.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually blend these dry ingredients into the wet mixture to form a soft dough without overmixing.
  5. Chill Dough: Divide the dough into two halves, flatten each half into a disk, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Chilling firms the dough, making it easier to roll and cut shapes.
  6. Roll and Cut Shapes: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use large cookie cutters to cut out shapes, then use smaller cutters to remove the centers, creating a frame for the candy.
  7. Fill with Crushed Candy: Place the cut-out cookie frames onto the prepared baking sheets. Fill the center of each cookie with a small amount of the crushed hard candy, keeping the candy within the cut-out area to create the stained glass effect.
  8. Bake: Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn golden and the candy centers have melted completely into a smooth, colorful window.
  9. Cool Completely: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the parchment paper. The candy centers will harden as they cool, forming a glossy stained glass appearance. After cooling, carefully remove the cookies from the baking sheets.

Notes

  • Ensure the hard candies are crushed evenly but not too finely to get a beautiful stained glass effect.
  • Use parchment paper to prevent melted candy from sticking to the baking sheet.
  • Keep the candy within the cut-out area to avoid spreading outside the cookie frame during baking.
  • Store the cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness and prevent candy centers from becoming sticky.
  • For colorful candy centers, use a variety of hard candy flavors and colors.

Keywords: Stained Glass Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Sugar Cookies with Candy, Melted Candy Cookies, Festive Cookies

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