Stained Glass Cookies

Stained glass cookies are buttery sugar cookies with brightly colored glass centers. Perfect as an edible gift or decoration

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Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Additional Time: 1

Total Time: 1 30

Servings: cookies

Author: Jennifer Stewart

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an hand or stand mixer on medium speed.
Add the eggs, vanilla and salt and continue blending until thoroughly combined.
Slowly add the flour, mixing just until combined. Cover the dough and place in the refrigerator for one hour.
While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Remove dough from the refrigerator and roll out onto a floured surface about a half of an inch thick. Cut into shapes, being sure to cut out hollow areas to place candy. Place shapes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Unwrap the hard candies and place into a plastic bag. Crush into small pieces. Place the candy in the hollowed out areas.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are set and the candy centers are melted.
Cool cookies completely before removing from the baking sheet.

If you want to hang your cookies, make sure to poke the hole before you bake the cookies or you might break them trying to cut one after they are cooked. A straw works best for larger holes.
I love the flavor of Jolly Ranchers but you can use any clear hard candy like life savers, lolly pops, or sanding sugar. Use a brush to remove any crushed candy on the cookies before baking. Make sure you keep the crushed Jolly Ranchers separated to keep the colors clean.
Make sure the cookie dough is nice a chilled so they don't lose their shape and distort the candy. Roll them to equal thickness. I use this rolling pin because it has spacers.
Only bake until they just start to brown. Too much longer and the candy will caramelize or burn. If there are bubbles in the candy when you pull the cookies out, immediately, but gently, pop them with a small pin.
Leave the cookies on the parchment paper or silicone mat to cool completely. If you move them too soon they will tear and the candy will stick as it will still be soft.