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Delicious Stained Glass Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 67 reviews

These Delicious Stained Glass Cookies are charming sugar cookies with a colorful, translucent candy center that creates a beautiful stained glass effect. Perfect for festive occasions or as a fun baking project, this recipe uses a classic sugar cookie dough base combined with crushed hard candies that melt and harden during baking, resulting in a stunning cookie that’s as delightful to look at as it is to eat.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • Pinch of salt

Decorative Ingredients

  • Crushed hard candies (e.g., Jolly Ranchers or Life Savers), various colors
  • Gel food coloring (optional for coloring dough)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1 cup of softened unsalted butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Then, add 2 large eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, mixing well to fully combine.
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Gradually add this dry mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined and a dough forms.
  3. Chill the Dough: Divide the dough evenly into two parts. Wrap each portion tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling firms the dough, making it easier to roll out and cut.
  4. Roll Out the Dough: Lightly flour a clean surface and roll one portion of the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a large cookie cutter to cut your desired shapes. Using a smaller cookie cutter, carefully cut out the center of each cookie to create a window.
  5. Add the Candy: Fill the hollow centers of each cookie with a generous amount of crushed hard candies in different colors. This will melt during baking to form the stained glass effect.
  6. Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Arrange the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookie edges are lightly golden and the candy centers have melted completely.
  7. Cool and Enjoy: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes to let the candy harden, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. The centers will solidify into a beautiful stained glass window effect.

Notes

  • You can substitute unsalted butter with coconut oil or vegan butter for a dairy-free option.
  • For a gluten-free version, replace all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
  • Egg substitutes like a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 2.5 tablespoons water per egg) work well for vegan baking.
  • Gel food coloring can be added to the dough for vibrant hues, or use natural colorants such as beet juice or matcha.
  • Use a variety of colored hard candies to create diverse stained glass effects in your cookies.
  • Keep a close watch while baking as the candy centers can quickly burn if left unattended.

Keywords: stained glass cookies, sugar cookies, holiday cookies, hard candy cookies, festive baking, colorful cookies, sugar cookie recipe

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