These Stained Glass Cookies will definitely brighten up your Christmas holiday! The dough is made from a basic sugar cookie recipe with crushed candy placed in the center to form a ‘stained glass window.’ The fun part is choosing from all the different colors on hand and then watching the candy melt during the baking to form your window.
For my hard candy, I used Jolly Rancher. First, you need to crush the candy and then separate it into different bowls according to color. To crush the candy, place it in a plastic sandwich bag, then crush using either a metal meat mallet or a heavy potted plant like I did!
For this recipe, you’ll need a larger star-shaped cookie cutter and a smaller one to cut out the window. I used a 3- inch cutter and a smaller 1 3/4 -inch one. After cutting out the shapes, place the crushed candy in the center before baking.
Here are some tips for making these cookies:
– After forming the dough, let it chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to make it easier to roll out.
– Cut out the cookie shapes and then place them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before baking. This helps to maintain the shape of your cookies during baking, so they won’t spread out.
– Bake at 350 F for 13-15 minutes until golden around the edges. If you bake them at a higher temperature, they are apt to brown too quickly.
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Stained Glass Cookies
Print RecipeIngredients
- 2 ½ cup (312 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. salt
- 8 oz (2 sticks), softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ½ cup crushed hard candies separated by color (Jolly Rancher candies work well)
Instructions
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.
In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar until fluffy. Add the egg yolks, lemon juice, and vanilla extract and blend until well-combined.
Turn the ingredients out onto a lightly-floured work surface and form the dough into a ball. Cut the dough in half and press each half into a disc shape; cover each half with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Remove one of the dough halves and roll out into a circle about ¼ inch thick. Using a 3-4 inch star cookie cutter, cut out as many star shapes as you can and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Use a smaller star-shaped cookie cutter to then cut out the ‘windows’ for each cookie. (do not discard the smaller ‘window’ cookies, but also place them on the baking sheet for baking).
Place the baking sheet and cut-out cookies in the freezer for at least 30 minutes prior to baking (if the baking sheet doesn’t fit in the freezer, then place the cookies on a plate in the freezer, then transfer them to a larger baking tray for baking).
Remove the cookies from the freezer and fill 2/3 full with the crushed candy. Use a toothpick to guide the candy into the small crevices. Be careful not to let the candy get on the cookie dough.
Pre-heat the oven to 350 F and bake the cookies for 13-15 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown. Let the cookies cool for at least 10 minutes before transferring them to a serving plate.
Notes
To crush the candies, place them in a plastic sandwich bag and crush with either a metal meat mallet or a heavy potted plant.
12 Comments
John / Kitchen Riffs
December 13, 2020 at 5:37 amVery cool cookies! We’ve never made these — definitely something to try. Thanks!
Fran Flint
December 13, 2020 at 6:17 amThanks John- they’re definitely worth a try!
David Scott Allen
December 13, 2020 at 9:11 amI love how colorful these are! Are used to use the same method to put stainglass windows in my gingerbread houses… That was a long time ago! This is a much better use of my time. Cookies, not houses.
Fran Flint
December 14, 2020 at 1:43 amGingerbread houses? I’ve gotta try that one now!
mimi rippee
December 13, 2020 at 9:58 amI remember seeing these (or something similar) in Rose’s Christmas cookies, printed long ago. I didn’t make them then, and I won’t make them now. Way too tedious for me! But I can enjoy looking at them. Thanks, Fran!
Fran Flint
December 17, 2020 at 1:43 amAww, these cookies are really not very complicated! The only ‘complicated’ thing is crushing the candy. All’ I did was put the candy in a sandwich bad, took the bag outside and hit the bag up and down a few times with a potted plant
angiesrecipes
December 13, 2020 at 2:04 pmAin’t they just beautiful and festive! It would be actually really fun to make them with the kids too.
Rahul @samosastreet
December 14, 2020 at 4:31 pmOh wow! Those look so colorful and delicious. Perfect for the holiday season. Sugar cookies are my favorite! I am going to make them for Christmas!
Fran Flint
December 17, 2020 at 1:44 amYeah, I think kids would like these cookies the most!
Raymund
December 16, 2020 at 1:12 pmWow ! this looks like its so fun to make, reminds me of the Filipino Cathedral Jelly
Fran Flint
December 17, 2020 at 1:45 amOh yes! I love Cathedral Jelly!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
December 17, 2020 at 1:13 amOne of my old cookie cookbooks has these pretty cookies, such a classic yet I’ve never tried making them. I’ve always worried about the melted candy sticking after baking.