Go Back

Easy Stained Glass Cookies

Delightful cookies featuring a crunchy texture and colorful melted candy centers, perfect for any occasion and a fun baking project for the whole family.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 11 minutes
Total Time 41 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 135

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Candy Center
  • 5-6 ounces assorted hard candies (like Jolly Ranchers or Life Savers) Crushed into small pieces for filling

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt, then set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.
  3. Add in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well incorporated and smooth.
  4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms.
  5. Divide the dough in half, shape into flattened discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Baking
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Crush assorted hard candies into smaller pieces for the cookie centers.
  3. Roll out one disc of dough on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness and use a large cookie cutter to cut out shapes.
  4. Use a smaller cutter to remove the centers of each cookie and fill with crushed candy.
  5. Bake for 9-11 minutes until set and the candy centers melt and bubble.
  6. Cool cookies on the baking sheet until the candy is firm, then let them cool completely on a wire rack.

Notes

Experiment with different flavors by infusing butter with extracts or adding edible glitter. Leftover dough can be used for making more shapes.