If you’ve seen stained-glass cookies and been intimidated to make them, don’t be. Creating beautiful cookies that look like stained-glass windows is a lot easier than it may look.
The wintry blue and silver sprinkles make these perfect stained-glass Christmas cookies. However, it’s easy to switch the colors and shapes to fit any theme. Once you see how simple it is to make these cookies, you’ll want to create stained-glass cookies for all the events!
Stained-Glass Window Cookies
When it comes to making Christmas cookies I love a mix of traditional favorites and new and unique. This year the holidays look a lot different for most of us, but all the more reason to experiment with fun cookies.
When I see stained-glass cookies in my feed, my first thought is that they look way too complicated. Like with most things in life, once you break it into steps, you see it’s not that difficult at all.
Please be sure to read all the recipe notes and tips below. You’ll soon be off to create gorgeous cookies that will impress everyone you share them with.
Stained-Glass Cookies Ingredients
(Measurements are in the printable recipe card below.)
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Granulated sugar
- Salt
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Clear hard candies in desired colors
- Glaze: Powdered sugar and milk
- Optional: Silver sprinkles
Stained-Glass Cookies with Jolly Ranchers Directions
Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed.
Add the eggs, vanilla, and salt and continue mixing until combined.
Slowly add in the flour, mixing just until combined.
Cover the dough and refrigerate for one hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees while the dough is chilling. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll out onto a floured surface until it’s about a half an inch thick.
Cut into desired shapes, being sure to cut out hollow areas to place the candy.
Place the shapes onto the prepared baking sheet.
Unwrap the hard candies and place them into a plastic bag. Crush them into small pieces.
Put the crushed candy in the hollowed out areas of the cookies.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are set and the candy centers are melted.
Allow the Jolly Rancher cookies to cool on the baking sheet until the candy is completely cooled.
Mix the glaze and drizzle over the cooled cookies.
Depending on your cookie cutter size, you should end up with about 24 cookies.
Notes, FAQ’s, and Tips for Stained-Glass Cookies
Which hard candies are best for stained-glass cookies?
Jolly Ranchers work best for these stained-glass cookies. After experimenting with a few other hard candies that didn’t bubble well or turned dull, it’s safe to say that Jolly Ranchers cooperate the best and give you the desired look.
Baking the Jolly Rancher Cookies
Don’t overcook these stained-glass cookies. If they are golden brown, you overcooked them. They are done when they are set and no longer shiny. Don’t wait for the edges to turn.
Allow the cookies to cool completely
Be sure to cool the cookies completely before moving them off the parchment paper. Trust me on this, it’s crucial.
Stained Glass Cookies
The wintry blue of these stained-glass star cookies makes them beautiful for Christmas cookies, but it's easy to change the shapes and colors for year round.
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 24 Clear Hard Candies in desired colors
Glaze
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- few drops of milk
- Optional topping: Silver sprinkles
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric 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 until it's about a half of an inch thick.
- Cut into desired 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.
- Allow to cool on the baking sheet until the candy is completely cooled.
- Mix the glaze and drizzle over cookies when cooled.
Notes
Do not overcook. They are done when they are set and no longer shiny, do not brown.
Let cool completely before removing the cookies from the parchment paper.
Jolly Rancher candies work best for this.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 207Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 59mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 0gSugar: 14gProtein: 3g
Nutrition facts are an estimate only.
More Creative Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Cinnamon roll cookies
- Mini French macarons
- Mint Grinch cookies
- Hot cocoa cookies
- Marble iced sugar cookies
- Butter pecan chocolate chip bourbon cookies
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I’d love to see your stained-glass cookies! Please tag me in your creations.