Stained Glass Cookies

Technowitch has been making cookies. She got this recipes from American Girl magazine. Since I didn't bring the magazine with me. Here is another version. They are just simple sugar cookies with different shapes cut out of the centers. The "glass" can be any hard candy but I think Jolly Ranchers work the best.


Stained Glass Cookies
From Food Network

1 package (17.5 ounces) sugar cookie mix (recommended: Betty Crocker)
1/3 cup cream cheese, softened in microwave for 45 seconds
1 egg
1 teaspoon lemon extract
3 tablespoons cake flour
8 ounces hard candies, assorted colors (recommended: Jolly Ranchers or LifeSavers)

Special Equipment:
Baking sheets
Aluminum foil and cooking spray
Mixing bowl
Flour
Rolling pin
Oversized (4 to 5-inch) ornament-shaped cookie cutter
Smaller cutters, round or square
Cooling rack

Line baking sheets with aluminum foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Alternatively, you can use a silicone baking mat.

In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients, except hard candies, until dough ball forms. Split dough in half and form into disks.

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thick. Cut out cookies with oversized (4 to 5-inch) ornament-shaped cookie cutters. Place cookies on prepared baking sheets spaced 1-inch apart. On each of the large cookies, cut out 3 or 4 smaller shapes using 1/2 to 1-inch cookie cutters. If cookies are to be used as ornaments, make a hole at the top with a straw. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

While cookies chill, place unwrapped hard candies, sorted by color, in separate zip-top resealable bags. Squeeze air from bags and seal; crush candies with rolling pin. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Remove cookies from refrigerator and fill centers of cookies with
crushed hard candies.

Bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until edges just start to turn golden. Cool completely on baking sheet on a rack.

Repeat with remaining dough.

Store completely cooled cookies separated by waxed paper in an air-tight container for 1 week.

If you just need a sugar cookie recipe instead of sugar cookie mix, just use this and follow the the above instruction. Or you can just make and eat the cookies plain.

Simple Sugar Cookies
From allrecipes.com

* 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 1 1/2 cups white sugar
* 1 egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.