The Magic of Stained Glass Cookies for Your Holidays

Baking cookies is a cherished activity, especially during the festive holiday season. It’s a wonderful way to spend quality time by yourself, or even better, to create lasting memories with your children. These particular cookies are not only amazingly delicious but also incredibly beautiful to behold. Crafted from a delightful shortbread dough, they are transformed into lovely treats using two sizes of cookie cutters: a larger one for the outer shape and a smaller one to create the central “window” where the vibrant candies will melt.

The unique thinness in the middle of these cookies ensures they are never too hard, providing a perfect bite every time. And for an extra touch of holiday charm, you can easily make a small hole at the top of each cookie before baking. Once cooled, simply thread a string through, and voilà – you have stunning, edible ornaments ready to adorn your Christmas tree or hang as festive decorations around your home.

If your passion for baking knows no bounds, explore our extensive collection of cookie recipes. Discover other delightful creations like cinnamon cream cheese rolls, classic sable cookies, and charming Christmas jam cookies to keep your kitchen filled with wonderful aromas.

Why Stained Glass Cookies Are Perfect for Kids

Beyond their delicious taste and beautiful appearance, stained glass cookies offer an engaging and educational experience for children. They provide an excellent opportunity for kids to participate in the kitchen and develop various skills. From rolling out the dough to carefully placing the candies, each step is simple enough for little hands with a bit of supervision. This hands-on activity fosters creativity, fine motor skills, and a sense of accomplishment.

Children will be captivated by the transformation of hard candies into dazzling, translucent “glass” as they bake in the oven. The magic of light shining through their homemade creations will undoubtedly spark joy and wonder. It’s a fantastic way to introduce them to the basics of baking while creating beautiful memories and delicious treats they’ll be proud to share.

What You’ll Need: Ingredients for Dazzling Stained Glass Cookies

To embark on your stained glass cookie adventure, you’ll need a few essential ingredients, most of which are likely already in your pantry. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that perfect shortbread texture and the vibrant ‘glass’ effect. You can find the precise measurements in the detailed recipe card conveniently located at the bottom of this page:

• Flour: For these delightful cookies, standard all-purpose wheat flour or patent flour will work perfectly. It forms the structure of our tender shortbread base. Ensure you measure accurately, preferably by weight, for consistent results.
• Sugar: Granulated white sugar is used to sweeten the cookies and contribute to their delicate crispness. It helps create a balanced flavor profile that pairs wonderfully with the candy filling.
• Butter: Unsalted butter is crucial for this recipe. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the exact amount of salt in your cookies, preventing them from becoming too salty. Make sure your butter is at room temperature before you start – this ensures it creams smoothly with the sugar, resulting in a lighter, more tender dough.
• Egg: A large egg acts as a binder, helping to hold the dough together and providing a richer, creamier taste to the shortbread. It also adds a subtle richness that enhances the overall flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: This ingredient imparts a warm, aromatic vanilla flavor that is quintessential to classic shortbread. If possible, opt for natural vanilla extract, which offers a deeper, more complex flavor profile compared to artificial versions. Did you know you can make your own? This recipe is perfect for using homemade vanilla extract, a cost-effective and highly recommended option for avid bakers.
• Salt: A pinch of salt is vital to balance the sweetness of the sugar and candies, enhancing all the other flavors in the cookies. Don’t skip it, as it truly makes a difference!
• Hard Candies: The star of our “stained glass” effect! You’ll need hard candies that melt smoothly. In this recipe, Napoleons were used, but other hard candies like Life Savers, Jolly Ranchers, or even clear fruit drops are excellent alternatives. For larger candies, you’ll need to crush them into smaller pieces before adding them to the cookies.

Step-by-Step: How to Prepare Easy Stained Glass Cookies for the Holidays

Creating these beautiful stained glass cookies is a fun and straightforward process. Follow these detailed steps to achieve perfect, glistening results. A printable recipe card with a complete step-by-step description is available at the very bottom of this blog post for your convenience.

1. Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar, softened butter, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture is light and fluffy, usually about 2 minutes on high speed with a hand mixer. Next, beat in the egg until it is fully incorporated into the butter mixture. Finally, gradually add the flour, mixing on low speed until the dough just comes together and forms a ball. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cookies tough.
2. Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two equal portions. For easy rolling, place each portion between two sheets of parchment paper. Lightly sprinkle some flour on the bottom sheet of parchment paper, place the dough on it, and gently flatten it with your hands. Dust the top of the dough with a little more flour, then cover with the second sheet of parchment paper. Use a rolling pin to roll out each piece of dough evenly to a thickness of about ¼ inch (approximately ½ cm). This uniform thickness is essential for the cookies to bake evenly and for the ‘stained glass’ to set properly. Transfer both rolled-out dough pieces (still between parchment paper) to the refrigerator and chill for at least thirty minutes. This critical step prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking and helps them maintain their intricate shapes.
3. Cut and Shape the Cookies: Once the dough is thoroughly chilled, remove one piece from the refrigerator and carefully peel off the top layer of parchment paper. Use a large cookie cutter to cut out your desired cookie shapes. Carefully transfer these large cutouts onto a baking tray lined with fresh parchment paper, leaving some space between each. Now, take a smaller cookie cutter (or a sharp knife for more intricate designs) and gently press it into the center of each large cookie to create the window for your candy. Carefully remove the small dough pieces from the centers. Don’t discard these! Place these smaller cookies on the baking sheet alongside the larger ones – they bake into delicious mini shortbread treats. Repeat this process until all the dough is used up.
4. First Bake and Candy Filling: Preheat your oven to 350 °F (approximately 177 °C). Bake the shaped cookies for six minutes. This initial bake allows the cookie dough to set before the candy is introduced, preventing the candy from seeping out. After six minutes, carefully remove the baking tray from the oven. Now, gently place a single hard candy (if small enough) or about one teaspoon of crushed hard candies into the hole of each cookie. If you have large candies, place them in a sturdy plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin or meat tenderizer until they are in small pieces before sprinkling them into the cookie centers.
5. Second Bake and Cooling: Return the baking sheet to the oven and continue baking for another nine minutes, or until the candy has completely melted and is smooth and glossy. The edges of the cookies should be lightly golden. Once baked, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. It is absolutely crucial to let the cookies cool completely to room temperature on the baking sheet. The melted candy will be extremely hot and sticky, and it needs time to cool and harden into its beautiful, glass-like state. Attempting to move them too soon will result in broken cookies and messy, unset centers.

These delightful cookies are perfectly paired with a comforting beverage. Enjoy them with a rich Nutella Chocolate Milk or, for adults, a cozy hot chocolate with vanilla and herbal liquor.

Expert Tips, Creative Substitutions, and Delightful Variations for Your Stained Glass Cookies

Achieve stained glass cookie perfection with these valuable tips, and unleash your creativity with fun variations:

• Crucial Chilling: The most vital tip for successful stained glass cookies is proper chilling. Ensure your rolled dough chills in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or even longer, up to an hour) before cutting. This firming of the butter in the dough is essential to prevent the cookies from spreading and losing their intricate shape during baking.
• Optimal Dough Thickness: Do not roll the dough too thin! A thickness of about ¼ inch (5 mm) is ideal. If the dough is too thin, it loses its structural integrity and can break easily, especially around the candy cutout. A slightly thicker edge ensures the “glass” remains securely in place.
• Fixing Air Bubbles: Occasionally, small air bubbles might form in the melted candy during baking. Don’t worry! Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, take a clean needle or a toothpick and gently stir through the ‘stained glass’ center. This will release the air bubbles, resulting in a perfectly smooth, clear finish as it cools.
• Colorful Candy Variations: Get creative with your candy choices! Use different colors of hard candies to create a vibrant assortment. Crush them finely and sprinkle various colors into the recess of each cookie. For an artistic touch, when the candies are still warm and molten from the oven, use a needle or toothpick to gently swirl and draw patterns, creating unique effects within the ‘glass’.
• Decorate the Dough: For an added touch of sparkle and sweetness before baking, lightly brush the unbaked cookie dough with a tiny bit of water and then sprinkle fine granulated sugar or colored sanding sugar over the surface. This creates a beautiful, shimmering border around your stained glass.
• Hanging Ornaments: To turn your cookies into beautiful, edible ornaments, use a thick needle, skewer, or the tip of a toothpick to carefully prick a small hole at the top of each cookie before baking. After the cookies have cooled completely and the candy has hardened, you can easily thread a festive ribbon or string through the hole to hang them on your Christmas tree, garlands, or as delightful party favors.
• Zero Waste Baking: We believe in no waste! Remember those small dough cutouts you removed from the center of the large cookies? Don’t let them go to waste! Simply bake them alongside your stained glass cookies. They make perfect bite-sized shortbread treats, often called “mini-cookies” or “cookie nibblers.”
• Oven Temperature Adjustment: If you are using a convection oven (which uses a fan to circulate heat), it generally cooks hotter and faster than a conventional oven. Reduce the oven temperature by about 25-30 °F (15-20 °C) when using a convection setting to prevent your cookies from over-baking or the candy from burning.

Storing Your Stained Glass Cookie Creations

Proper storage is key to keeping your beautiful stained glass cookies fresh and looking their best. Here are some guidelines:

• Room Temperature: Once completely cooled, store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. It’s important to note that in a humid environment, the shortbread can become soft, and the stained glass centers might become slightly sticky over time due to moisture absorption. For best results, store them in a cool, dry place.
• Freezer: While you can technically freeze the baked shortbread cookie part, freezing is generally not recommended for stained glass cookies. The colors of the ‘glass’ tend to fade and become cloudy after freezing and thawing, diminishing their vibrant appeal. It’s best to enjoy these cookies fresh!

Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I love to see what your creation looks like and regularly share the most beautiful photos of you! Did you like this recipe? Then leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback helps other home cooks and me enormously.

Need more inspiration?

• You can find video recipes on my YouTube channel.
• And don’t forget to save the recipes on Pinterest, so you can easily find them again next time!

Stained Glass Cookies

Andréa