Name: Stained Glass Cookie Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon salt; 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or almond extract for a twist); ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional); Assorted hard candies (like Jolly Ranchers or Life Savers), separated by color and crushed; Powdered sugar (for dusting); Ribbon or string (if hanging as ornaments)

If you’ve ever wished you could make Christmas sparkle on your cookie tray, then this Stained Glass Cookie Recipe is your new best friend. I absolutely love how these cookies catch the light through their colorful candy centers, turning any holiday gathering into a mini art show. When I first made these, my family went crazy over them—and I promise, you’ll find this recipe both fun and surprisingly simple once you get the hang of it.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Visual Wow Factor: The stained glass effect creates stunning, jewel-like centers that light up any cookie display.
Kid-Friendly Fun: Crushing candies and filling the cookies is a great hands-on activity for little helpers in the kitchen.
Flavor Flexibility: You can customize the cookie dough with vanilla or almond extract, and pick candy colors to fit every season.
Perfect Gift Idea: These cookies double as beautiful homemade ornaments, making gifting extra special.

The image shows a pile of star-shaped cookies on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has two layers: a bottom thicker cookie crust layer with a pale golden color and a top smaller star-shaped cutout filled with shiny, colorful translucent candy in red, blue, green, and yellow colors. The edges of the cookies are dusted lightly with white powdered sugar, adding a soft texture contrast against the smooth candy centers. The cookies are stacked closely, creating a colorful arrangement with some overlapping stars. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Stained Glass Cookie, colorful holiday cookies, festive cookie recipes, easy Christmas cookies, candy-filled cookie ideas

Ingredients You’ll Need

Getting the right ingredients is key to nailing the stained glass cookie effect—each element works together to create that delicate dough and shiny candy window. Here’s what you’ll want in your pantry before you start.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour in a simple white ceramic bowl, a teaspoon of baking powder in a small white bowl, a pinch of salt in another small white bowl, two sticks of unsalted butter with a pale yellow creamy texture on a white plate, a white ceramic bowl filled with granulated sugar sparkling like tiny crystals, one large whole egg with a smooth light brown shell, a small white bowl holding clear vanilla extract, a few broken pieces of assorted colorful hard candies (red, green, yellow, and orange) unwrapped and crushed, and a small white bowl containing fine powdered sugar dust, all arranged with perfect symmetry and balanced proportions placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Stained Glass Cookie, colorful holiday cookies, festive cookie recipes, easy Christmas cookies, candy-filled cookie ideas

All-purpose flour: This forms the sturdy base of the cookie dough, helping them hold shape without being tough.
Baking powder: A small lift to keep cookies light and tender instead of dense.
Salt: Be sure to add just a pinch to balance the sweetness and enhance flavor.
Unsalted butter: Softened to cream smoothly with sugar — it’s the richness that gives these cookies that melt-in-your-mouth quality.
Granulated sugar: For sweetness and a bit of crunch in the dough.
Egg: To bind everything nicely and add moisture to the dough.
Vanilla extract: My favorite classic flavor—though almond extract is a lovely twist to try if you want something a little different.
Almond extract (optional): Adds a subtle nutty note when combined with vanilla.
Assorted hard candies: Think Jolly Ranchers or Life Savers—pick your favorite colors and crush them to fill the cookie “windows.”
Powdered sugar: Just for a light dusting after baking to add a festive snow-kissed finish.
Ribbon or string: For threading through warm cookies if you want to hang them as charming ornaments.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

One of the things I love about this stained glass cookie recipe is how easy it is to personalize. You can change up the flavors or candy colors to fit the season or any occasion—there’s really no wrong way to make these your own.

Using different extracts: I sometimes swap the vanilla for peppermint extract for a fresh holiday vibe, and it’s always a hit with guests.
Gluten-free option: Try a gluten-free blend instead of all-purpose flour if that’s what your family needs—it still works well chilled and rolled.
Seasonal candy colors: For Halloween, I use orange and purple candies; for Valentine’s Day, bright reds and pinks really pop in the windows.
Shape swaps: I’ve tried hearts, stars, and snowflakes—all work great and can add extra meaning to your themed cookies.

How to Make Stained Glass Cookie Recipe

Step 1: Mix and Chill Your Dough

Start by whisking your flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl—that’s your dry foundation. Then, in a big bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy; this takes about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer or a strong arm and patience. Adding the egg and your chosen extracts comes next—this is where the dough gets its flavor personality. Once combined, slowly add the flour mixture and stir just until the dough comes together; trust me, overmixing leads to tough cookies. Finally, shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic, and pop it in the fridge for at least an hour. This chilling step is key—it keeps those cookie shapes crisp while baking and makes the dough so much easier to handle.

Step 2: Crush Your Candies by Color

While your dough chills, sort your hard candies by color into ziplock bags. Using a rolling pin or meat mallet, crush them into small shards—not powdery, but small enough that they’ll melt evenly in the cookie centers. This step always feels a bit like Christmas crafts at my house, and I love letting the kids help out here because it’s safe and satisfying.

Step 3: Roll, Cut, and Fill the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On a floured surface, roll out your dough to about a quarter-inch thickness. Use a large cookie cutter (I adore stars for this) to cut out the basic shapes. Then, with a smaller cutter of the same shape, punch out the centers—this is where your stained glass magic happens. Transfer each cookie carefully to your baking sheets. Now fill the cut-out centers with the crushed candy—you want to fill the hole completely but don’t overfill, or the candy will spill over while melting. This step can be a bit fiddly, so I use a small spoon or even my fingers to place the candy bits neatly.

Step 4: Bake and Cool to Perfection

Bake your cookies for 8-10 minutes. You’re looking for lightly golden edges and a smooth, melted candy center that looks like a shiny jewel. When they come out of the oven, resist the urge to move them immediately—let them cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes. This gives the candy centers time to harden without cracking. After that, a gentle transfer to a wire rack will let them finish cooling completely while staying crisp.

Step 5: Add the Finishing Flourish

Once cooled, I like to dust the cookie edges lightly with powdered sugar. It’s an old trick I learned that adds a little wintery sparkle and hides any uneven edges. And if you’re making these as ornaments, don’t forget to poke a small hole near the top with a straw while they’re still warm. Then, once fully cooled, thread your ribbon or string through—it’s such a nostalgic touch that I always appreciate around the holidays.

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Pro Tips for Making Stained Glass Cookie Recipe

Chill Twice: After rolling out and cutting, chill the cut cookies on the baking sheet for 10-15 minutes before filling and baking to prevent spreading.
Candy Control: Crush candies carefully to avoid chunks that won’t melt evenly—small shards yield the best glossy centers.
Use Parchment Paper: This prevents sticking, and makes cleanup way easier—don’t skip it!
Punch Holes While Warm: The cookie is less likely to crack when the dough is still warm and pliable for threading ribbons.

How to Serve Stained Glass Cookie Recipe

Garnishes

I typically dust with powdered sugar to make these cookies pop visually on the plate, but a sprinkle of edible glitter or edible glitter pens can add extra whimsy, especially if you’re gifting or serving at a party.

Side Dishes

These sweet beauties pair wonderfully with a hot cup of spiced cider, eggnog, or even a rich cup of coffee or tea—perfect for cozy afternoons where the cookies can shine as the star snack.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I like to hang these cookies on a decorated cookie tree branch using their ribbons—it doubles as edible decor! Another time, I arranged them on a glass platter with fairy lights underneath, so the stained glass centers really glowed. Guests always ask how I did it!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store any leftover stained glass cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, separated by parchment paper layers so they don’t stick. They usually last about a week and stay crisp if kept away from humidity.

Freezing

If you want to make these ahead, you can freeze the raw dough wrapped well in plastic wrap and foil for up to 2 months. I haven’t personally frozen baked stained glass cookies because the candy centers can sometimes dull, but the dough freezes beautifully.

Reheating

Since these cookies are best enjoyed fresh, I usually don’t reheat them. But if you want that just-baked warmth, a few seconds in a microwave can soften the cookie slightly—just be careful not to melt the candy center again.

FAQs

Can I use other candies besides Jolly Ranchers for the stained glass centers?

Absolutely! Any hard candy that melts well works. Life Savers, Werther’s Originals, or even certain lollipops can be crushed and used. Just avoid candies with fillings or soft centers, as they won’t create the translucent effect.
How can I prevent the candy from bubbling over during baking?

Be sure not to overfill the cookie cutouts with crushed candy—fill them just to the edges. Also, chilling the cookies before baking helps them hold their shape and prevents candy from spilling past the dough borders.
Why is it important to chill the dough before rolling out?

Chilling the dough firms it up, which makes rolling and cutting easier and prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. Without chilling, your stained glass centers might melt out of shape.
Can I make these cookies allergy-friendly?

Yes! For nut allergies, skip almond extract. For gluten allergies, substitute with a gluten-free flour blend. Just keep in mind that texture might differ slightly, but the stained glass effect can still shine.
How do I create a hole for hanging cookies without cracking?

While cookies are still warm (not hot), gently poke a hole near the edge using a clean straw or skewer. The warm dough is pliable and less likely to crack than when fully cooled.

Final Thoughts

This stained glass cookie recipe holds a special place in my kitchen, especially around the holidays when everyone’s eager to gather and celebrate. It’s not just about the cookies—it’s about the joy of making something beautiful together and sharing those moments. I hope you find the same kind of magic in this recipe that I did the first time I pulled them out of the oven. Give it a try, have fun with your favorite candy colors, and watch those smiles light up every room.