Stained Glass Cookies – buttery sugar cookies cut out into festive shapes with a beautiful stained glass window effect. Probably the prettiest holiday cookies ever!
Unwrap the candy and then place it in small resealable bags. Double or triple the bag as it can burst. Crush into bits using a rolling pin and set aside. You can keep the colours separate or simply mix them up. Keep the bag sealed as moisture will make the candy clump together.
Put the butter, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of your stand mixer or a large mixing bowl. Cream the butter and sugar for at least three minutes, stopping halfway to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl. Add the egg and beat again.
Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Gradually add the flour to the cookie dough, beating it in until the dough comes together. You might need to knead in the last bit of the flour with your hands. Gather into a ball and put in a plastic bag - no need to chill.
Cut the dough into portions, keeping any your are not using straight away in a plastic bag.. Roll the dough out on a silicone mat or baking paper (about 1/5-inch thick). Cut out your shapes (I used star and snowflake cutters) then use a smaller cutter to press into the middle. Do not remove the centre.
Preheat the oven to 170°C (35°F). Bake the cookies for nine minutes and take them out of the oven. Press the smaller cutters to remove the centers (use a toothpick to help you if needed) and fill with the crushed candy. Use a straw to cut a small hole if you want to hang the cookies.
Bake for a further 2-3 minutes or until the candy has melted. Cool on the baking mat until the candy hardens and carefully lift the cookies onto a wire rack. Repeat with the rest of the dough (you will need to bake in batches).
Store in an airtight container, separated by baking paper. Thread string through the holes if you want to hang them.