STAINED GLASS SUGAR COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Place each flavor/color of candy in a separate resealable plastic bag. Using a meat mallet or a small saucepan, crush the candy into small pieces. Set aside.
• Whisk all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat butter, sugar and egg in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Beat in vanilla and almond (or lemon) extract until evenly incorporated.
• With the mixer on low speed, then medium speed, beat about half the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until incorporated. Beat in the remaining flour mixture until just incorporated.
• Divide the dough into thirds. Place one third on a 12-inch-long sheet of parchment paper and shape into a disk. Top with a second sheet of parchment. Roll the dough out between the parchment into an 8-inch circle about 1/4-inch thick. Place the parchment with the rolled dough on a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, stacking each piece of parchment with rolled dough on top of the previous one. Freeze on the baking sheet until cold and firm, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day.
• To shape and bake cookies: Position rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 to 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Working with one portion of dough at a time, remove from the freezer. Remove the top sheet of parchment and cut out cookies with 3- to 4-inch cookie cutters. Transfer the cookies to a prepared baking sheet with a wide, thin spatula, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart. Using a 1-inch cookie cutter, cut out the center of each larger cookie. (Save the scraps for rerolling or refreeze and bake the smaller "cookies" later.) Fill each center with about 1/2 teaspoon crushed candy and spread in an even layer so it is just touching the sides. Repeat with the remaining dough. (If the dough gets too soft, freeze until firm again. As you cut out cookies, set aside the scraps. Shape all the scraps back into a disk and reroll between parchment. Freeze for at least 30 minutes before cutting out.)
• Bake the cookies on the center rack, one baking sheet at a time, until lightly browned on the bottom, 8 to 12 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Steps:

• Place same colors of candies in separate zip-top bags. Use a rolling pin or small hammer to crush the candies. Pour each color of crushed candy into separate bowls. Beat butter and sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer just until incorporated. Add egg and almond extract. Mix again on low speed. Scrape down the bowl as needed.Add the flour and salt. Mix on low speed until dough is formed and there are no longer any streaks of butter in the mixing bowl. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Turn the dough out onto a sheet of plastic wrap and form into a ball. Wrap the dough tightly and refrigerate 1 hour.Preheat oven to 350°F.Working on a well-floured surface, knead dough slightly, squeezing it with your hands to flatten ball into a disc. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut shapes with larger (4-inch) cookie cutters, and then stamp a smaller shape from the center of the larger cookie. Lay shapes with cut-outs in the centers on a cookie sheet. Refrigerate 30 minutes. This will help the cookies maintain a crisp shape during baking.Use a spoon to fill the centers of cookies with crushed candies. Bake 5-7 minutes, or until crushed candy is melted. Remove cookies from oven and carefully fill each with more crushed candy. Bake an additional 5 minutes, or until the newly added crushed candy is melted and smooth. Remove pan from oven and let cookies cool completely on pan. When the cookies are cool, gently remove them to a platter and serve.