Stained Glass Christmas Tree Cookies
These beautiful Stained Glass Cookies have colorful hard candy centers that look just like stained glass windows! A fun and festive holiday treat!
Christmas Tree Stained Glass Cookies
Stained Glass Cookies are beautiful sugar cookies with colorful, see-through centers that look just like miniature stained glass windows! This beautiful visual effect is created using crushed hard candies, such as Jolly Ranchers, that melt during baking to form a shiny, translucent center.
To make them, you’ll cut shapes from the cookie dough, then use a smaller cookie cutter to create an opening in the middle of each cookie. Fill the openings with crushed candy before baking, and as the candy melts and cools, it hardens into a colorful stained glass design that’s almost too pretty to eat! (Almost!)
Related: Check out our collection of more than 40 Christmas cookie recipes!
Ingredients
- Pantry: Granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, vanilla extract, hard candy (such as Jolly Ranchers)
- Dairy: Unsalted butter
- Refrigerated: Large eggs
Full ingredient amounts and step-by-step recipe directions available in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
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Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Mixing bowls
- Christmas tree cookie cutters (2 different sizes)
- Rolling pin
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
Instructions
To Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Make the Dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, continuing to mix until well combined.
- Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into the butter and sugar mixture.
- Mix until a cohesive dough forms.
Form the Cookies & Bake
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the cookie dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the tree shapes.
- Using a smaller Christmas tree shaped cookie cutter, punch out the middle of each cookie to create a “window” for the stained-glass effect.
- Carefully transfer the tree-shaped cookies onto the prepared pans, leaving space between each cookie.
- Place the hard candies in separate plastic zip-top bags for each color and use a mallet or rolling pin to crush into small pieces.
- Fill the center of each cookie with the crushed candies, using one color per cookie. Make sure to fill the openings completely and evenly.
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the candy has melted and filled the centers.
- Remove from oven and let the cookies cool on the pan for about 5 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. Allow the melted candy centers to harden before serving or storing.
Prep Tips
- Dough Prep – If the dough seems soft after mixing it and doesn’t hold its shape, chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to firm it up.
- Storage – Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Moisture and humidity can make the candy center sticky.
More Christmas Cookie Recipes To Try
- Christmas M&M Cookies
- Nutter Butter Reindeer Cookies
- Cake Mix Gingerbread Cookies
- Christmas Lights Cookies
Stained Glass Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
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Stained Glass Christmas Tree Cookies
Equipment
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowls
- Rolling pin
- 2 Christmas tree cookie cutters 2 different sizes
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- Hard candy such as Jolly Ranchers
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Make the Dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, continuing to mix until well combined.
- Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into the butter and sugar mixture.
- Mix until a cohesive dough forms.
Form the Cookies & Bake:
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the cookie dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the tree shapes.
- Using a smaller Christmas tree shaped cookie cutter, punch out the middle of each cookie to create a “window” for the stained-glass effect.
- Carefully transfer the tree-shaped cookies onto the prepared pans, leaving space between each cookie.
- Place the hard candies in separate plastic zip-top bags for each color and use a mallet or rolling pin to crush into small pieces.
- Fill the center of each cookie with the crushed candies, using one color per cookie. Make sure to fill the openings completely and evenly.
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the candy has melted and filled the centers.
- Remove from oven and let the cookies cool on the pan for about 5 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. Allow the melted candy centers to harden before serving or storing.
Notes
-
Dough Prep: If dough is too soft to hold its shape, refrigerate for 30 minutes before cutting.
-
Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Avoid moisture and humidity, which can make the candy centers sticky.
Nutrition
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