Stained Glass Cookies {Glass Window Cookies}

Quick, easy stained glass cookies recipe, homemade with simple ingredients. These classic Christmas cut out sugar cookies are filled with rock candy or Jolly Ranchers to create the illusion of a window.

These pretty cookies are great for Christmas, Mother's Day or even Valentine's Day. They make a great homemade gift for the holidays and are very fun to make with kids. They have a clear candy center so that light can shine through them. They would make such beautiful windows in this How to Make Gingerbread House {Homemade} recipe. These cookies are not to be confused with my Church Window Cookies. They are both classics and both referred to as windows, but the similarities end there.

Jump to:

• Key ingredients for glass window biscuits
• How to make easy stained cookies recipe from scratch? 
• Variations
• Tips and techniques
• Storage of jolly rancher cookies
• More cut out cookie recipes
• Recipe

Key ingredients for glass window biscuits

• Cookie dough- You will need a double recipe of sugar cookie dough.
• Candy- Such as Rock candy, Jolly Ranchers, or Life Savers in various colors.

How to make easy stained cookies recipe from scratch? 

1. Prepare cookie dough- Roll it out.
2. Cut shapes- Cut out the larger shape, and then hollow out the center.
3. Place on a baking tray- Fill the centers with candy. 
4. Bake and cool- Enjoy. 

Variations

• Fill them with something else- You can bake hollow cookies without rock candy. Then, when they cool down, fill them with melted chocolate and sprinkles and let it set.
• Use other decor options- Such as Royal Icing Recipe. Use this to pipe intricate designs on top of the stained glass, once the cookies cool completely. 
• Try multiple colors- Melt more than one color candy in the center. Just make sure to not over-fill the center.
• Color the cookie dough- Dye the dough whatever color matches your theme, or that you prefer, for even more colorful cookies.
• Use another cookie- Any cut out cookie recipe would work well here. I used sugar cookies but you also use Chocolate Sugar Cookies or Gingerbread Cookies. 

Tips and techniques

• Best candy for stained glass windows? After trying a few different candies, I found that hard rock candies like Life Savers and Jolly Ranchers work the best plus they have beautiful vibrant colors. 
• Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature- Because this helps them blend together smoothly and evenly.
• Cookies need to be rolled thick- Because this allows them to handle the weight of the rock candy. Half inch thickness works best. 
• Don't overfill the cookies with candy- Because they can overflow during baking and make a sticky mess. Only fill halfway.
• Don't use cutters that have a diameter of less than 3 inches- Because these cookies look best when they are a bit large.
• How many cookies does this make- This recipe made 15 cookies for me, but it depends on the size and shape of the cutters you use. Larger cookies will result in fewer cookies, and smaller ones will make more.
• Use parchment paper to roll out the dough- Because this prevents it from sticking and becoming difficult to roll.  
• How to know when cookies are done? They are done when the edges are golden brown and the candy is fully melted.
• Cool cookies completely before removing them from the baking tray- Because this ensures that the center is fully set and helps prevent the cookie from breaking.

Storage of jolly rancher cookies

• Room Temperature- In a box from up to 3 days.
• Refrigerate and Freeze- I avoid both because the candy center can become sticky due to the moisture.

More cut out cookie recipes

• Pistachio Cookies {Cut Out}
• Easy Funfetti Cookies {Cut Out Recipe}
• Easy Gingersnap Cookies {Cut Outs}
• Easy Cut Out Sugar Cookies (With Cake Mix)

Recipe