Santa, Baby — Stained Glass Cookies

December 26, 2007 | Filed Under Christmas, Cookies, Baking | 13 Comments 

 

 

Okay.  So, one of the questions in a Christmas meme that I recently completed got me thinking.  It asked what I left for Santa.  My answer was nothing.  Then I started to think that this year, perhaps, I could bake some cookies for him. 

I saw the most enticing, delectable-looking cookies — Stained Glass Cookies — on Elise’s Simply Recipes site.  Actually, I’d first seen these cookies on Pille’s blog some time ago.  Looking at them, again, this time on Elise’s blog, I was ready and knew that they were the cookies I’d bake for Santa!  Yeah, baby! 

I put all the ingredients together without incident and then the adventure began:  The instructions called for placing the hard candies (that made the stained glass portion) in a bag and then crushing them.  Anxious to make my cookies, I forgot to put the candy in a bag before crushing them.  I placed them on the chopping board and started whacking away at them.  Each time I banged on them with my mallet, pieces of candy would fly all over the kitchen. 

Oh, my!  However, I didn’t let that minor hiccup stop me.  Determined to get my stained glass, I continued to bang away.  I think half of the candy must have landed on the kitchen floor.  Haha!  I’m sorry to say that it never occurred to me on my own, to put it in a bag to contain it.  Duh.  What a scene.  Definitely, next time, I’ll remember to use the bags to crush the candy. 

I cut out my cookies and filled in the shapes to make the stained glass, put them in the oven, and voila!  I made my very first ever Stained Glass Cookies.  They didn’t look too bad and they tasted G-R-E-A-T!  I think Santa liked them because the next morning, I found the cookie plate empty and I found some gifts under the Christmas tree with my name on it.  Thankfully, he didn’t leave me any coal.  So, I think I did all right. 

Thanks, Elise and Pille, for the recipe and inspiration.  Now that I’ve started, I plan on making these cookies again.

Paz

Oh, by the way, I did my best but for some reason couldn’t get decent photos of the cookies.  I was unable to capture how much they really looked like stained glass windows when held to the light.  Check out Elise and Pille’s cookies for an accurate and beautiful photo.

 

 

 

 

Stained Glass Cookies

Simply Recipes

 

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 30-40 hard candies (such as Life Savers), preferably in several flavors/colors

1 Pre-heat oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat.

2 In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add molasses and vanilla extract, mixing until incorporated. Add egg and mix until light and smooth, about 1 minute on medium speed.

3 Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture. Use electric mixer to blend just until flour is incorporated. Divide dough in half and flatten into two disks. Wrap disks in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least an hour and up to 2 days.

4 Remove any wrappers on candies and separate them by color into plastic bags. Using a mallet to crush candies.

5 Place one disk between two large sheets of waxed paper and roll to 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut dough into desired shapes. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Using a smaller cookie cutter or a knife, cut shapes into centers of cookies, reserving these center bits to add into extra dough.

6 Use a spoon to sprinkle the crushed candy into the hollowed-out centers of the cookies, filling to the edges. Try to keep the candy within the centers. Any candy specks that fall on the cookie will color the cookie.

7 If cookies will be hung as ornaments or decorations, poke a small hole in the top of each cookie before baking.

8 Bake 9 to 10 minutes. The candy should be melted and bubbling and the cookies just barely beginning to brown. Remove baking sheets from oven and place on wire racks to cool. Allow cookies to cool on pans at least 10 minutes; otherwise, the candy centers may separate from the dough. When cookies are completely cooled, remove and store in an airtight container. String with ribbon if you want to hang as an ornament.

Makes 2 to 4 dozen cookies, depending on how large you make them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York Monday #102: Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

December 24, 2007 | Filed Under Christmas, New York Monday, Holidays | 19 Comments 

Christmas Day, December 25, 2005

December 25, 2005 | Filed Under Christmas, Holidays | Leave a Comment 

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Merry Christmas!
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“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.” — Agnes M. Pharo