Stained glass isn't JUST for windows!

If you've never baked stained glass cookies, you're in for a treat! All the technique requires is your favorite hard candy and a few minutes in the oven. For this recipe, you can use these simple steps to create Rudolph sugar cookies complete with a red nose. If your kiddos, nieces, or nephews are around, let them lend a hand and watch their eyes fill with wonder and glee when you open up the oven.

Directions

1. In a medium-sized bowl, cream the butter and sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg until incorporated, then mix in the vanilla, salt, and flour until well combined.
2. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
3. Remove the dough from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you are ready to use it.
4. Place hard candies in a food processor and pulse until broken into small pieces.
5. Preheat oven to 350F. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thick and cut with reindeer-shaped cookie cutters. Use a small circle cookie cutter to cut a hole in each reindeer where the nose should go.
6. Transfer cookies to baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
7. Bake for 6 minutes.
8. Remove cookies from the oven and fill the nose holes with crushed candy.
9. Return the cookies to the oven for another 4 minutes or until the edges of the cookies just begin to brown.
10. Allow the cookies to cool before transferring them from the baking sheets to wire racks.
11. Use a dab of white icing to affix the candy eyes to the cookies.

Nellie's Notes

Depending on the cookie cutters you purchase, the cutter may come in a set with a circle for Rudolph's nose included. The wider end of a piping tip will also do the trick!