Last year, I wrote about a special memory of my first Valentine’s Day with my husband. Every year he’s been my Valentine since has been more special than the last, but though I may be a hopeless romantic I’ve never made a huge deal out of the heart-shaped holiday. So, this year, while he’s away on a business trip I’m happy enough with a dozen flowers and a date on the calendar for me to look forward to him coming home!
In the meantime, though, I figured I’d whip up a special cookie to celebrate early and give you a delicious, adorable idea for your own Valentine. Not to mention, it’s kind of amazing what a bunch of basic ingredients and a handful of Jolly Ranchers can produce! Kids would have a blast with this, and I think it’s safe to say anyone would be tickled pink to receive them!
These stained glass cookies are an impressive but surprisingly simple sweet treat for a special Valentine. Just make a basic sugar cookie and use a heart cookie cutter to shape the cookies. Use a smaller cutter to remove a tiny heart from the inside of the cookie, and fill it with crushed hard candies. After baking, the melted candy becomes glass-like and makes for a pretty cookie and a sweet, sentimental homemade treat that’s as tasty as it is fun to make!
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Stained Glass Heart Cookies
Yield: Makes approx. 30 cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour
15 small hard candies for cookie center (I used Jolly Ranchers), crushed
Directions:
To make the dough: Using an electric mixer at medium-high speed, cream the butter, gradually adding the sugar. Beat in the egg until evenly mixed, then blend in the vanilla extract and salt.
With a wooden spoon, stir the flour into the creamed ingredients, about one third at a time, until evenly blended. Divide the dough in half. Flatten each portion into a disk and seal in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
To create the cookies: Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Cover a sturdy baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat the foil with cooking spray. Between two sheets of waxed paper lightly dusted with flour, roll the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Remove the top sheet.
Cut out the cookies with a large heart cookie cutter. Use a lightly floured spatula to transfer the shapes to the baking sheet, leaving about an inch between cookies. Remove the centers of the cookies with a smaller heart cookie cutter.
Place a pinch of crushed hard candy into the center of each cookie and bake until the cookies start to brown lightly around the edges and the candy is melted, about 8 to 10 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. To prevent sticking, line your serving plate or tin with waxed paper and place additional waxed paper between layers.
Enjoy!
Lovely! These are gorgeous – perfect for Valentine’s! :)
These cookies are so lovely and a fabulous change from traditional chocolates!
So pretty!
:-) Mandy
Your cookies are beautiful with the “shimmering stained glass”. Gorgeous pic.
These cookies might be surprisingly simple but they certainly are pretty (and very delicious I bet ;)
These are so pretty – what a creative idea!
Beautiful cookies!
What an AWESOME idea!
Those are stunning cookies!!!! So festive!
Very creative! I could see how a cherry jolly rancher would serve very well as the center…green apple and grape are my favorite, so I would have to do a tri-color batch :) Nice thinking!
What beautiful cookies, almost to pretty to eat!! I’m going to try them over the weekend!
I have been saving red candies for a month in order to make these. It’s fun to see yours. Your photo looks great!
love these – i love it !! so adorable!! first time at your blog – beautiful blog !!
Dear Georgia, These cookies look so beautiful and perfect for Valentine’s Day. I love the ‘stained glass’ effect. Just a lovely post! Do come visit soon! Blessings, Catherine
These are so cute!! thanks for sharing!!
Hi Georgia-I LOVE your gorgeous stained glass heart cookies. I want to make them for my sweeties. xx
these are beautiful cookies! they honestly look perfect. this is my first time visiting your blog. you are SO talented with your writing, photos, and creative recipes. :)
a classic and a beauty of a cookie. they look professional my dear!
Done to perfection. Looks gorgeous and clean finish. Love it !!!
Pavithra
would these cookies freeze well?
They do freeze well in a resealable plastic bag or container.