Stained Glass Cookies

These cookies looked difficult -- but they really weren't!

Make them during a play date for more fun 

(& something for kids to do between steps)

1 cup colored hard candies (Jolly Ranchers or Life Savers)
Nonstick cooking spray
1 stick of butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
star cookies cutters in 2 sizes

1- Put candies into sealable plastic bags, cover with a towel & break them into small bits with a hammer.  Set aside.
2- Cover a baking sheet with foil & spray it with nonstick cooking spray.  Set aside.
3- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4- Combine butter, sugar, vanilla.  Beat egg and add.  Beat in flour.
5- Sprinkle flour on your work surface & roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness.
6- Cut out cookies using larger star cookie cutter & transfer to prepared cookie sheet.
7- Cut out smaller stars from the cookies on the pan.
8- Bake the cookies for 5 minutes, remove them from the oven & put candy bits into the centers.
Bake for another 5 minutes.
9- Let the cookies stand until completely cool, about 30 minutes.

from American Girl magazine, November/December 2007