Thursday, December 1, 2011

Stained Glass Ornament Cookies

It's holiday baking time!  One of my favorite, but most frantic times of the year.  I think I enjoy the cookbook perusing, planning, ingredient buying, and envisioning huge, beautiful platters of cookies, much more than I enjoy the reality of all of the hard work, shaping, forming, slicing, and baking.  But, oh the wonderful aromas, personal satisfaction, and of course, soaking up all of those accolades, not to mention gobbling tasty cookies!  I suppose it really does make all of the work worthwhile.

One thing I have learned over the years is to tackle the most difficult or time-consuming cookies first.  As the holiday season comes barreling towards us at breakneck speed, it often becomes wise to opt for the simple rather than complex when our backs are against the wall, so if I plan on doing any type of special cookie, I make them first.

These Stained Glass Ornament Cookies are both delicious and attractive.  I used my own gingerbread cookie recipe and a set of ornament cookie cutters that I bought from Williams-Sonoma. (If you don't have a favorite gingerbread cookie recipe, you can find mine here.)  I was intrigued by the cutters and having never made a stained glass window cookie thought they might aid in my endeavor.  Actually, you can really do this on your own with any type of large cutter and any type of small one.  Roll out chilled dough to about 3/8", cut with the larger cutter, cut out little "windows" with the smaller cutter, and fill each window with crushed hard candies.  I used Jolly Ranchers because I liked the jewel-tone colors.  It took a bit of practice to get the amount right, and I have no idea how to guide you here except to encourage you to experiment.  If you use too little, the windows will have holes in them, use too much and the melted candies run over.  To avoid a potential mess, be sure to employ the use of parchment paper when you bake these.
Ready for the oven. Crushed Jolly Rancher candies seemed to give the biggest assortment of colors to fill in the little windows on the cookies.
Out of the oven, my crushed candies cooperated nicely leaving me with wonderful little jewel-toned windows in the ornament cookies. Now to decorate and hang on the tree.
Considering that I am really not a cookie decorator, I'm pretty pleased with the way they turned out.  They are much prettier than they photograph.  When the little tree lights shine through the "stained glass" section of the cookie, it positively glows!
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18 comments:

  1. I made stained glass cookies years and years ago, but your version turned out much, much more attractive. Very nicely done.

    :)
    ButterYum

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  2. This is truly beautiful. I've always wanted to make these for the holidays but never got the chance to do that yet. There are so much details on yours and simply beautiful.

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  3. Whew! I thought I'd never get here. Thank goodness I made it. Your cookies look so festive Pattie. They are just darling! I can't remember the last time I made Stained Glass Cookies.

    Thank you so much for sharing...

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  4. Your cookies are so pretty. I remember seeing similiar cookies when I was a little girl and begging my mom to let us make them. Although I vaguely remember making them, I know the end results weren't as cute as yours.

    It's easy to see how much effort these take, but the end results look worth it!

    I have a gingerbread party going on my blog right now and would love to have you include this post. I don't like to include my own URL on other people's blogs, so if you are interested, you're welcome to come to my blog for the details.

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  5. I've never made stain glass cookies~ they're beautiful! I can only imagine how wonderful they look on your tree! I'm afraid the tree would be more temptation than our dogs (and myself :) could resist but I so love the idea!

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  6. I've never made stained glass cookies. They are wonderful! After reading your post, I'm going to have to give them a try!

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  7. Thanks for adding this to my party. These cookies are so pretty I know people coming to the party will love them. You forgot the link back, so it would be great if you would add that.

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  8. Patti T, I admire anyone who has the patience to make stained glass cookies. They're gorgeous!

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  9. I made these recently as a tribute to my late grandma who actually was a stained glass artist with many awards and professional installations in her name - these just made me smile ear to ear! here from seasonal sundays. thx for the smile.

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  10. The stained glass cookies are so pretty. You would never know this was your first time. I will try your gingerbread recipe, thanks so much for sharing it. They look so lovely on your tree. Thanks for sharing over at Sunday's Best. P.S. I just Facebooked you, hope you'll Facebook mine.

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  11. OOO Looks great! Thanks for linking up to Themed Baker’s Sunday at Cupcake Apothecary! Please make sure to add a link back to my linky party! Thanks!
    Alyssa

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  12. Gorgeous, wow, just terrific and the cookie cutter is great too and different, never saw one like this. Fantastic! Thanks for sharing my friend, so much inspration. Happy Holidays, FABBY

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  13. Pattie, your cookies game out great! I love how they look on your edible tree too!

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  14. You were featured on this week's A Themed Baker's Sunday! But we're keeping the Christmas spirit alive until Christmas Weekend! If you have baking recipes, cooking recipes, or even ideas, bring them over and share with everyone!
    Cupcake Apothecary
    http://cupcakeapothecary.blogspot.com/2011/12/themed-bakers-sunday-17.html

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Thank you so much for commenting, I love every one of them! I am, however, unable to respond to anonymous comments.