Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Tasty Tuesday: Stained Glass Sugar Cookie Leaves

Fall is the prettiest time of year with the leaves changing and falling, the pumpkins all around, and the muted earth tones of the decorations. My mom bought me a set of leaf cookie cutters and I knew this was the perfect recipe for them.

Whip up a batch of sugar cookie dough. We used a pouch mix. (Hey, sometimes it's better to use a free mix than to take the time to make them from scratch. At least we didn't have a repeat of this!) Feel free to use your favorite recipe (or our favorite recipe).


Realize you're running late, stick the dough covered in the fridge, feed the kids dinner, rush everyone out to the van, go to your son's soccer game. (This step may be skipped if need be.)


Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a floured surface. The more "help" the better.


Cut out your shapes. Of course, we used leaves, but you could use any shape. Flowers for spring, eggs for Easter, tree or star for Christmas, teddy bear or bottle for a baby shower, crown or cake for a birthday. The possibilities are endless.


Cut out the center of each cookie. We used the smaller version of the same shape, but you could make it with just a simple circle center. 

Transfer the cookies to foil-lined cookie sheets.


Break up some hard candy. Suckers, lollipops, Lifesavers, Jolly Ranchers, butterscotch, peppermint, candy canes. You got it, smash it. 

The kids LOVED using the wooden meat tenderizer to bang the candy. I think they get the demolition genes from their father.

 
Fill the centers of the cookies with the broken pieces of candy. We chose the multicolored route in celebration of the fall colors, but you could use a solid color if you wish.


Once the cookies are filled and ready, pop them in the oven to bake. When the cookies are done and the candy is melted, transfer the foil liner to a cookie sheet to cool completely. The cookies will pull off easily once the candy is cool.

The hard part is trying to keep the kids patient while they're cooling! Thankfully we kept those little leaf centers to appease them for a little bit.


They are fun to make and the kids just love them! Cookie and candy in one? What's not to love?


They're pretty too! Make a batch of these next time you have a get-together.  And be ready to hear lots of oohs and aahs!


Stained Glass Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
one batch sugar cookie dough
hard candy

Directions:
1. Roll out dough on floured surface to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes. Cut out centers. Transfer cookies to foil-lined cookie sheets.
2. Break up the hard candies. Fill centers of cookies with the broken candy.
3. Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes, until edges begin to brown and candy is melted through.
4. Transfer foil to cooling rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.


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9 comments:

  1. What a great idea. They do look pretty and the kids did a great job (probably with a little help from mom) making them!!

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  2. Wow, I thought we had done every fall project possible, but these are new. ;0) Looks great! Thanks for sharing.

    Following you now from the Crew.

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  3. oh, what a beautiful cookie!!! love these! thanks for sharing on the sunday showcase & I shared this idea on Facebook & Twitter! :)

    Bern

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  4. WOW - those are sooooo cute! I LOVE them! I am totally doing these.
    I would LOVE for you to come link up at my linky party ~ TGIF here http://livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkey%20Parties
    ~Beth

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  5. you have been featured on this week's Sunday Showcase (& Facebook too)! Thanks for sharing these fab cookies w/us on the Sunday Showcase last week - can't wait to see what you will contribute this week!

    Bern
    http://momto2poshlildivas.blogspot.com/search/label/Sunday%20Showcase

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  6. this is a fab idea, they look wonderful. thanks for sharing (found you on the sunday showcase).

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  7. Beautiful cookies and they look yummy too! Thanks for sharing this:) We'll definitely be trying it in the future!

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  8. These are GORGEOUS!! LOVE< LOVE< LOVE! I am going to try them with Christmas cookies =-) Oh, I found you at TGIF Linky Party!
    ~Megan

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  9. I featured these gorgeous cookies at TGIF Linky Party this week! http://livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/2011/11/tgif-linky-party-4.html
    Feel free to stop over & grab an I was featured button! I can't wait to see what you link up this week!
    Beth =-)

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