Wednesday, December 15, 2010

COOKIE COUNTDOWN: RECIPE #17

These cookies taste great and make a nice decoration on the dessert table.
Stained Glass Ornament Cookies
Stained Glass Ornament Cookie Recipe

Stained Glass Cookie Recipe

You Will Need
1-1/2 cups butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
Assorted colors of Jolly Rancher hard candies
1 tablespoon meringue powder
3 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon water
2-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar

What to Do
1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Divide dough into three portions; cover and put in refrigerator for 30 minutes or until easy to handle.

2. Line baking sheets with foil and grease the foil; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with floured 2-1/2-in. ornament-shaped cookie cutters. Cut out centers with a floured 1/2-in. cookie cutter. Place larger cutouts 2 in. apart on prepared baking sheets. Using a plastic straw, poke a small hole near the top of each cookie for hanging. Repeat with remaining dough. Reroll small cutouts if desired.

3. Place the same color of hard candies in small resealable plastic bags; crush candies. Sprinkle in center of cookies. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Use straw to reopen hanging holes. Cool for 2-3 minutes or until candies are set before carefully removing to wire racks.

4. For icing, in a small mixing bowl, beat meringue powder and water until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Decorate cookies; let dry. Thread string through holes to hang cookies.

Yield: about 7 dozen.