"Stained Glass Heart Cookies Tutorial"

Make your own tasty stained glass cookies this Valentines day. For a fun family activity, fill the centers of cut out cookies with crushed hard candies. The candies melt during baking to resemble stained glass. We had so much fun making these with kids.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp  sea salt
3/4 tsp baking powder

15 hard candies (such as Jolly Ranchers or Life Savers)
Red chocolate for decoration

Heat oven to 350°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper (aluminum foil may be used, but parchment paper works better with these cookies).

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add molasses and vanilla extract, mixing until incorporated. Add egg and mix until light and smooth, about 1 minute on medium speed.

Sift flour, salt, and baking powder over mixture; then, using a rubber spatula, fold dry ingredients into mixture. Use electric mixer to blend just until flour is incorporated.

Remove any wrappers on candies and separate them by color into plastic bags. Using a mallet or the side of a rolling pin, crush candies.

 Use 2 sized heart cutters.

Place a piece of dough between two large sheets of waxed paper and roll to 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut dough into desired shapes.

Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets. Using a smaller cookie cutter or a knife, cut shapes into centers of cookies. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets, about 1/2 inch apart. Using a smaller cookie cutter or a knife, cut shapes into centers of cookies. Use a spoon to sprinkle the crushed candy into the hollowed-out centers of the cookies, filling to the edges. You can mix colors for a mottled effect.

Bake 9 to 10 minutes. The candy should be melted and bubbling and the cookies just barely beginning to brown and firm to the touch. Allow cookies to cool on pans at least 10 minutes; otherwise, the candy centers may separate from the dough. When cookies are completely cooled, remove and store in an airtight container.

Melt a little bit of red chocolate melts and use a small sized tip to decorate cookies.

Enjoy!!!