Simple Gluten Free Stained Glass Cookies
Finding delicious gluten free Christmas cookies to make at Christmas time can be so hard! Instead of digging through different gluten free recipes online trying to find the perfect one for your holiday get-together, you need to try this simple recipe! These gluten free stained glass cookies are not only simple to make but they look beautiful, too.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase something from my link (at no additional cost to you). Thanks for your support!
Making cookies for Christmas is a tradition for most families during the holiday season. But if you can’t eat gluten, it can be hard to enjoy baking during the holidays. Luckily, everyone in your family will love this delicious gluten free stained glass cookie recipe!
In addition to being a beautiful take on classic sugar cookies, these gluten free treats are so easy to make! That’s why they’re one of my favorite gluten free desserts.
Gluten Free Stained Glass Cookies
These pretty Christmas cookies get their name because they look like a stained glass window after they’re baked. But just because these cookies look complicated, doesn’t mean they are! They’re actually super simple to make.
To make these easy gluten free stained glass cookies, you’ll need:
- Gluten free sugar cookie dough (click the link to get my easy recipe)
- Jolly Ranchers
That’s it! With these two ingredients, you can have a delicious and pretty cookie to enjoy for Christmas this year.
How to Make Stained Glass Cookies
Making stained glass cookies is so easy! The first step is to prepare your cookie dough. I suggest using my recipe for easy gluten free sugar cookies (scroll up to the list of ingredients to get the link to the recipe).
After your dough is prepared, roll it out and use a round cookie cutter to cut the base of the cookies. Then, grab a small star cookie cutter and cut out the center of each circle. You can reroll the stars to make more cookies. Or just bake the stars and have some cute mini star sugar cookies to enjoy, too.
Make sure you line your baking sheet with parchment paper before placing the cookies on the sheet. The paper will keep your melted candy from sticking to the pan, making it easier to remove the cookies from the baking sheet when they’re cool.
After cutting the stars out of each circle, you’ll need to prepare your Jolly Ranchers. Place the candy in a zip-top bag and seal the bag. Then, use your rolling pin to crush the candy by hitting it. It will take a few good pounds to get the candy to crack, then you can roll over the pieces to crush it even more.
After crushing the candy, sprinkle a small amount of candy inside the star shape. Make sure not to overfill the space because the candy will bubble over. It’s also a good idea to use a toothpick to push the pieces into each point of the star so it completely fills the space as the cookies bake.
Next, place the cookies in the oven to bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The cookies are done when the edges are just beginning to brown. Once the cookies are done baking, remove the pan from the oven and allow them to cool on the pan.
Do not transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack until the candy in the center is completely cool. If you move them too soon, the candy will get stuck to your spatula and ruin your beautiful stained glass effect.
Stained Glass Cookie Recipe Tips
Since these cookies are so easy to make, you shouldn’t have many issues preparing them. And once they’re finished baking, they’re ready to enjoy! No need for additional decorations or frosting on these simple sugar cookies.
While baking these easy stained glass cookies, you may have a few questions about the recipe. Here are some frequently asked questions that may help while you’re baking!
Are Jolly Ranchers gluten free?
Yes! Jolly Ranchers are gluten free, making them a great addition to your stained glass cookies.
Can I use a different candy in the center of the cookies?
You can use different hard candies in the center of the cookies. In addition to Jolly Ranchers, you could also use Life Savers. I have also seen gummy bears used, but I haven’t tried them in this recipe.
Can I make the cookie dough ahead of time?
These delicious cookies could be made ahead of time and baked later. The dough can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or you can freeze it for up to one month. When thawing the dough, place it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it, then allow the dough to warm slightly on the counter before rolling it out.
Gluten Free Stained Glass Cookies
Use traditional sugar cookie dough to make these delicious gluten free stained glass cookies for your next holiday get-together.
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups gluten free baking flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 24 Jolly Ranchers
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder.
- In a separate bowl, beat together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar. Add the vanilla extract and egg and beat until combined.
- Mix in the flour mixture at low speed until dough begins to form.
- Separate the dough into two equal balls and place each in a plastic bag. Press the dough into a disk and chill for at least one hour.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until the dough is around ¼ inch thick. Use a round cookie cutter to cut out the dough, then place the cookies on the baking sheet. Cut out the center of each cookie using a small star cookie cutter.
- Place the Jolly Ranchers in a bag and use a rolling pin to crush them. Fill the center of each cookie with Jolly Ranchers, around 2/3 of the way full.
- Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cookies are golden brown on the edges.
- Allow to cool on the pan until the candy in the center has hardened, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Get more tips for baking your gluten free sugar cookies by reading my full recipe post!
More Delicious Gluten Free Recipes:
Gluten Free Christmas Cookie Bars
Recipe for Gluten Free Mint Chocolate Cupcakes
Gluten Free Chocolate Christmas Cookies
If you like this post, you’ll probably like these:
Emily is a midwestern mom of two boys. She loves all things DIY — from home renovations to kids birthday party planning. Whether she’s making a new farmhouse craft for her home or helping her kids with a cool activity, you can bet she’s in the middle of some kind of DIY project (or three) right now!
