STAINED GLASS COOKIES

3/4 cup softened unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

2 1/2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Various colors of hard candy

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix until combined.

Add flour, salt and vanilla, and mix until combined.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough 1/4-inch thick. Use various sized cookie cutters to cut cookie shapes and then cut smaller “windows” into these shapes. Transfer to the cookie sheet about 1 inch apart.

Crush candy in separate sealed plastic bags with a rolling pin or meat mallet. Fill the cookie windows with crushed candy.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden, rotating cookie sheets halfway through. Let cookie sheets cool on wire racks for a few minutes before gently removing cookies with a metal spatula to continue cooling.

Makes 3 to 4 dozen cookies depending on cookie-cutter size.

— From Field Guide to Cookies