Stained Glass Cookies

Make crumbs with all ingredients except for the water and vanilla extract. This is best done with the kneading attachment of a mixer, if done by hand, be sure to work quickly.

Add vanilla extract and water and kneed with your hands until you can form into a ball. Chill for at least half an hour in the fridge with plastic wrap.

Prepare the candy by crushing each color separately. Best to do it in a plastic bag with a rolling pin as you don't want fine powder, but smaller chunks. I don’t recommend preparing the candy too early on as it will get sticky fairly quickly. Best to prepare shortly before working on the dough again, leaving them in the plastic bag.

Take out dough, divide in half, put back one half in the fridge. Roll out the other half on lightly floured surface. Cut out desired shapes, but be sure to only cut out the larger outside shapes. Once done, transfer to baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

Cut out the inner shape and make holes for thread with a toothpick with cookies on the baking sheet.

Bake cookies for four to five minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. This is a necessary step as the cookies need longer than the candy. Otherwise your candy will get all brown if you immediately fill the cookies and bake right away.

Take out and fill with crushed candy. Feel free to mix colors. Stick back to the oven for about two more minutes or the candy starts to melt. I have found it very helpful to take cookies out again as now you can really make them look pretty and move the candy into the corners, etc.

Bake for another two to four minutes or until the candy is completely melted.

Be sure to wait until cookies are completely cool before taking off the baking sheets. They will be very fragile when still warm.

Put thread through the holes and decorate windows or branches or eat. Enjoy!