Stained glass Cookies

I Remember first making these cookies many,many years ago when I was in girl scouts. As the years flew by I made them less and less as my holiday cooking expand with the size of our family. One year I remember candy canes were the big thing. Every single tree I saw had them hanging on them which is when I remembered my long neglected stained glass cookie recipe. I made the cookies in various shapes wrapped them with colored cellophane and hung them with a little ribbon on my tree. When the evening was done all the guests were free to choose on to take with them. Needless to say they were a big hit. Im thinking of making them this year but am still procrastinating if Im going to buy a tree yet or not. If I do Ill be sure to add a photo.

Stained Glass Cookies
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1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
30-40 hard candies (generic lollipops, dum dums,life savers,jolly ranchers all work)

Pre Heat oven to 375 F In a large bowl cream together sugar and butter until fluffy. Add molasses and vanilla extract until incorporated well. Add egg and mix well. Lastly add all the dry ingredients. Once incorporated wrap the dough into two flat discs and refregirate about 30 minutes before rolling out. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness.

Use a large cookie cutter of whatever preference you choose and then use a smaller of the same shape on the inside of the cookie. This is where your crushed candies will go. If your wanting to hang them make a hole at the top of your shape large enough to slip a small ribbon through. With all the remaining cut out sections of dough just reincorporate and continue the same process until your left with cookie sheets full of shapes. Oh and important put down a silpat or parchment paper so you dont ruin cookie sheets with melting candies. Divide the candies up by color,transfer into a ziploc bag and crush em with a rolling pin,can or your fist til they are in small pieces.

Fill each cookie with a spoonful of candy enough where it will melt nicely into the cookie but not overflow it. Bake 9-10 minutes. Cookies should be a light brown and the candies should have melted nicely to fill the shape. Once cooled string the hole with ribbon and then wrap with a small square of cellophane and either add another ribbon or use a twist tie to secure. Thats it your done!

Christmas Honey Balls.

This recipe Was recommended to me by a Friend Carrisa and all credit goes to her. I havent made these yet but recipe sounded so good I just had to copy it down. I hope you enjoy and try them out. Let me know in the comments below if you do!

Christmas Honey Balls
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Christmas Honey Balls
2 lbs flour (6 2/3 Cups)
4 Eggs
1/2 Cup Sugar
3 Tablespoons Baking Powder
1/2 Cup Shortening
1 Tablespoon Anasetta Extract (Anise)
1 Cup Warm Milk
1 Pinch of Salt.
Cut Shortening into flour, Add Salt, Baking Powder, and Sugar
Add Eggs. Then add Warm milk a little as a time (as needed-you can add more if you need to)
Knead Dough and let stand for 1/2 hour.

Then cut pieces and roll into ropes. Cut into small pieces and fry in a deep pot or fryer if you have one.

After the oil cools, discard. Melt Honey til liquid and put the balls into it til coated,(do a small amount at a time) then transfer to your bowl and sprinkle with multi colored Sprinkles,shredded coconut,oreo crumbles or anything else youd like that will adhere well.