12 Days of Christmas Cookies: Day 11
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As we near the end of our 12 Days of Christmas Cookies, today’s recipe is all about a pop of color and flavor for your holiday baking with Blood Orange Stained-Glass Cookies!
These cookies are a beautiful twist on the classic stained-glass cookie. With vibrant candy centers mimicking the rich hues of blood oranges, they’re almost too pretty to eat (but trust me, you’ll want to!). The buttery orange-zest sugar cookie dough frames the glistening “orange slices,” making these treats perfect for hanging on your tree or serving at your holiday gathering.
Not only do these cookies look stunning, but their subtle citrus flavor pairs beautifully with the sweet crunch of the candy centers.
Let’s create some holiday magic—one cookie at a time!
Blood Orange Stained-
Glass Cookies
25-30
Cookies45
minutes8-9
minutes
A beautiful twist on the classic stained-glass cookie, vibrant candy centers mimic the rich hues of blood oranges in orange zest sugar cookies
Ingredients
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (170 grams)
3/4 cup sugar (150 grams)
1 large egg (about 50 grams)
zest of 2 oranges
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (270 grams)
1 teaspoon corn starch
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
about 20 hard candies that are red, orange, and purple colors (Life Savers are my favorite to use)
Directions
- Cream together the butter and sugar until they are pale, light, and fluffy. This will take 2-3 minutes.
- Beat in the egg , vanilla extract, and orange zest.
- Slowly fold in the remaining ingredients.
- Chill the dough for at least two hours – over night is preferred.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let is soften before rolling it out to 1/4 inch thick between two pieces of parchment.
- Place the dough in the freezer for at least 20 minutes or until firm.
- While the dough chills, crush the candy. I use a rolling pin or mallet to do this. If you are using Life Savers, I like to crush them while they are still in the wrapper. For other candies, separate them by color into plastic bags to crush them. Do not crush them into a fine powder. You want them to be pebble sized. Separate the colors into different bowls, and set aside.
- Remove the dough from the freezer and immediately cut out 2 1/2 inch circles. I used these cookie cutters.
- While the dough is still firm (return it to the freezer if needed), use a small triangle cookie cutter to cut “orange slices” in the circles.
- Carefully fill each “orange slice” with a combination of each of the crushed candy colors to look like blood oranges. Each cookie will be unique just like a real blood orange.
- Return the cookies to the freezer for at least 20 minutes or until firm and preheat an oven to 350°F.
- Remove the cookies from the freezer and immediately bake for 8-9 minutes. Enjoy!
Notes
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