Stained Glass Heart Cookies
Stained Glass Heart Cookies (with Dye-Free Candy)
There’s something extra special about baking with your kids — the mess, the fun, the pride they feel when something actually comes out of the oven looking beautiful. These stained glass heart cookies were one of those moments.
My son and I made these together using classic sugar cookies and dye-free hard candies from YumEarth. The result? Sparkly, jewel-like heart cookies that feel festive, nostalgic, and surprisingly simple to make.
Perfect for Valentine’s Day, a sweet gift, or just a cozy afternoon in the kitchen.
Why We Love These Cookies
They’re naturally colorful thanks to dye-free hard candy
Kid-friendly (great for little hands helping cut shapes and unwrap candy)
Simple ingredients you probably already have
So pretty — no frosting required
And honestly? Watching the candy melt into “glass” in the oven is pure magic for kids.
Ingredients
Your favorite sugar cookie dough (homemade or store-bought)
Dye-free hard candies (we used YumEarth)
Flour, for rolling
How We Made Them
Prep the candy
Place the hard candies in zip-top bags and let your kids gently crush them with a rolling pin or spoon. (This was my son’s favorite part.)Roll and cut the dough
Roll out your sugar cookie dough and cut out heart shapes. Then cut a smaller heart out of the center of each cookie.Fill with candy
Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and carefully fill the center cutouts with crushed candy.Bake
Bake according to your sugar cookie recipe. The candy will melt and spread into a glass-like center.Cool completely
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet until the candy fully hardens.
Tips for Baking With Kids
Let them unwrap and sort the candy colors
Use larger cookie cutters for easier filling
Remind them the cookies will look even better once cooled
Embrace the imperfections — they’re part of the charm
A Sweet Memory
My son was so proud pulling these out of the oven. He kept holding them up to the window to see the light shine through the candy hearts — and that alone made the baking day worth it.
These are the kinds of recipes that aren’t just treats… they’re memories.
If you make these stained glass cookies, I’d love to see them. Tag @rubybyrds so we can admire your little works of art ✨
