Holiday Star Cookies

Name: Holiday Star Cookies
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 22 cookies.
Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups butter, softened; 1-1/2 cups sugar; 2 eggs; 3 teaspoons vanilla extract; 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon cream of tartar; 1 teaspoon salt; Assorted colors of Jolly Rancher hard candies; 1 tablespoon meringue powder; 3 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon water; 2-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar; Assorted colors of paste food coloring; White edible glitter

These lovely treats are both a cookie and a candy. A melted hard-candy center looks like stained glass surrounded by a frosted cutout cookie.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
Assorted colors of Jolly Rancher hard candies
1 tablespoon meringue powder
3 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon water
2-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
Assorted colors of paste food coloring
White edible glitter

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Divide into three portions; cover and refrigerate 30 minutes or until easy to handle.
Preheat oven to 350°. Roll out one portion between two pieces of parchment paper to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 5-in. star-shaped cookie cutter. Cut out centers with a floured 2-1/2-in. star-shaped cookie cutter. Place larger cutouts 2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough; reroll small cutouts if desired.
Place the same color of hard candies in small resealable plastic bags; crush candies. Sprinkle in center of each. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 2-3 minutes or until candies are set before carefully removing to wire racks.
In a small bowl, beat meringue powder and water until soft peaks form. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar. Tint icing to match the selected candies. Decorate cookies with icing; sprinkle with edible glitter.