Earl Grey Stained Glass Cookies (Printable Version)

Delicate tea-infused treats with translucent candy centers and edible flowers. Elegant vegan and gluten-free delights for any gathering.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 1 3/4 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
02 - 1/3 cup almond flour
03 - 2 Earl Grey tea bags or 2 teaspoons loose leaf tea
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
05 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
06 - 1/2 cup organic granulated sugar
07 - 1/2 cup vegan butter, softened
08 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened plant milk
09 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
10 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Stained Glass Centers

11 - 1/2 cup vegan hard candies, various colors, crushed
12 - Edible dried flowers (rose petals, cornflower, violets, lavender), as desired

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - Open the Earl Grey tea bags and finely grind the contents into a powder using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, almond flour, ground Earl Grey tea, baking powder, and salt until thoroughly combined.
04 - In a large bowl, beat the vegan butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the plant milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, mixing well to incorporate.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft, cohesive dough forms. If the dough is too sticky to handle, refrigerate for 15 minutes.
06 - Lightly dust a clean surface with gluten-free flour. Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Use a large cookie cutter to cut out shapes, then use a small cutter to remove the center from each cookie, creating a window.
07 - Transfer the cut cookies to the prepared baking sheets. Fill each cut-out center with 1-2 teaspoons of crushed vegan candy. Gently press a few edible flower petals into the candy so they adhere.
08 - Bake for 9-11 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the candy centers have completely melted into a translucent glass-like finish.
09 - Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet. The stained glass centers will harden as they cool, becoming firm and glossy.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These cookies stop conversations cold because people cannot stop staring at them
  • The Earl Grey adds this sophisticated floral note that balances the candy sweetness perfectly
  • They are naturally vegan and gluten free without anyone guessing they are special diet treats
02 -
  • Use only flowers labeled as edible and food-safe—garden center flowers are often treated with chemicals
  • The candy centers remain soft right out of the oven and only harden once fully cooled
  • Overfilling the centers causes candy to spill onto the cookie edges during baking
03 -
  • Chill the cut dough shapes on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before adding candy to help them hold their shape
  • Work quickly once the candy is crushed because it absorbs moisture from the air and becomes harder to handle

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