Earl Grey Stained Glass Cookies (Print version)

Delicate Earl Grey infused cookies with stunning stained glass centers and edible flowers. Perfect for afternoon tea.

# What you 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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Open the Earl Grey tea bags and finely grind the contents if using loose leaves.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, almond flour, ground Earl Grey tea, baking powder, and salt.
04 - In a large bowl, cream together the vegan butter and sugar until fluffy. Add plant milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, and mix well.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until a soft dough forms. If too sticky, chill for 15 minutes.
06 - Lightly flour a surface with gluten-free flour. Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
07 - Use a large cookie cutter for the outer shape and a small cutter to create a window in the center. Transfer the cut cookies to the prepared trays.
08 - Fill the cut-out centers with 1-2 teaspoons crushed vegan candy. Sprinkle with a few edible flowers, pressing gently so they adhere to the candy.
09 - Bake for 9-11 minutes, until edges are just golden and candy centers have melted.
10 - Allow cookies to cool fully on the tray before transferring, as the stained glass will harden as they cool.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • These cookies make people stop and ask how on earth you created something so beautiful
  • The Earl Grey fragrance fills your kitchen while they bake, making the whole house feel cozy
  • Theyre naturally vegan and gluten free without sacrificing that perfect buttery shortbread texture
02 -
  • The candy centers will look bubbling and strange when they first come out of the oven but they smooth into glass as they cool
  • If your dough gets too warm to work with, just pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes and try again
  • Only use flowers specifically labeled as edible and meant for food, not just any pretty flowers from your garden
03 -
  • Use a rolling pin with thickness guides to keep your dough perfectly even
  • Crush your candies just before using so they dont become sticky from humidity
  • Work quickly once the dough is rolled because gluten-free dough can become stubborn as it warms

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