Halloween Baking: Crystal Ball Sugar Cookies

Directions

1. Roll out the chilled sugar cookie dough on a floured surface. Using the cookie cutter, cut out as many crystal balls as you can. Be sure to re-roll and reuse the scraps. Place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and then chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Next, cut out a circle from each crystal ball. This will be easier to do if the dough is chilled. Again, you can re-roll the scraps. Return the cookie sheet to the refrigerator for at least one to two hours. You can loosely cover the cookies with plastic wrap or for a more eco-friendly option, a clean cloth towel.
2. Just before you take out the dough, crush the Jolly Ranchers using a mortar and pestle. You can also place the candies in a resealable bag and crush them with a meat mallet. Just be sure to do this on a nonbreakable surface (i.e., not tile).
3. Line another baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 325°F. (This is lower than what most recipes list, but low and slow is best for keeping the shape of these cookies. You can adjust it according to your oven and judgement but be sure to keep a close eye on your cut-out sugar cookies.) Transfer the chilled crystal balls to the second nonchilled sheet. It's not recommended to place cold cookie sheets in the oven, as it might cause them to warp. Fill 3/4 of each crystal ball with crushed candies and then immediately place the sheet in the preheated oven.
4. Bake for 11 to 14 minutes or until the candy has melted and spread and the dough is slightly golden brown. The total time will depend on many factors, including your specific cookie recipe and oven. Consider baking one or two test cookies to start. This will help you determine the best cook time for your cookies and whether you need to add more or less candy filling.
5. After the cookies are done baking, let them cool for at least 10 to 15 minutes before handling them. You can also carefully pick up the parchment paper and place it on a wire rack to cool. The candy will slightly stick to the parchment paper, so be sure to remove the cookies slowly. A spatula is handy for this step.
6. Using a toothpick, add dots of decorative gel or icing to your cookies. Feel free to use your favorite icing recipe or a store-bought version. Next, add star-shaped sprinkles. And just like that, your decorative cookies are ready.