Creating the 4th Of July “Stained Glass” Red, White & Blue Star Cookies is simple if you follow these steps:

1. Prepare Your Workspace: Start by lining two baking sheets with parchment paper and gathering your tools.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This should take around 2-3 minutes.
4. Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
5. Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until a dough forms.
6. Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into halves, flatten each into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.
7. Roll Out the Dough: Once chilled, take one disk out and let it sit for a few minutes. Dust a clean surface with flour and roll it out to about ¼-inch thick.
8. Cut Out Cookies: Use star-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Ensure you cut a smaller star within each larger one to create the window for the “stained glass.”
9. Prepare the Candy: Crush the red and blue candy melts (or hard candies) into fine pieces. Fill the centers of the larger stars with the crushed candies.
10. Bake the Cookies: Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
11. Cool Completely: Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
12. Decorate (Optional): If desired, use royal icing to add decorations to your cookies once they are fully cooled.

By following these steps, you’ll have vibrant and delicious 4th Of July “Stained Glass” Red, White & Blue Star Cookies that will be the highlight of your celebrations!