Making Stained Glass Cookies is a delightful process. Follow these simple steps to create your own batch:

1. Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Make the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes.

3. Add Egg and Extracts: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until well combined.

4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until the dough comes together.

5. Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two equal parts. Wrap each portion in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This step is crucial for easy handling.

6. Prepare Candies: While the dough is chilling, crush the hard candies into small pieces. You can use a rolling pin or a food processor. Keep the colors separate for more vibrant designs.

7. Roll Out the Dough: Once chilled, take one portion of the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about ¼ inch thick.

8. Cut Shapes: Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. You can use a smaller cutter to create a window in the center of each shape.

9. Fill the Centers: Place the cookie shapes on the prepared baking sheets. Fill each cut-out center with crushed candies, allowing them to fill the hole without overflowing.

10. Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Keep an eye on them to avoid burning.

11. Cool: Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

12. Decorate (Optional): Once cooled, you can sprinkle colored sanding sugar around the edges for added sparkle.