Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar until smooth in a large bowl. Mix in eggs and almond and vanilla extract. Slowly add flour, mix until a stiff dough forms. Remove dough from bowl, and form into a large log. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.
When chilled, remove from refrigerator and divide into three sections. Working with one section at a time, roll out into a 1/8 inch thick rectangle. Using large cookie cutter, cut as many hearts as possible and place onto prepared sheet. Using the small cookie cutter, cut a heart in the center. Remove heart to create cut out.
Unwrap candies and place into heavy duty zipper bag by color. Place a towel over bag. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, crush candies. Place small cookie cutter back into center of the heart to use as a guide. This will keep your cookie clean and make filling them much easier. Fill each center with crushed candy. Bake cookie in oven for 10-15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown around edges, and candy has melted. Let cool. If desired, decorate with your favorite icing, sprinkles or candy.
Place remaining small hearts on cookie sheet and bake for 8 minutes or until golden brown around edges. Decorate with frosting if desired, or sprinkle with colored sugar before baking.
Enter your zip code to find Challenge products near you.
