These cookies are inspired by a glasswork technique called 'millefiori' which translates to a "thousand flowers" but I think the cookies look like little quilts. The glass technique involves creating rods with multicolored patterns that can only be seen at either end of the rod. The rod can be cut in cross sections, or beads, and keep the pattern throughout.

The possibilities are truly endless using this technique.

These will 'Wow!' almost anyone and make great gifts.

I hope you enjoy this Instructable and its 'mille' steps!

Step 1: Make the Dough

I mostly love this cookie recipe because it is a one bowl cookie dough! You will be kneading and mixing in food coloring so the dough will be well mixed without needing to sift the dry ingredients separately.

Icebox Sugar Cookie
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder

In a large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar until combined. Add egg and vanilla mixing well. Sift flour on top of wet mixture and before stirring add the baking powder. When you start to combine the wet and dry ingredients, the flour and baking powder will incorporate well enough throughout the dough

Dump dough onto a piece of waxed paper and divide dough into six equal pieces. You can obviously use more or less colors but I chose six.

Step 2: Color the Dough

After dough is divided choose food coloring colors and mix into dough using your hands. I find that there is enough butter in the recipe that your hands don't take on the food coloring but you could use gloves if you want make sure you don't have rainbow hands when you are finished!

Step 3: Shape the Dough

Turn your imagination on high and start making your patterns. This is a relatively easy process but it does take some time and patience.

To make a bullseye shape:
1. Choose a color and form a cylinder.
2. Roll out another color large and long enough to wrap the cylinder.
3. Gently press or squeeze dough to make sure the pieces stick together well.
4. Keep wrapping with colors until you have the bullseye you want.
5. Roll the completed bullseye into a longer log shape.
6. Cut in half, thirds or as many as needed.

To make a flower shape:
1. Choose a color that will be the center of the flower and form a cylinder.
2. Roll out another color large and long enough to wrap the cylinder.
3. Gently press or squeeze dough to make sure the pieces stick together well.
4. Make a coil of dough and pinch the top to make a triangular shape. Repeat for amount of petals you want.
5. Stick the triangles on the sides of the covered cylinder.
6. Press another color of dough in between the triangles.
7. Wrap the entire cylinder again with an outer color.
8. Cut in half, thirds or as many as needed.

Those are the two basic techniques I used but be creative and make anything you want!

Step 4: Choose a Cookie Pattern

Once you have all of the patterns of dough made, arrange them together to get the final pattern that will be the finished cookie.

Roll patterns into longer logs if you want the pattern to be smaller in the final cookie. If necessary cut logs so they are all the same height.

Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze until hard - 2 to 3 hours.

Step 5: Cut the Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Remove cookie dough from the freezer and slice in 1/4 inch pieces. Repeat with all of your patterns (if you have more than one).

Step 6: Bake the Cookies

Bake for 7-9 minutes depending on how soft or crisp you like your cookies. Remove cookies from oven and let cool on baking sheet.

Color will not fade while baking.