Cotton Candy Cookies (Print version)
Soft pastel cookies swirled in pink and blue with sweet cotton candy flavor, perfect for parties.
# What you'll need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
08 - 1 large egg
09 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
10 - 1 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring (adjust to taste)
→ Color and Finish
11 - Pink and blue gel food coloring
12 - 1/4 cup colored sprinkles (optional)
# How to make it:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and packed light brown sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Add the large egg, vanilla extract, and cotton candy flavoring to the butter mixture. Beat until fully combined and smooth.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
06 - Divide the dough evenly into two separate bowls. Add pink gel food coloring to one bowl and blue gel food coloring to the other. Gently fold each portion until soft pastel shades are achieved.
07 - Pinch off a small piece of dough from each colored portion and gently press them together to form a swirled, multi-colored ball. Place each ball on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Optionally, roll each ball in colored sprinkles before placing on the sheet.
08 - Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until the edges are just set and the centers appear slightly underbaked. Remove from the oven promptly to maintain a soft texture.
09 - Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
# Expert suggestions:
01 -
- The cotton candy flavoring is subtle and sweet without being overwhelming, and it genuinely tastes like childhood.
- Splitting the dough into pink and blue halves makes every cookie look like a tiny edible sunset.
02 -
- Overbaking is the enemy here, pull them out when the centers still look slightly wet and they will set perfectly as they cool.
- Use gel food coloring, not liquid, or your dough will turn sticky and spread too thin in the oven.
03 -
- Chill the shaped dough balls for fifteen minutes before baking to help the colors stay vibrant and the cookies hold their round shape.
- Roll the dough balls in sprinkles right before baking so they adhere without melting into the dough.