Cotton Candy Cookies (Printable)
Soft pastel cookies bursting with cotton candy flavor, swirled in pink and blue for a whimsical treat.
# What You 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 & 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 or stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Add the egg, vanilla extract, and cotton candy flavoring to the creamed 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. Fold gently until each portion reaches a soft pastel shade.
07 - Pinch off a small piece of dough from each colored portion and gently press them together to form a swirled ball. Place each ball on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart. If desired, roll each dough ball in colored sprinkles before placing on the sheet.
08 - Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or 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 to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The dual color dough technique is easier than it looks and makes every cookie unique.
- Kids lose their minds over these at birthday parties and bake sales alike.
02 -
- Overbaking is the number one mistake here, pull them out when the centers still look a touch soft because they will continue cooking on the hot pan.
- Too much food coloring can make the dough taste bitter, add color gradually and stop as soon as you reach a pastel shade.
03 -
- Taste your cotton candy flavoring before adding it because brands vary wildly in intensity and some can be overpowering.
- Let the baked cookies cool completely before stacking or storing, warm cookies stacked together will steam and turn gummy.