Cotton Candy Cookies (Printable version)
Light pastel cookies with cotton candy flavor, perfect for parties and special celebrations.
# 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 (or to taste)
→ Color & Finish
11 - Pink and blue gel food coloring
12 - 1/4 cup colored sprinkles (optional)
# How to make it:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and packed light brown sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and cotton candy flavoring until well combined and smooth.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
06 - Divide the dough evenly into two bowls. Add pink gel food coloring to one bowl and blue gel food coloring to the other, folding gently to achieve soft pastel shades.
07 - Pinch off a small piece from each colored dough and gently press them together to form a swirled multi-colored ball. Place on the prepared baking sheets, spacing each ball about 2 inches apart. Optionally, roll each dough 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 still appear slightly underbaked for a soft texture.
09 - Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- The dual colored dough looks impressive but requires zero artistic skill, just press two pieces together and the oven does the work.
- Cotton candy flavoring transforms a basic sugar cookie into something kids and adults alike cannot stop eating.
02 -
- Overbaking is the fastest way to ruin these because the pastel colors turn dull and the cotton candy flavor dissipates at high heat.
- Gel food coloring is nonnegotiable here since liquid food coloring will make the dough too sticky and the shades will never reach that soft dreamy hue.
03 -
- Chill the colored dough for fifteen minutes before shaping the balls because firm dough holds the two tone pattern much better during baking.
- Underbake by about thirty seconds from what you think is done and you will be rewarded with cookies that stay pillowy soft for days.