Description
Delight in these whimsical Cotton Candy Cookies, bursting with playful pastel swirls and a hint of nostalgic cotton candy flavor. Perfectly soft with a lightly crisp edge, these fun and colorful cookies capture the magic of carnival treats in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract
- Pink and blue food coloring
- Cotton candy flavoring (optional)
Decorations
- Sprinkles (optional, for decoration)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set this mixture aside for later incorporation.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use a mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which creates a tender cookie texture.
- Add Egg and Flavors: Beat in the large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully combined. For an extra nostalgic twist, add cotton candy flavoring if desired, blending thoroughly.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until just combined to avoid overworking the dough and losing tenderness.
- Divide and Color Dough: Split the dough into two equal portions. Add pink food coloring to one half and blue food coloring to the other, mixing well until the dough is evenly tinted.
- Create Swirls: Take small amounts of each colored dough and roll them into balls. Slightly flatten each ball into a cookie shape, then gently press together portions of pink and blue dough to create colorful swirls. Add sprinkles on top if desired for extra decoration.
- Bake: Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the edges are set and the centers remain soft and slightly puffed.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- For best results, do not overmix the dough after adding flour to keep the cookies tender.
- Use gel food coloring for more vibrant colors without altering the dough’s consistency.
- Cotton candy flavoring is optional but adds a fun carnival-inspired twist.
- Sprinkles are optional but make these cookies extra festive for parties or celebrations.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
