Description
These whimsical Cotton Candy Cookies combine a soft, buttery base with a playful swirl of pastel pink and blue dough, inspired by the nostalgic flavor and colors of cotton candy. Lightly dusted with powdered sugar, these treats are perfect for parties or anytime you want to add a touch of colorful sweetness to your cookie jar.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cotton candy flavoring (optional)
Coloring & Topping
- Pink food coloring
- Blue food coloring
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until thoroughly combined. In a separate large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light, creamy, and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and cotton candy flavoring (if using) to the butter and sugar mixture, and beat well to combine. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing until a smooth cookie dough forms.
- Add the Colors: Divide the cookie dough evenly into two separate bowls. Add pink food coloring to one bowl and blue food coloring to the other. Stir each portion of dough thoroughly until the colors are fully blended and uniformly vibrant. Then, gently fold together small portions of the pink and blue doughs to create a pretty marbled effect without fully mixing the colors.
- Shape and Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking. Using a tablespoon measure, roll the marbled dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing each cookie about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft.
- Dust and Cool: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. This resting time helps them set further. Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. While the cookies are still warm, lightly dust the tops with powdered sugar to add a frosty, sweet finish that enhances their cotton candy-inspired aesthetic and flavor.
Notes
- For an extra burst of flavor, cotton candy flavoring is optional but recommended.
- Be gentle when combining colored doughs to maintain the marbled effect—overmixing will blend colors completely.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to keep them fresh and soft.
- Powdered sugar dusting is best applied while cookies are warm to ensure it sticks well.
- Adjust baking time slightly if you prefer crisper or softer cookies.
