Why You’ll Love This Recipe
With their vibrant pink and blue swirls, these cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat. The light, chewy texture combined with a hint of sweetness gives them a nostalgic cotton candy flavor. Whether you’re looking to brighten up a special event or just want a playful snack, these cookies are sure to impress.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ¼ cup buttermilk (or substitute with milk + lemon juice or vinegar)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring (pink and blue)
- Cotton candy flavoring (optional)
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Directions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and buttermilk until smooth.
- Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Color the Dough: Split the dough into two portions. Add pink food coloring to one, and blue to the other. Mix each portion until the color is evenly distributed.
- Form the Cookies: Roll small portions of each color together into a ball and gently swirl them to create a cotton candy effect. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet, spaced 2 inches apart.
- Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool: Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: About 20 cookies
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Variations
- Add Sprinkles: Top the cookies with colorful sprinkles before baking for an extra festive touch.
- Vegan Option: Substitute butter with vegan margarine, egg with a flaxseed egg, and use non-dairy milk.
- More Flavor: Add cotton candy flavoring for a stronger, nostalgic taste.
Storage/Reheating
- Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Freeze the dough balls before baking and bake from frozen for an extra few minutes.
FAQs
1. Can I use liquid food coloring instead of gel?
Gel food coloring is preferred for more vibrant colors and won’t affect the dough’s consistency.
2. What if I don’t have buttermilk?
Mix 1/4 cup milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar as a substitute.
3. Can I make these vegan?
Yes, use vegan margarine, a flaxseed or chia egg, and non-dairy milk mixed with lemon juice.
4. How can I make these cookies more festive?
Add sprinkles or edible glitter for extra color and fun!
5. Can I add other flavors to the dough?
Yes, feel free to experiment with additional flavors like vanilla or almond extract.
Conclusion
Cotton Candy Cookies are a colorful and fun way to bring a sweet, whimsical touch to any event. With their vibrant swirls and chewy texture, they are sure to be a hit at birthdays, parties, or any celebration. Enjoy the magic of cotton candy in cookie form!
Cotton Candy Cookies
Cotton Candy Cookies are a fun and colorful treat that brings the sweetness and airy texture of cotton candy into a chewy, pastel-colored cookie. Perfect for birthdays, parties, or any whimsical occasion, these cookies are sure to brighten up any event. With a light, chewy texture and nostalgic flavor, they’re the perfect dessert for any sweet-tooth craving!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: About 20 cookies
- Category: Dessert, Cookies, Party Treats
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ¼ cup buttermilk (or substitute with milk + lemon juice or vinegar)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring (pink and blue)
- Cotton candy flavoring (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven – Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients – In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar – In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients – Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and buttermilk until smooth.
- Combine – Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Color the Dough – Split the dough into two portions. Add pink food coloring to one, and blue to the other. Mix each portion until the color is evenly distributed.
- Form the Cookies – Roll small portions of each color together into a ball and gently swirl them to create a cotton candy effect. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet, spaced 2 inches apart.
- Bake – Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool – Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Variations
- Add Sprinkles: Top the cookies with colorful sprinkles before baking for an extra festive touch.
- Vegan Option: Substitute butter with vegan margarine, egg with a flaxseed egg, and use non-dairy milk.
- More Flavor: Add cotton candy flavoring for a stronger, nostalgic taste.
Storage/Reheating
- Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Freeze the dough balls before baking and bake from frozen for an extra few minutes
