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Cotton Candy Cookies Recipe – Fun & Colorful Treats Recipe

4.9 from 123 reviews

These Cotton Candy Cookies are fun, colorful treats that bring the nostalgic flavor of cotton candy into a soft, swirled cookie. Featuring vibrant pink and blue doughs swirling together, these cookies are a delightful blend of classic sugar cookie flavors with a whimsical twist. Perfect for parties, special occasions, or when you want a playful, sweet snack, these cookies are easy to make and sure to impress.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk (or 1/4 cup milk mixed with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Coloring and Flavor

  • Gel food coloring (pink and blue)
  • Cotton candy flavoring (optional, for an added burst of cotton candy flavor)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
  3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy, which is key for the cookie texture.
  4. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and buttermilk to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat until smooth and creamy.
  5. Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined to avoid making the cookies tough.
  6. Divide and Color Dough: Split the dough evenly into two bowls. Add pink gel food coloring to one and blue to the other. Mix each until the color is evenly incorporated.
  7. Form Cookies with Swirled Dough: Take small amounts of pink and blue dough, roll them together into balls and gently swirl to create a cotton candy effect. Place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
  8. Bake: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden. Monitor closely to prevent overbaking.
  9. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

Notes

  • Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without affecting dough texture.
  • If dough is too soft, chill it for 20-30 minutes to make shaping easier.
  • When combining colored doughs, gently swirl rather than fully mixing to maintain the colorful cotton candy effect.

Keywords: cotton candy cookies, colorful cookies, fun cookies, party treats, sugar cookies, swirled cookies