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Cotton Candy Cookies recipe

Cotton Candy Cookies recipe
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These Cotton Candy Cookies deliver a whimsical twist on classic cookies with light, fluffy textures and the nostalgic sweet airy taste of cotton candy. Perfectly colorful with pastel hues, they combine a crisp edge with a tender, melt-in-your-mouth center, ideal for parties, gifts, or a delightful treat for all ages.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp cotton candy flavoring or extract (or vanilla/almond extract as substitute)

Optional Additions

  • Food coloring (pastel pink, blue, or purple) – a few drops
  • Pink or white sugar sprinkles for decorating

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Sift together the all-purpose flour and baking powder in a bowl to create a light, airy base. Make sure the butter is softened and sugar is ready to be creamed.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is pale and fluffy. This step is essential for a tender cookie texture. Add the egg and cotton candy flavoring (or substitute extract) and continue to mix until fully combined and smooth.
  3. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Slowly add the sifted flour and baking powder mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix just until incorporated to avoid overworking the dough. If desired, add a few drops of pastel food coloring and gently fold it in to create marbled or fully colored dough.
  4. Shape and Decorate: Roll the dough into small, even balls about 1 inch in diameter and place them spaced about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with pink or white sugar sprinkles for a fun, sparkly finish that mimics spun sugar.
  5. Bake and Cool: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden but centers remain soft. Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This helps preserve a fluffy interior and crisp edge.

Notes

  • Don’t overmix the dough to keep cookies tender, mix dry ingredients until just combined.
  • Use room temperature ingredients for smoother mixing and better dough texture.
  • Experiment with pastel food coloring to enhance the cotton candy appearance.
  • Watch baking time closely—pull cookies when edges turn golden to keep centers soft.
  • Chill dough for 30 minutes before baking to avoid spreading and achieve thicker cookies.
  • These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • Freeze cookies in airtight containers with parchment layers for up to 3 months and reheat at 300°F (150°C) for 5 minutes before serving.
  • For a vegan version: substitute butter with coconut oil and use a flax or chia egg.
  • To keep cookies soft longer, store with a slice of bread or sugar cube in the container.

Nutrition

Keywords: cotton candy, cookies, colorful cookies, party cookies, whimsical baking, sweet treats

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