Cotton Candy Cookies

These Cotton Candy Cookies are vibrant, playful, and irresistibly soft—just like the nostalgic treat they’re inspired by. With swirls of pastel pink and blue dough and optional cotton candy flavoring, these cookies don’t just look magical—they taste magical, too. Perfect for parties, holidays, or a fun weekend bake with the kids!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Fun and festive: Eye-catching pink and blue swirls make them perfect for birthdays or celebrations.
• Soft and chewy: Buttermilk keeps the cookies tender with the perfect chew.
• Nostalgic flavor: Optional cotton candy extract brings the fairground to your kitchen.
• Easy to customize: Add sprinkles, edible glitter, or use your own color combos.
• Kid-friendly: A great recipe to make with little helpers—mixing, swirling, and shaping!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1/4 cup buttermilk (or 1/4 cup milk + 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Gel food coloring (pink and blue)
• Cotton candy flavoring (optional, for extra nostalgic taste)

Directions

Preheat the Oven

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and even baking.

Combine Dry Ingredients

• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly blended.

Cream Butter and Sugar

• In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 2–3 minutes, until light and fluffy.

Add Wet Ingredients

• Add the egg, vanilla extract, buttermilk, and cotton candy flavoring (if using) to the butter mixture.
• Mix until smooth and creamy.

Combine Wet and Dry

• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
• Mix on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix—stop when no flour streaks remain.

Divide and Color the Dough

• Split the dough evenly into two bowls.
• Add pink gel food coloring to one bowl and blue gel food coloring to the other.
• Stir each until the color is fully incorporated.

Shape the Cookies

• Take a small piece of pink dough and a small piece of blue dough.
• Gently press and roll them together to form a 1½-inch ball, giving it a swirled, cotton candy look.
• Place the dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow room for spreading.

Bake

• Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
• The centers will still be soft—they will set as they cool.

Cool

• Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
• Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Use gel coloring: More vibrant results without altering dough consistency.
• Don’t overmix colors: Gently swirl to keep pink and blue distinct—don’t blend them into purple.
• Chill if sticky: If dough is too soft, chill for 20–30 minutes before shaping.
• Make them sparkle: Add edible glitter or pastel sprinkles for extra visual fun.
• Flavor boost: Try adding a drop of almond or vanilla extract along with cotton candy flavoring.

Serving Suggestions

• Party treat: Perfect for birthdays, baby showers, and school events.
• Ice cream sandwich: Serve with vanilla or cotton candy ice cream in between.
• Snack board star: Pair with other pastel desserts on a candy board.
• Fun with drinks: Pair with pink lemonade or cotton candy milkshakes.

Storage / Reheating

• Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Freezing Dough: Freeze unbaked dough balls on a tray, then transfer to a zip-top bag. Bake from frozen with 2–3 extra minutes.
• Reheating: For a just-baked taste, microwave cookies for 10–15 seconds.

FAQs

Can I use liquid food coloring instead of gel?
You can, but gel is preferred—it gives more vivid color with less liquid.

What if I don’t have buttermilk?
Mix 1/4 cup milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Can I make these vegan?
Yes! Use plant-based butter, a flax egg (1 tbsp flaxseed + 3 tbsp water), and non-dairy milk with lemon juice.

Do I need to chill the dough?
Only if it’s sticky or hard to handle. A quick chill helps with shaping and swirling.

Conclusion

These Cotton Candy Cookies are a whimsical, colorful, and delicious treat that brings the fun of the fairground to your kitchen. Whether you’re hosting a themed party, baking with kids, or simply indulging in something playful and sweet, these cookies are sure to impress. Get ready for the oohs and aahs—both from how they look and how they taste!

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