Description
These Cotton Candy Cookies are a fun and colorful treat featuring a swirled pink and blue dough that mimics the whimsical look and taste of cotton candy. Soft, fluffy, and lightly sweet, these cookies combine classic flavors with a nostalgic cotton candy twist, perfect for parties or as a playful dessert.
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 substitute with 1/4 cup milk mixed with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Additional Flavor and Color
- Gel food coloring (pink and blue)
- Cotton candy flavoring (optional, for an added burst of nostalgic cotton candy flavor)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This step is essential for achieving a tender cookie texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and buttermilk (or the substitute) into the creamed mixture until smooth and creamy.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
- Divide and Color Dough: Split the dough into two equal portions. Add pink gel food coloring to one half and blue gel food coloring to the other, mixing each until the colors are evenly incorporated.
- Form Cookie Balls: Take a small amount from each colored dough, roll them together into a ball, and gently swirl to create a cotton candy effect. Place the cookie balls on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
- Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Watch closely to avoid overbaking as these cookies are delicate.
- Cool: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve and enjoy the whimsical cotton candy-inspired treats!
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for more vibrant colors and to avoid altering dough texture.
- If dough is too soft, chill it in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to make handling easier.
- When combining colored doughs, gently swirl instead of mixing thoroughly to maintain the cotton candy look.