Description
These Delicious Cotton Candy Cookies are soft, whimsical sugar cookies flavored with cotton candy extract and colored in pastel pink and blue to create a fun carnival-inspired treat. Perfect for parties, baby showers, or any festive occasion, these cookies feature a gentle swirl of color and optional sprinkles or cotton candy pieces for decoration. Made using basic baking techniques, they bake up soft, tender, and full of sweet, nostalgic flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring (or to taste)
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Optional Ingredients
- Pink and blue gel food coloring
- Sprinkles or cotton candy pieces for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, which should take about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings: Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition to fully incorporate. Then stir in the vanilla extract and cotton candy flavoring to infuse the dough with that signature sweet carnival taste.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
- Mix Dry Ingredients with Wet: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Stir just until the dough comes together, being careful not to overmix which can toughen the cookies.
- Divide and Color the Dough: Split the dough evenly into two separate bowls. Add pink gel food coloring to one bowl and blue gel food coloring to the other. Mix thoroughly in each bowl until the color is fully incorporated and uniform.
- Form and Swirl Dough Balls: Scoop small portions of the pink and blue dough and gently swirl or roll the two colors together into single balls, creating a cotton candy effect with a marbled appearance. Place these onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Flatten and Decorate: Slightly flatten each dough ball with your hand or the bottom of a glass to ensure even baking. If desired, top with sprinkles or a small piece of cotton candy, keeping in mind that cotton candy can melt during baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are set but the centers remain slightly soft. Avoid overbaking to keep the cookies tender.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them firm up without breaking.
Notes
- Use high-quality cotton candy flavoring for the best authentic taste, available online or at specialty baking stores.
- These cookies remain soft for several days, making them ideal for preparing ahead of parties or celebrations.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- If you want to add cotton candy on top as decoration, be aware it may melt during baking, so adding after baking could be preferable.
