Description
Sweet dreams come true with cotton candy cookies, a whimsical dessert that whisks taste buds to childhood nostalgia. Pastel-colored treats deliver sugary magic in each delightful bite you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks / 226 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional, for an extra candy-like flavor)
- 1/2 cup cotton candy-flavored candy melts or crushed cotton candy-flavored hard candies
- Pink and blue food coloring (optional, for a fun swirl effect)
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350°F and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper, ensuring a clean workspace for cookie creation.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whip the softened butter with granulated and powdered sugars until the mixture becomes airy and voluminous, creating a smooth base for the cookies.
- Incorporate eggs individually, then blend in vanilla and almond extracts, mixing thoroughly to distribute the flavors evenly throughout the dough.
- Separately, combine flour, baking soda, and salt, then gradually integrate this dry mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring until just incorporated to maintain a tender cookie texture.
- Gently fold crushed cotton candy candies or melted candy melts into the dough, introducing bursts of sweet flavor and potential pastel coloration.
- For a visually stunning effect, separate the dough and tint portions with pink and blue hues, then delicately swirl the colors together to create a marbled pattern without overmixing.
- Carefully portion the multicolored dough onto prepared baking sheets, leaving sufficient space between each cookie to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for set edges while maintaining soft centers, which indicate the perfect cotton candy cookie consistency.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for a brief 5-minute cooling period before transferring to a wire rack, preserving their delicate structure and ensuring optimal texture.
Notes
- Flavor Boosting: Crush cotton candy candies super fine for more intense cotton candy taste throughout the cookie.
- Color Creativity: Experiment with different pastel food coloring shades to create unique swirled patterns that make each cookie look magical.
- Texture Tip: Chill dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and maintain those beautiful marbled swirls.
- Dietary Adaptation: Swap regular flour with gluten-free blend and use plant-based butter for vegan-friendly cotton candy cookie experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg