Cotton Candy Cookies are a fun and whimsical twist on traditional sugar cookies, with a light and fluffy texture that’s reminiscent of everyone’s favorite carnival treat.
These colorful cookies are swirled with pink and blue colors giving them a pastel swirl that’s perfect for parties, special occasions, or just a fun baking project with the kids.
With their bright colors and sweet flavor, these cookies are sure to be a hit with anyone who loves a little bit of whimsy in their desserts.
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Why I Love This Recipe
Kids will love these cookies so much! Check out why I love this recipe below:
- The colorful and playful appearance of cotton candy cookies makes them perfect for parties, baby showers, and other festive occasions.
- The sweet and fluffy texture of cotton candy cookies is a delightful treat for anyone with a sweet tooth.
- The unique flavor of cotton candy combined with the classic taste of sugar cookies creates a fun and innovative twist on a beloved classic.
You can always check out these Cotton Candy Cupcakes!
Ingredients
- all purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
- butter
- sugar
- egg
- cotton candy flavoring
- Pink food coloring
- Blue food coloring
- Powdered sugar or flour for rolling
- white frosting – canned or homemade
- Sprinkles
How to Make Cotton Candy Cookies
This is a short rundown of steps that you need to take to make these delicious cookies. You can find the full recipe in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients
Whisk together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Step 2: Making the cookie dough
In a mixing bowl, blend the butter and sugar until creamy and light. Add egg and cotton candy extract. Mix well. Slowly add dry ingredients and mix until combined.
Step 3: Divide the dough
Divide into two equal portions.
Step 4: Color the dough
Into one ball of dough, add the pink food coloring and work the dough until equally blended. Into the other ball of dough, add the blue food coloring and work until blended.
Step 5: Shape the dough
Roll out each ball to ¼ inch thickness. Place one sheet of cookie dough over the other sheet. Pat gently to remove any air pockets and then roll the dough tightly from one side to the other as you would a jelly roll.
Step 6: Slice the cookie dough
Slice the cookie dough into ¼ inch slices. Place the cookies onto the prepared baking sheet.
Step 7: Bake the cookies
Bake cookies for 7 to 9 minutes. Do not brown the cookies. Allow cookies to cool for at least 20 minutes on the baking sheet before carefully removing them to a cooling rack.
Step 8: Heat the frosting
Remove the lid and aluminum seal from the frosting container. Place in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir well.
Step 9: Decorate the cookies
Add the frosting to a piping bag, and swirl on top of the cookies. And, sprinkle with clear sprinkles or sanding sugar if desired.
Serving Suggestions
Cotton candy cookies are a fun and festive treat that can be served on their own or along with other snacks and drinks. If you’re looking to create a complete snack spread, here are a few ideas for what to serve with cotton candy cookies:
- Milk: A cold glass of milk is a classic pairing for any cookie, and the creamy flavor helps balance out the sweetness of the cotton candy cookies.
- Fruit: Fresh fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, can add a refreshing and healthy element to the snack spread.
- Candy: For an extra sweet touch, consider adding some candy to the mix, such as gummy bears, jelly beans, or sour candies.
- Popcorn: A bowl of popcorn can provide a savory contrast to the sugary sweetness of the cotton candy cookies.
- Tea or Coffee: A warm cup of tea or coffee can also be a great complement to cotton candy cookies, especially if you’re serving them at a party or gathering.
Pro Tips
- Use cotton candy flavoring: To achieve the signature cotton candy flavor of these cookies, consider using cotton candy flavoring instead of vanilla extract in your recipe.
- Chill the dough: After mixing the dough, let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before rolling it into balls and baking. This will help the dough firm up and prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
- Add sprinkles after rolling: Once you’ve rolled the dough into balls, roll them in sprinkles to coat them evenly. This can help prevent the sprinkles from bleeding into the dough during baking.
- Under-bake slightly: To achieve a soft and fluffy texture, it’s best to slightly under-bake the cookies by a minute or two. Keep a close eye on them towards the end of the bake time to avoid over-baking.
- Store properly: Store leftover cotton candy cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also freeze the cookies for up to three months. Just be sure to thaw them completely before serving.
Storage
Leftovers – The best way to keep cotton candy cookies fresh is to store them in an airtight container at room temperature. This will help prevent them from drying out or becoming stale.
Freezing – Cotton candy cookies can also be frozen for up to three months. Place them in a freezer-safe container or bag, and thaw them at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy them.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Yes, you can make cotton candy cookies ahead of time and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also freeze them for up to three months.
Sure, you can skip the sprinkles if you prefer. The cookies will still have a delicious cotton candy flavor.
If you’re baking at high altitude, you may need to adjust the recipe slightly by reducing the amount of sugar or leavening agents. Consult a high altitude baking guide for specific instructions based on your location.
More Cookie Recipes
If you like cookies, give these recipes a try:
Want to make this delicious recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin it so that you can come back to it later.
Cotton Candy Cookies
Equipment
- cookie sheets
- Mixing Bowl
- hand mixer
- piping bag optional
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ teaspoon cotton candy flavoring
- Pink food coloring
- Blue food coloring
- Powdered sugar or flour for rolling
Topping
- 16 ounces white icing
- Sprinkles
- 1 teaspoon cotton candy extract optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Whisk together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, blend the butter and sugar until creamy and light. Add egg and cotton candy extract. Mix well. Slowly add dry ingredients and mix until combined. Dough may be a little crumbly.
- Turn out the dough onto a surface sprinkled with powdered sugar or flour. Divide into two equal portions.
- Into one ball of dough, add the pink food coloring and work the dough until equally blended. Into the other ball of dough, add the blue food coloring and work until blended.
- Roll out each ball to ¼ inch thickness. Place one sheet of cookie dough over the other sheet. Pat gently to remove any air pockets and then roll the dough tightly from one side to the other as you would a jelly roll.
- Slice the cookie dough into ¼ inch slices. Place the cookies onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake cookies for 7 to 9 minutes. Do not brown the cookies. Allow cookies to cool for at least 20 minutes on the baking sheet before carefully removing to a cooling rack.
- Remove the lid and aluminum seal from the frosting container. Place in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir in 1 teaspoon of cotton candy extract if desired.
- Add the icing to a piping bag, and pipe over the cookies. Or, using a spoon drizzle the frosting over the top of the cookies.
- Top with sprinkles if desired while the icing is still wet.
- Allow the icing to dry completely before stacking. Using parchment or waxed paper between each layer is recommended.
Notes
- If you don’t want to use a piping bag, you can use a spoon to drizzle the frosting on top of the cookies.
- I like the sparkle from the sanding sugar but you can skip those if you like the crunch.
- Make sure to allow the frosting to harden all the way before you store the cookies.
- If you are using a container where you need to stack them, use a piece of parchment paper between the layers to protect the icing.