Description
Sweet cotton candy cookies bring carnival magic right into your kitchen, offering a whimsical twist on classic desserts. Nostalgic flavors and playful pink swirls create an irresistible treat you’ll want to share with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring
- 1 drop soft pink gel food coloring
- 1 drop sky blue gel food coloring
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the kitchen workspace by preheating the oven to 350°F (177°C) and lining baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Create a creamy base by thoroughly blending granulated sugar and unsalted butter until the mixture achieves a light, airy consistency.
- Whisk together buttermilk, egg, and cotton candy flavoring in a separate vessel to create a smooth, fragrant liquid mixture.
- Gradually incorporate the liquid ingredients into the butter mixture, stirring until completely integrated.
- Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder in a separate bowl to ensure even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Carefully fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring minimally to prevent overworking the dough.
- Separate the dough into two equal portions, then transform each section using gel food coloring – one in vibrant pink, the other in electric blue.
- Gently intertwine the colored doughs, creating a mesmerizing marbled pattern that hints at the cotton candy inspiration.
- Portion the swirled dough onto prepared baking sheets, using a light touch to flatten each cookie slightly.
- Bake for 6-10 minutes, watching carefully until the cookie edges develop a golden-brown hint of caramelization.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Prepare the buttercream by whipping room-temperature butter until silky and smooth.
- Gradually introduce confectioners’ sugar, beating until the mixture becomes light and voluminous.
- Enhance the buttercream with cotton candy flavoring, then divide and tint half pink and half blue to match the cookie’s color scheme.
- Once cookies are completely cool, artfully pipe or spread the colored buttercream to complete the whimsical cotton candy cookie experience.
Notes
- Swirl technique matters most when creating the marbled cookie effect, gently fold colors without overmixing to maintain distinct pink and blue swirls.
- Cotton candy flavoring can be substituted with vanilla extract for a milder taste, ensuring the cookie remains delightful for those sensitive to intense flavors.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and maintain the cookies’ shape, resulting in a more uniform and professional appearance.
- For gluten-free options, replace all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, ensuring the texture remains soft and tender without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg