Fluffy Pink Dream: Cotton Candy Cookies Recipe

Sweet and whimsical cotton candy cookies bring childhood memories dancing across your taste buds.

These delightful treats capture the magical essence of carnival fun in every soft, colorful bite.

The cotton candy cookies carry a playful twist that turns ordinary baking into an extraordinary experience.

Bursts of pastel colors and fluffy sugar notes make these cookies feel like a celebration on a plate.

Soft, pillowy textures blend with a sugary sweetness that melts in your mouth.

Light and airy, these cookies promise a delightful journey back to carefree summer days.

Bake a batch and watch smiles bloom with each delectable morsel.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 9 minutes

Total Time: 59 minutes

Calories: 215 kcal

Servings: 22

What Makes Cotton Candy Cookies So Fun

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of the cookie, providing structure and texture to the delicate treat.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise and creates a soft, tender crumb.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the cookies.

• Butter: Brings richness and creates a smooth, creamy base for the cookie dough.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a golden, crisp cookie edge.
• Egg: Binds the ingredients together and provides moisture to the dough.
• Cotton Candy Flavoring: Infuses the cookies with a nostalgic, whimsical cotton candy taste.

• Pink Food Coloring: Adds a vibrant, playful pink hue to one portion of the dough.
• Blue Food Coloring: Creates a contrasting blue layer for a dynamic cookie appearance.
• Powdered Sugar: Helps prevent sticking when rolling out the dough.
• Icing: Provides a sweet, glossy finish to the cookies.
• Cotton Candy Extract: Intensifies the cotton candy flavor in the icing.
• Sprinkles: Adds a fun, festive touch to the decorated cookies.

Tools That Help You Bake Cotton Candy Cookies

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for blending butter, sugar, and mixing ingredients smoothly.
• Medium bowl: Perfect for whisking dry ingredients together.
• Whisk: Crucial for combining flour, baking powder, and salt evenly.
• Baking sheet: Needed for baking cookies to golden perfection.
• Parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and makes cleanup easy.
• Rolling pin: Helps roll dough to even ¼ inch thickness.
• Piping bag: Optional tool for decorating cookies with precision.
• Sharp knife: Necessary for slicing rolled dough into even cookies.
• Cooling rack: Allows cookies to cool without getting soggy.
• Microwave-safe container: Used for warming icing quickly and easily.
• Spoon: Helpful for drizzling icing or adding sprinkles.

Cotton Candy Cookies Made Simple

Cotton Candy Swirl Delights

• Color Splash Dough Preparation

Grab two portions of cookie dough and transform them into vibrant pink and blue masterpieces. Softly knead food coloring into each section until the colors blend smoothly and evenly.

• Magical Dough Rolling

Gently roll out your colorful dough sheets, then carefully stack them on top of each other. Tenderly roll the layers into a tight spiral, creating a beautiful color-swirled log that promises delightful visual surprises.

• Cookie Cutting Adventure

Slice your dough log into delicate rounds, each revealing a mesmerizing cotton candy-inspired pattern. Arrange these artistic cookies onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, ready for their golden transformation.

• Oven Enchantment

Slide the baking sheet into a preheated oven. Let the cookies bake until their edges turn just slightly golden, creating a delicate and tender texture that melts in your mouth.

• Sweet Drizzle Finale

Once cooled, unleash your creativity with a dreamy icing drizzle. Sprinkle playful decorations while the icing remains glossy, adding a whimsical touch to your cotton candy cookie masterpiece.

• Cooling and Storing

Allow your cookies to rest and set completely. Store them in a charming container, separating layers with parchment to preserve their magical swirl design and delicate texture.

Sweet Tweaks for Cotton Candy Cookie Lovers

• Play with gel food coloring for more vibrant and intense dough colors that make these cookies pop on any dessert table.
• Chill the rolled dough for 15-30 minutes before slicing to ensure cleaner, more precise cookie edges and prevent dough from crumbling.
• Sprinkle crushed cotton candy or colorful sugar crystals on top of the icing for an extra layer of sweetness and whimsical crunch.
• Wrap the unbaked cookie roll in plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to 3 months, allowing you to slice and bake fresh cookies whenever a sweet craving strikes.

Serving Cotton Candy Cookies with Flair

• Sweet Party Platter: Arrange cookies on a whimsical pastel-colored tray with cotton candy clusters and soft pink marshmallows for a dreamy dessert presentation.
• Carnival Celebration Companion: Pair these cookies with classic funnel cake or soft-serve ice cream to create a nostalgic fairground-inspired treat that brings childhood memories flooding back.
• Festive Gift Package: Bundle several cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with curly ribbons in pink and blue, perfect for birthday parties, baby showers, or playful gift-giving moments.
• Milkshake Magic Moment: Serve alongside a cotton candy milkshake with matching pastel swirls, creating an Instagram-worthy dessert spread that delights both kids and adults with its whimsical color palette.

Storing Cotton Candy Cookies the Way

• Refrigerator Storage Magic: Keep these cotton candy cookies in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Layering parchment paper between each cookie prevents sticking and maintains their delightful texture.
• Freezer-Friendly Approach: Wrap individual cookies or the entire batch tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Frozen cookies remain delicious for 3 months – perfect for unexpected sweet cravings.
• Room Temperature Tips: Store cookies at cool room temperature for 2-3 days in a sealed container away from direct sunlight. Avoid humid areas that could soften the crisp cookie edges.
• Make-Ahead Strategy: Prepare cookie dough up to 3 days before baking and store wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator. This technique allows flexible baking schedules and enhances flavor development.

Sweet Cotton Candy Cookies

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4.5 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 59 minutes
• Yield: 22 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Sweet cotton candy cookies bring childhood nostalgia to classic dessert lovers. Pastel-colored treats combine whimsical flavors with traditional cookie textures, promising pure delight with each playful bite.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup (240 ml) butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 g) sugar
• 1 egg
• 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tsps baking powder
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 1.5 tsps cotton candy flavoring
• Pink food coloring
• Blue food coloring
• 16 oz (454 g) white icing
• Sprinkles (optional)
• 1 tsp cotton candy extract (optional)
• Powdered sugar or flour (for rolling)

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together in a mixing bowl to create a uniform dry mixture.
3. Wet Base: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then blend in egg and cotton candy flavoring thoroughly.
4. Dough Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, creating a slightly crumbly dough.
5. Color Development: Divide dough into two portions, kneading pink and blue food coloring into separate sections for vibrant marbling.
6. Dough Rolling: Roll out colored dough sheets to ¼ inch thickness, layer pink and blue sections, and press gently to eliminate air pockets.
7. Dough Shaping: Tightly roll layered dough from edge to edge, forming a swirled cylindrical shape, then slice into ¼ inch thick rounds.
8. Baking Process: Arrange cookie slices on prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly, and bake for 7-9 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
9. Cooling Stage: Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheet for at least 20 minutes to set their structure.
10. Finishing Touches: Warm icing, optionally mix in cotton candy extract, then drizzle over cookies and immediately sprinkle decorative toppings.
11. Storage: Once icing sets completely, store cookies with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.

Notes

• Prevent Overworking Dough: Mix ingredients just until combined to keep cookies tender and prevent tough texture.
• Manage Color Intensity: Add food coloring gradually to control color depth and achieve desired marbled effect.
• Temperature Precision: Use room temperature butter for smoother creaming and even cookie consistency.
• Cooling Technique: Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheet to maintain delicate structure and prevent breaking.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 9 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 22
• Calories: 215
• Sugar: 16 g
• Sodium: 70 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 31 mg