🍪 Cotton Candy Cookies 🍪
Ingredients (Makes 24–30 cookies)
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 tsp cotton candy extract (or vanilla, if unavailable)
1½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
½ cup cotton candy (pink, blue, or a mix)
Optional: A few drops of pink and blue food coloring
Instructions
Preheat and Prep:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cream Butter and Sugar:
In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy—about 2–3 minutes.
Add Egg and Extract:
Mix in the egg and cotton candy extract until fully combined.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients:
Add the flour and salt. Mix on low speed just until the dough comes together. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
Optional Color Swirl:
If using food coloring, divide the dough in half. Add a few drops of different colors to each portion and gently swirl them together with a spatula or knife.
Fold in Cotton Candy:
Tear the cotton candy into small pieces and quickly fold them into the dough using a rubber spatula before they start dissolving.
Shape the Dough:
Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough and roll into balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
Flatten Slightly:
Gently press down each cookie with your fingers—just enough to flatten slightly without spreading too thin.
Bake Until Set:
Bake for 9–10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers still look slightly underdone.
Cool on Sheet:
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
