Whimsical Pink Crinkle Cookies Everyone Loves
These delightful cookies capture the essence of cotton candy in a tender, chewy bite. Each cookie features a soft, vibrant pink interior, enveloped in a delicate sugar coating that provides a subtle crunch. Their signature crinkled texture adds to their charm, making them a sweet and visually appealing treat, perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling)
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 34 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, divided
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons cotton candy extract or flavor oil
- 4–6 drops pink gel food coloring
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract, cotton candy extract, and pink gel food coloring until well combined and the dough is uniformly pink.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours, to firm up.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Place the remaining ½ cup of granulated sugar in a shallow bowl.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons of chilled dough and roll them into balls. Roll each dough ball thoroughly in the granulated sugar to coat completely.
- Place the coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are still slightly soft. The cookies will puff up and then crinkle as they cool.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Chilling the dough is crucial for achieving the perfect crinkled texture and preventing the cookies from spreading too much.
Do not overbake these cookies; they should remain soft in the center for the best chewy texture.
For a more intense cotton candy flavor, consider using a high-quality cotton candy flavor oil.
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
Nutrition
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Fat: 7 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Protein: 2 g