Cotton Candy Sandwich Cookies (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ For the Cookie Dough

01 - 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
03 - 1/4 cup buttermilk
04 - 1 egg
05 - 1 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring
06 - 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
10 - 1 drop soft pink gel food coloring
11 - 1 drop sky blue gel food coloring

→ For the Cotton Candy Buttercream

12 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
13 - 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
14 - 2 teaspoons cotton candy flavoring
15 - 1 drop soft pink gel food coloring
16 - 1 drop sky blue gel food coloring

# Instructions:

01 - Let's get started by preheating your oven to 350°F. While it's warming up, line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper. This step is super important - not only does it prevent sticking, but it also helps your cookies bake evenly. Plus, cleanup will be a breeze, which is always a bonus when you're making something fun like these colorful cookies!
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine your room temperature butter and sugar. Using an electric mixer, cream them together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy - this should take about 2-3 minutes. Don't rush this step! It's creating tiny air pockets that will give your cookies that perfect texture. Meanwhile, in a separate small bowl, whisk together your buttermilk, egg, and cotton candy flavoring until well combined. The buttermilk is our secret weapon here - it makes these cookies super soft and tender!
03 - Now, gradually pour your buttermilk mixture into the butter-sugar mixture, beating on medium speed until everything is nicely incorporated. In another bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Slowly add these dry ingredients to your wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined. Be careful not to overmix - we want tender cookies, not tough ones! The dough should be soft but not too sticky.
04 - Here comes the magical part! Divide your dough into two equal portions. Add a drop of pink gel food coloring to one half and a drop of blue gel food coloring to the other. Gently fold each color into its respective portion until evenly distributed. Now comes the fun swirling - place spoonfuls of each color into your mixing bowl, alternating pink and blue. Give them just a gentle swirl with a knife or spatula - we want distinct swirls of color, not a fully mixed purple dough! It should look like cotton candy clouds when you're done.
05 - Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded portions of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. These cookies will spread a bit as they bake. Gently flatten each dough ball slightly with the palm of your hand. Slide the sheets into your preheated oven and bake for 6-10 minutes. You're looking for the edges to just barely start turning golden brown - don't overbake! The centers might look slightly underdone, but they'll firm up as they cool.
06 - Once baked, let your cookies rest on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes. This resting period is crucial - they're still setting up and are too fragile to move right away. After the brief rest, carefully transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Make sure they're totally cool before frosting, or your beautiful buttercream will melt!
07 - While your cookies are cooling, let's make that dreamy cotton candy buttercream! In a large bowl, beat your room temperature butter with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes until it's light and fluffy. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. The slow addition prevents a powdered sugar cloud explosion! Once all the sugar is incorporated, add your cotton candy flavoring and beat for another minute until the frosting is super fluffy and smooth.
08 - Just like with the cookies, divide your buttercream into two equal portions. Tint one half with a drop of pink gel food coloring and the other with a drop of blue gel food coloring. Mix each until the color is evenly distributed. Now comes another fun part - take a piping bag fitted with your favorite tip and fill it by alternating spoonfuls of pink and blue buttercream along the sides. This creates a beautiful swirled effect when you pipe it that looks just like cotton candy clouds!
09 - Now for the grand finale! Pair up your cookies, matching similar sizes together. Flip half of them over so the flat bottoms are facing up. Pipe a generous swirl of your two-toned buttercream onto each of these flat bottoms, then gently press the remaining cookies on top, flat side down, to create sandwiches. Press just enough to spread the buttercream to the edges without squishing it out. For easier handling, especially on warm days, pop these beautiful creations in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to let the buttercream firm up a bit.

# Notes:

01 - These whimsical Cotton Candy Sandwich Cookies capture the nostalgic flavor and colors of cotton candy in a delicious treat that's perfect for birthday parties, baby showers, or anytime you want to add a touch of carnival fun to your day.
02 - Cotton candy flavoring can be found at specialty baking stores or online - it's what gives these cookies their authentic fairground taste.
03 - For the most vibrant swirl effect, use gel food coloring rather than liquid, as it won't thin out your dough or frosting.
04 - Store assembled cookie sandwiches in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Let them come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving for the best flavor and texture.

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