Description
Delight in these vibrant Rainbow Sugar Cookies, a fun and colorful twist on the classic sugar cookie. Perfect for parties, holidays, or any festive occasion, these cookies boast a soft texture with a beautiful swirled rainbow pattern made from gel food coloring. Easy to make and decorated optionally with sprinkles, they bring joy both visually and in taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Coloring and Decoration
- Food coloring (gel preferred – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
- Optional: rainbow sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Dry Ingredients: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to ensure they are evenly combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, which typically takes about 2 to 3 minutes using an electric mixer on medium speed.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is well combined, creating a smooth, creamy base for your dough.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing steadily until a smooth cookie dough forms without any lumps.
- Divide and Color Dough: Divide the dough evenly into six separate bowls. Tint each bowl with a different gel food coloring—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple—mixing thoroughly until the color is evenly distributed.
- Chill Dough: Chill the colored dough portions in the fridge for 15–20 minutes to firm them up, making the dough easier to handle and shape.
- Form Rainbow Cookie Balls: Pinch off a small piece of each colored dough and gently roll them together to form a ball with a swirled rainbow pattern. Avoid overmixing to keep the colors distinct and visually appealing.
- Arrange and Decorate: Place the cookie dough balls spaced 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Gently flatten the tops and optionally sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles for added fun and texture.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the centers remain slightly soft. This ensures a tender texture.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, preventing them from breaking.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without making the dough sticky or watery.
- These cookies freeze well, making them a convenient treat for future celebrations.
- Add a splash of lemon or almond extract instead of vanilla for a unique flavor twist.
- Be careful not to overmix the colored doughs when combining to maintain distinct swirls.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
