Colorful Sugar Cookies
These Colorful Sugar Cookies are fun, vibrant, and easy to make! Perfect for birthdays, holidays, or any occasion, they feature a soft, buttery texture and can be customized with natural or artificial food coloring for bold, eye-catching designs.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Silicone spatula
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
- Cookie scoop or spoon
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Gel food coloring red, blue, green, yellow, or preferred colors
- Sprinkles optional, for extra color and texture
Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat & Prepare
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2️⃣ Mix Wet Ingredients
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined.
3️⃣ Combine Dry Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
4️⃣ Add Color to Dough
- Divide the dough into separate portions.
- Add a few drops of gel food coloring to each portion and knead until the color is evenly distributed.
- For a tie-dye effect, gently swirl different colored dough portions together.
5️⃣ Shape & Bake
- Roll the dough into small balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Lightly flatten each cookie with your hand or the bottom of a glass.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
6️⃣ Cool & Serve
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- Serve as-is or decorate with sprinkles, icing, or edible glitter for extra color!
Notes
- For Natural Coloring: Use beet powder for red, matcha for green, turmeric for yellow, and butterfly pea powder for blue instead of artificial food coloring.
- Avoid Overmixing: Overmixing the dough can lead to dense cookies—mix just until combined.
- Color Intensity: Gel food coloring provides vibrant colors without altering dough consistency; liquid food coloring may require extra flour.
- Storing Cookies: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Dough Chilling Tip: If your dough is too soft, chill for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading.
- For a Marbled Effect: Lightly knead different colored doughs together instead of fully mixing.