Pastel Crinkle Cookies (Print Version)
Soft chewy cookies with crackled sugar coating and delicate pastel colors
# Ingredient List:
→ Cookie Dough
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ¼ teaspoon salt
04 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
08 - ¼ cup whole milk
→ For Coloring
09 - Pink, yellow, green, and blue gel food coloring
→ For Rolling
10 - ¾ cup powdered sugar
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract. Mix until well incorporated.
05 - Add flour mixture to wet ingredients in two parts, alternating with milk, mixing until just combined.
06 - Divide dough evenly into 3 or 4 bowls. Tint each portion with gel food coloring, mixing gently to achieve pastel shades.
07 - Chill dough for 20 minutes if it feels too soft to handle.
08 - Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough, roll in powdered sugar until fully coated, and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
09 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are set and tops are crackled but centers remain soft.
10 - Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The crackled sugar coating makes these cookies look like little frosted jewels
- They stay soft and chewy for days unlike so many other sugar cookies
02 -
- Overworking the colored dough will make your cookies tough so mix each color gently until just combined
- The powdered sugar coating must be generous and thick to get those dramatic crackles
03 -
- Chill your colored dough for 15 minutes before rolling if it's too warm to handle
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform size so they all bake at the same rate