Description
Colorful tie-dye sugar cookies bring whimsical art to classic desserts. Playful swirls of icing create edible masterpieces you can enjoy with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
Tie-Dye Sugar Cookies
Cookie Base Ingredients:
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups (285g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3 1/2 cups (420g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon (2g) baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon (2g) cream of tartar
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.2g) salt
Color and Decoration Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sprinkles
- Gel food colors (Pink, Royal Blue, and Violet)
- Extra granulated sugar for rolling (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes. Incorporate eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth and well blended.
- In a separate bowl, thoroughly combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture on medium-low speed, mixing until just combined. Fold in sprinkles gently.
- Separate the dough into four portions. Leave one portion uncolored, and add different gel food colors to the remaining three portions. Use pink, royal blue, and violet, or choose your preferred colors. Gently swirl the colored doughs together in a large bowl, avoiding overmixing to maintain the tie-dye effect.
- Using a cookie scoop, portion out dough balls with unique color patterns. Roll each ball in granulated sugar or additional sprinkles for extra texture. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for set edges and slightly soft centers. The cookies will continue cooking slightly after removal from the oven, so avoid overbaking to maintain a soft texture.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling. As they cool, the vibrant color swirls will become more pronounced, creating a visually stunning and delicious treat.
Notes
- Prevent Color Bleeding Minimize mixing the colored doughs to maintain distinct, vibrant tie-dye patterns. Gentle swirling keeps colors separate and prevents muddying.
- Adjust Color Intensity Use gel food coloring for more concentrated, vivid colors that won’t water down your cookie dough. A little goes a long way in creating eye-catching designs.
- Customize for Dietary Needs Swap out all-purpose flour with gluten-free alternatives like almond or coconut flour for those with gluten sensitivities. Replace butter with vegan margarine to make the recipe dairy-free and plant-based friendly.
- Master the Soft Cookie Secret Remove cookies from the oven when edges are set but centers look slightly underbaked. This technique guarantees that perfectly soft, chewy texture everyone loves in a great sugar cookie.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 174
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 41mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 23mg