Candy Cookie Stack (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Cookie Dough Ingredients

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

→ Buttercream Filling

12 - 1 drop blue gel food coloring (sky tone)
13 - 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
14 - 1 drop pink gel food coloring (soft tone)
15 - 2 teaspoons cotton candy flavoring
16 - 1 cup softened butter (unsalted)

# Instructions:

01 - Turn your oven on to 350°F to preheat. Grab a couple of baking trays and line them with parchment paper while you wait. This helps the cookies bake evenly and makes cleanup quick and easy!
02 - Get a big bowl and whip together softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer. Keep going for 2-3 minutes until it's light and fluffy—those tiny air pockets make all the difference! Separately, whisk up your buttermilk, egg, and cotton candy flavoring in a smaller bowl. The buttermilk keeps things soft, so don't skip it.
03 - Pour the egg and buttermilk mix into the creamed butter-sugar mixture bit by bit, mixing on medium speed. In another bowl, stir your flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add this dry mix to your wet ingredients. Don't overdo the mixing! A soft dough is what you're aiming for here.
04 - Split the dough into two batches. Add pink gel coloring to one and blue to the other. Gently fold each until the color spreads evenly. Scoop bits of each color into a single bowl, alternating between pink and blue. Use a knife or spatula to swirl the colors a little—just enough to get that cotton candy vibe!
05 - Spoon the colorful dough onto the baking trays, leaving about 2 inches between each. Lightly press them down with your hand. Bake for 6-10 minutes, watching for edges that are just starting to turn golden. The centers should still look a bit soft—that's how you keep them chewy!
06 - Leave your cookies on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes; they'll be too fragile to move just yet. Then transfer them carefully to cooling racks. Wait until they're fully cool before reaching for the buttercream.
07 - While the cookies chill, toss softened butter into a large bowl and beat for 2 minutes until fluffy. Slowly add in the powdered sugar, a little at a time, beating well after each addition so the sugar fully mixes in smoothly. Toss in the cotton candy flavoring and mix again to get that airy, dreamy texture.
08 - Separate the buttercream into two halves. Tint one pink and the other blue with a drop of food coloring each. Stir them separately to blend the colors well. Scoop alternating spoonfuls of each color along the sides of a piping bag. This will give your frosting a cute, swirled design when you pipe it out!
09 - Pick out pairs of cookies that are roughly the same size. Flip one of each pair upside down and pipe the swirled icing generously onto the flat side. Gently add the second cookie on top to make sandwiches. If it's warm, chill them for 15 minutes before serving so the frosting firms up nicely.

# Notes:

01 - These fun, colorful sandwich cookies are bursting with the nostalgic taste of cotton candy, making them perfect for celebrations or a sweet treat for any day.
02 - Cotton candy flavoring is available online or in specialty baking stores. It's what brings the carnival flavor to these goodies.
03 - Gel food coloring is your best bet for bold, vibrant swirls. It won't mess with the dough or frosting consistency.
04 - Store these sweet sandwiches in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Let them sit for 15 minutes at room temperature before serving for the best flavor.

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