Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
2. Prepare the Dry Ingredients:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream the Butter and Sugar:
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4. Add the Wet Ingredients:
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat until well combined.
Stir in the cotton candy flavoring (or extract) and a couple of drops of pink food coloring to give the dough a light pastel pink hue. You can add more food coloring to get the shade you prefer.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. If using white chocolate chips or mini marshmallows, fold them in at this point.
6. Scoop the Dough:
Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion out the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Roll each dough ball slightly in your hands to form a smooth ball.
For an extra touch of sweetness, you can roll each dough ball in cotton candy sugar before baking.
7. Bake the Cookies:
Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are just slightly soft. The cookies will firm up as they cool, so be careful not to overbake them.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Serve and Enjoy:
Once the cookies have cooled, serve them up with a cold glass of milk or on their own as a fun treat. The cotton candy flavor will be a sweet surprise for everyone!
