Pastel Crinkle Cookies (Printable)

Chewy, sugar-coated cookies with crackled tops and soft pastel hues. Ready in 30 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ 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 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, cream butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract. Mix well.
05 - Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in two parts, alternating with milk, mixing until just combined.
06 - Divide the 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 them in powdered sugar until well coated, and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
09 - Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are set and tops are crackled but still soft in the center.
10 - Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crackled powdered sugar coating makes every cookie look like a little edible jewel.
  • They stay wonderfully soft for days, unlike some cookies that turn into rocks overnight.
  • The pastel colors bring such joy without needing any fancy decorating skills.
02 -
  • Gel coloring is absolutely worth buying instead of liquid. Liquid changes the dough consistency and can make cookies spread too much.
  • Don't skip the chilling step if your kitchen is warm. Warm dough spreads into flat puddles instead of pretty round cookies.
  • The powdered sugar coating needs to be thick and even. Thin patches won't crackle properly.
03 -
  • Scoop all your dough balls before rolling them in sugar. This keeps the colors from mixing on your hands and keeps the process tidy.
  • Use a small cookie scoop for perfectly uniform sizes. They bake more evenly and look professional.

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