Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Introduction
Sprinkle Cookies are a fun and colorful treat perfect for any occasion. These tender, buttery cookies are rolled in jimmies sprinkles, creating a delightful crunch and joyful appearance. They’re simple to make and sure to brighten up your cookie platter.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, cubed
- ½ cup (4 ounces) cream cheese
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup jimmies sprinkles
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking pans with silicone baking mats or parchment paper and set aside.
- Step 2: In a food processor, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Pulse a few times to blend.
- Step 3: Add the cold cubed butter, cold cream cheese, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar to the flour mixture. Pulse until the mixture has a sandy texture.
- Step 4: Add the egg and vanilla extract and blend until the dough comes together.
- Step 5: Roll the dough into 1 ½ tablespoon-sized balls. Then, roll each ball in the jimmies sprinkles until fully coated.
- Step 6: Place the sprinkled dough balls on the prepared baking pans, spacing them 1-2 inches apart. Use the bottom of a glass to gently flatten each cookie to about ¼ to ½ inch thick.
- Step 7: Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the cookies look slightly underbaked.
- Step 8: Let the cookies rest on the baking pan for 2 minutes. If they look puffy, gently press them down with the bottom of a glass while cooling. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips & Variations
- Use chilled butter and cream cheese to help achieve the perfect sandy dough texture for tender cookies.
- Try different colors or shapes of sprinkles for festive variations.
- For a richer flavor, substitute some of the all-purpose flour with almond flour.
Storage
Store the sprinkle cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them fresh longer, you can freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months. Reheat briefly in a low oven if you prefer them warm.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I make this dough without a food processor?
Yes, you can use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut the cold butter and cream cheese into the dry ingredients until sandy. Then mix in the egg and vanilla until combined.
Why do the cookies look underbaked when done?
Sprinkle cookies are best when slightly underbaked; this helps keep them tender and soft as they cool. They firm up as they rest on the pan and wire rack.
PrintSprinkle Cookies Recipe
These Sprinkle Cookies are delightful buttery treats speckled with colorful jimmies sprinkles, perfect for celebrations or adding a cheerful touch to any cookie platter. They feature a tender, cream cheese-enriched dough that results in a soft yet slightly crisp texture, baked to just underdone perfection for maximum chewiness and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, cubed and cold
- ½ cup (4 ounces) cream cheese, cold
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Sugars & Toppings
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup jimmies sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking pans with silicone baking mats or parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking. Set the prepared pans aside.
- Combine dry ingredients: In the bowl of a food processor, add 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ¾ teaspoon salt. Pulse a few times to blend these ingredients evenly.
- Add cold fats and sugars: Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter and cold cream cheese along with ½ cup granulated sugar and ¾ cup powdered sugar to the flour mixture in the food processor. Pulse until the mixture achieves a sandy texture, indicating the fats have been well incorporated.
- Add egg and vanilla: Add 1 large egg and 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract to the mixture. Pulse or blend until the dough just comes together and forms a cohesive ball.
- Shape dough and coat: Roll the dough into balls about 1 ½ tablespoons each. Then, roll each dough ball gently in the 1 cup of jimmies sprinkles, ensuring they are evenly coated all over.
- Arrange and flatten cookies: Place the sprinkle-coated dough balls onto the prepared baking pans, spacing them about 1-2 inches apart. Using the bottom of a glass, press down lightly on each cookie ball to flatten them to a thickness between ¼ and ½ inch tall.
- Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes. The cookies should look slightly underbaked when you remove them—they will continue to set as they cool.
- Cool and finish: Let the cookies rest for 2 minutes on the baking pan after removing from the oven. If the cookies appear puffy, gently press them down again with the bottom of a glass while they are still warm. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Use cold butter and cream cheese to ensure a tender texture by preventing the fats from melting before baking.
- Do not overbake; cookies should be slightly underdone when taken out to keep them soft and chewy.
- Rolling the dough balls in sprinkles before flattening gives the cookies a fun and festive appearance.
- If a food processor is not available, you can use a stand mixer or mix by hand, but be sure to cut in the butter and cream cheese well.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 5 days.
Keywords: sprinkle cookies, cream cheese cookies, soft cookies, colorful cookies, party cookies, easy bake cookies
