Tie Dye Sugar Cookies
Tie Dye Sugar Cookies are vibrant and visually stunning cookies featuring multi-colored swirls of buttery, sweet dough. Perfect for celebrations or everyday treats, they combine a tender, classic sugar cookie taste with playful, customizable colors. Easy to make with basic ingredients and simple steps, these cookies delight kids and adults alike and make a colorful addition to any cookie platter.
- Author: Lina
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Can be made Gluten Free with substitution
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Additional
- Gel food coloring (various colors as desired)
- Prepare the Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate large bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar using a hand or stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined and smooth. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Divide and Color the Dough: Divide the dough evenly into 3 to 5 small bowls, depending on how many colors you wish to use. Add a few drops of gel food coloring to each portion, then gently knead with clean hands or a spatula to incorporate the color evenly without melting the dough.
- Create the Tie Dye Effect: Place the different colored dough balls side by side and carefully twist and roll them together, taking care not to overmix as the goal is to create vibrant swirls and streaks of color. Shape the combined dough into a log or flatten it into a disk according to your preferred cookie shape.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the shaped dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling firms the dough and preserves the distinct color pattern when sliced and baked.
- Slice and Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the dough from the refrigerator and slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Arrange the slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges start to turn a light golden color. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring to achieve vivid colors without altering dough consistency.
- Mix dough only until ingredients combine to keep the cookies tender.
- Chill dough thoroughly to maintain the tie dye patterns and make slicing easier.
- Slice dough evenly for consistent size and baking results.
- Use room temperature butter for the best creaming and dough texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Tie Dye Cookies, colorful sugar cookies, fun baking, party cookies, kids baking, holiday cookies