Step 1: Preheat and prep
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This ensures your cookies don’t stick and makes cleanup easier.

Step 2: Mix the dry stuff
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set it aside—let’s focus on the buttery goodness next.

Step 3: Cream the butter and sugar
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about 2–3 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and cotton candy flavoring. Mix until everything is well incorporated.

Step 4: Add the dry ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. If the dough feels too dry, add a tablespoon of heavy cream or milk to give it a soft, workable texture.

Step 5: Roll and sprinkle
Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. If you’re feeling extra sweet, roll the dough balls in cotton candy sugar crystals for a bit of sparkle. Place them onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie for spreading.

Step 6: Bake to perfection
Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. The center should still look soft, but don’t worry—it’ll firm up as it cools. Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 7: Garnish and devour
Once the cookies are cool, toss some pastel sprinkles on top for an extra pop of color (because who doesn’t love sprinkles?). Now, it’s time to indulge!