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Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

ByLucy
Jump to Recipe·5 from 3 reviews

If you’re searching for a fun, colorful treat that brings a smile with every bite, you’ll adore this Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe. This cookie is soft, buttery, and bursting with those cheerful sprinkles we all love—perfect for sharing with friends or brightening up any snack time. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll quickly become your go-to for celebrations or just everyday happiness. Keep reading because I’m about to spill my secrets on how to nail these cookies every single time.

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Why This Recipe Works

  • Cream Cheese Boost: Adding cream cheese makes these cookies extra tender and gives a subtle tang that sets them apart from your typical sugar cookie.
  • Double Flavor Extracts: Using both vanilla and almond extracts deepens the cookie’s flavor in a way that feels nostalgic but fresh.
  • Sprinkle Coating Technique: Rolling the dough balls in sprinkles rather than mixing them in keeps your cookies bright and visibly fun.
  • Perfect Thickness: Gently pressing down the dough ensures even baking and helps keep the cookies soft and chewy rather than crispy or flat.
Eight round cookies with a smooth white icing layer are placed on a black cooling rack on a white marbled surface. Each cookie is topped with colorful sprinkles, with half covered in tiny round rainbow sprinkles and the other half in longer, mixed-color sprinkles. The cookies are arranged in two even columns, four in each column. A blue and white striped cloth is partially visible on the left side of the image. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7 this …

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe plays a simple but key role to create the perfect texture and flavor combination. When you pick your ingredients, look for quality basics that you love eating; that’s the secret to baking success.

  • Unsalted Butter: Softened butter adds richness and moisture; I always use good-quality butter because it really shines through in the flavor.
  • Sugar: Regular granulated sugar balances sweetness and helps the cookie spread adequately.
  • Cream Cheese: This makes the cookies irresistibly tender with a slight tang that prevents the sweetness from feeling too heavy.
  • Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla adds that classic cookie aroma that warms up the whole kitchen.
  • Almond Extract: Just a touch amps up the flavor without overpowering—if you’re nut-allergic, vanilla alone is perfect.
  • Egg: Binds the dough together and adds to the chewy texture.
  • Baking Soda & Baking Powder: The duo helps the cookies rise just enough to be soft but not cakey.
  • Salt: Enhances flavor and balances the sweetness.
  • Flour: The backbone of the cookie; sifted for a smooth dough.
  • Non-Pareils or Rainbow Sprinkles: The star of the show—their crunch and color give these cookies their playful vibe.
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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the things I love most about this Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. Whether you want to make them bigger, gluten-free, or swap out sprinkles for something else — it’s all doable and totally delicious.

  • Gluten-Free Variation: I’ve made these with gluten-free flour (my friend Lisa swears by Jules brand) and chilled the dough for 10 minutes before rolling—the texture stays just as soft and tastes amazing.
  • Sprinkle Options: You’re welcome to mix classic nonpareils with larger rainbow sprinkles, or try seasonal ones for holidays to make these even more festive.
  • Larger or Mini Cookies: I like making both—mini cookies for a party platter or larger ones when I want a dessert that lasts a little longer (not that it ever does!).

Step-by-Step: How I Make Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Creaming the Butter and Sugar

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper—it’ll save you so much cleanup! Then, use a mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter with sugar until it’s light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-4 minutes and is key for a tender, well-textured cookie.

Step 2: Adding Cream Cheese, Egg, and Extracts

Next, add your cream cheese, egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. The cream cheese should be softened too, so it blends in smoothly—no lumps! Mix until everything is evenly combined; the dough will start to take shape and smell heavenly.

Step 3: Mixing the Dry Ingredients

Whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a separate bowl. Gradually add this to your wet ingredients on a low to medium mixer speed, combining just until the dough is evenly moistened. The key here is to avoid overmixing, which can make the cookies tough.

Step 4: Rolling in the Sprinkles

Pour your sprinkles or nonpareils into a small bowl. Scoop about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie (or adjust size to your preference), and roll each ball lightly in the sprinkles—cover all but the bottom part of the dough ball for optimal bake and look. Use the bottom of a glass to gently flatten each cookie to about ¼ to ½ inch thick.

Step 5: Baking to Perfection

Bake the cookies for about 10-12 minutes. Keep an eye on them—every oven is different, so you want soft edges and a set center without any browning. Once out, let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

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Tips from My Kitchen

  • Soft Butter is Key: Make sure your butter and cream cheese are soft but not melted—this helps the ingredients mix uniformly for a perfect texture.
  • Don’t Overbake: Cookies will seem soft and underdone when you pull them out, but they’ll firm up as they cool.
  • Handle Dough Gently: Overworking or squeezing the dough can cause tough cookies; roll and press lightly for best results.
  • Sprinkle Placement: Leaving the bottom of the ball bare prevents sprinkles from burning on the pan and sticking too hard.

How to Serve Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

A stack of five cookies is shown on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has two types of colorful sprinkles on its edges – one type is small round sprinkles in red, yellow, green, blue, purple, and white; the other type is longer and thicker sprinkles in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, white, and brown. The cookies are light golden brown and slightly textured. They are stacked unevenly, making the stack look tall and fun. The background is blurry but shows more cookies with a similar look. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple and let the sprinkles shine, but if I’m feeling fancy, a light drizzle of white chocolate over the top adds an elegant touch without taking away that fun vibe.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair perfectly with a tall glass of cold milk or a comforting cup of hot cocoa. For parties, I love serving them alongside fruit skewers or a simple yogurt dip to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For birthdays or showers, I arrange these cookies on a layered cake stand with colorful napkins underneath to match the sprinkles. You could also wrap individual cookies in cellophane with a ribbon for cute party favors.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftovers fresh in an airtight container at room temperature—these stay soft and delicious for up to a week. If you want to enjoy them longer, just make sure to add a slice of bread inside the container to keep moisture in.

Freezing

These cookies freeze beautifully! I sandwich freezer paper between cookies and seal them in a freezer bag. When I’m ready to enjoy, I let them thaw at room temp for about 20 minutes, and they’re just like fresh-baked.

Reheating

To bring back that warm, melt-in-your-mouth feeling, I pop the cookies in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes. Be careful not to overheat or they’ll dry out!

FAQs

  1. Can I use mini chocolate chips instead of sprinkles in this Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe?

    Absolutely! Mini chocolate chips can be a tasty alternative, but since they don’t have the same crunchy texture or colorful look, the cookies won’t have the classic sprinkle appearance. You can also mix chips and sprinkles for the best of both worlds.

  2. Is it necessary to use both baking powder and baking soda?

    Yes, both work together to give the right lift and texture. Baking soda helps the cookies spread and brown lightly, while baking powder ensures they stay soft and tender inside.

  3. How do I prevent the sprinkles from bleeding their color during baking?

    Using high-quality, nonpareil sprinkles helps prevent color bleeding. Also, rolling only the top and sides of the cookie dough in sprinkles (leaving the bottom plain) reduces contact with the hot pan, which can melt sprinkles and cause color spread.

  4. Can I make this dough ahead of time?

    Yes! I often make the dough a day ahead and refrigerate it—this actually helps the flavors develop more, and chilling makes the dough easier to roll in sprinkles.

Final Thoughts

This Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe has been a staple in my kitchen ever since I discovered that little addition of cream cheese—it truly makes all the difference. I hope you’ll give it a try and see how the simple ingredients come together in a bright, cheerful cookie that’s perfect for any occasion. Whip up a batch and share them—you’ll get all the smiles and maybe even some recipe requests. Happy baking, friend!

Print
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Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Lucy
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 27 minutes
  • Yield: 24 servings
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

Delight in colorful and festive Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies featuring a soft and creamy texture from cream cheese and a perfect balance of vanilla and almond extracts. These cookies are coated generously with sprinkles, making them fun for all occasions. Easy to prepare and perfect for sharing or freezing for later enjoyment.

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/3 tsp almond extract (or 1 1/3 tsp vanilla extract as a substitute)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

Decoration

  • Non-pareils or rainbow sprinkles (or both) for coating

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the cream cheese, egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until fully combined and smooth.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Gradually add this dry mix to the wet mixture on slow to medium speed until the dough is evenly moistened.
  4. Shape and Coat Dough Balls: Place sprinkles in a small bowl. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, roll dough into balls about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons each. Roll the balls in the sprinkles, covering all sides except the bottom, then place them on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
  5. Flatten Cookies: Using the bottom of a glass, gently press down each dough ball to flatten them slightly, aiming for a thickness between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch.
  6. Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for approximately 12 minutes, watching carefully to prevent browning. The edges should be set but the centers soft.
  7. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days to maintain freshness.
  • Freeze the cookies for up to 3 months by placing them in a freezer bag; thaw when ready to eat.
  • For gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour and chill the dough for about 10 minutes before rolling in sprinkles for easier handling.
  • Use more sprinkles for a colorful and festive appearance—the more, the better!
  • If allergic to nuts, replace almond extract with additional vanilla extract to maintain flavor.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 150 kcal
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Sodium: 110 mg
  • Fat: 7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 25 mg

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