Glow-in-the-Dark Cotton Candy Cookies are a fun, colorful, and whimsical treat—perfect for parties, sleepovers, or any event that calls for a little edible magic. While cookies can’t literally glow in the dark without blacklight-reactive ingredients, you can make them glow under blacklight using safe, edible components like tonic water or vitamin B2 (riboflavin). Here’s a recipe and method to achieve that glowing effect with a cotton candy twist:
🌟 Glow-in-the-Dark Cotton Candy Cookies Recipe
🔮 Ingredients
Cookies:
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2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
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½ tsp baking soda
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½ tsp baking powder
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½ tsp salt
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1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
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1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
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1 large egg
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2 tsp cotton candy flavoring (LorAnn oils or similar)
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Gel food coloring (pink, blue, purple – optional for the cotton candy look)
Glow Glaze (for blacklight glow):
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1 cup powdered sugar
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2–3 tbsp tonic water (contains quinine which glows under blacklight)
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Optional: Neon food coloring
Toppings:
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Cotton candy (store-bought, added just before serving)
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Edible glitter or luster dust (optional for extra sparkle)
🧁 Instructions
1. Make the Cookies
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
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In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
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Beat in the egg and cotton candy flavoring.
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Gradually mix in the dry ingredients.
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If desired, divide the dough and tint with food coloring. Swirl the colors together for a marbled look.
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Scoop into tablespoon-sized balls and place 2 inches apart.
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Bake for 10–12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden.
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Let cool completely.
2. Prepare the Glow Glaze
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In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and tonic water until smooth.
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Add neon food coloring if desired.
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Spoon or drizzle the glaze over cooled cookies.
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Let set for at least 20 minutes.
🔦 Blacklight Tip: Under a UV blacklight, the tonic water glaze will fluoresce—creating the “glow” effect!
3. Decorate and Serve
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Just before serving, top each cookie with a small puff of cotton candy.
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Optional: Dust with edible glitter for an extra magical look.
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Serve under a blacklight for full glow-in-the-dark effect.
⚠️ Notes
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Cotton candy dissolves quickly in moisture—add it just before eating.
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Tonic water glaze is safe and glows thanks to the quinine content.
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If you want extra strong glow, riboflavin (vitamin B2) in powdered form can also be used in frosting or glaze (sparingly).
Would you like a printable version or a themed party setup idea to go along with these cookies?
