If you love soft sugar cookies with a little extra color and sweetness, these Mermaid Funfetti Cookies are a recipe worth trying! Made with a buttery cookie dough, colorful mermaid-themed baking chips, and bright sprinkles, these cookies are a fun twist on traditional sugar cookies. Their cheerful appearance makes them especially enjoyable to prepare when you want something a little different from an ordinary batch of cookies.
What makes these cookies special is the combination of simple baking ingredients and colorful additions. The dough is prepared with butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and eggs, creating the base for a delicious homemade cookie. Mermaid-themed baking chips and sprinkles are then mixed into the dough to give every cookie a playful, colorful finish.
Even better, this recipe takes just 25 minutes from preparation to baking. Whether you’re making them for a dessert table, sharing them with family, or simply enjoying homemade cookies, these Mermaid Funfetti Cookies are a lovely addition to your baking collection.
Why You’ll Love This Mermaid Funfetti Cookies Recipe
There are several reasons to add these colorful cookies to your baking list:
- Beautiful and colorful: Mermaid-themed baking chips and sprinkles give these cookies their fun, colorful appearance.
- Easy to prepare: The dough comes together using straightforward mixing steps and everyday baking ingredients.
- Soft cookie texture: Butter, brown sugar, and the combination of whole egg and egg yolk are part of the cookie dough.
- Quick baking time: These cookies take only 8–10 minutes in the oven.
- Freezer-friendly: Both baked cookies and unbaked cookie dough portions can be frozen for later.
Mermaid Funfetti Cookies Recipe Details
Here’s everything you need to know before getting started.
| Recipe Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Cuisine | American |
| Preparation Time | 15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 10 minutes |
| Total Time | 25 minutes |
| Servings | 30 cookies |
| Calories | 177 kcal per cookie |
Ingredients for Mermaid Funfetti Cookies
The ingredients for this recipe are combined to create a buttery sugar cookie dough filled with colorful baking chips and sprinkles.
Make sure to measure everything before beginning so the preparation process goes smoothly.
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups (300 g) all-purpose flour: Spoon and level the flour when measuring.
- 2 teaspoons baking powder: Included with the dry ingredients.
- 1 teaspoon salt: Added to the flour mixture.
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch: Mixed with the other dry ingredients.
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks, 226 g) unsalted butter: Softened to room temperature.
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar: Adds sweetness to the cookie dough.
- ½ cup (107 g) packed light brown sugar: Combined with the butter and granulated sugar.
- 1 large egg: Brought to room temperature.
- 1 large egg yolk: Also brought to room temperature.
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract: Added for flavor.
Colorful Additions
- 1 cup mermaid-themed baking chips: These give the cookies their colorful appearance.
- ½ cup sprinkles: Rainbow sprinkles are recommended, but other available varieties can also be used.
How to Make Mermaid Funfetti Cookies Step by Step
Making these cookies involves preparing the dry ingredients, mixing the butter and sugars, combining everything into a dough, and adding the colorful toppings before baking.
Follow these instructions in order for an easy baking experience.
Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Baking Sheet
Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C).
While the oven heats, take a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper. This prepares the surface for your cookie dough and makes the baking process easier.
Set the prepared baking sheet aside while you work on the dough.
Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients
Take a medium-sized mixing bowl and add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and cornstarch.
Using a whisk, mix these ingredients until they are evenly combined. This step helps distribute the baking powder, salt, and cornstarch throughout the flour.
Once everything is mixed, set the bowl aside.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a separate mixing bowl, add the softened unsalted butter, packed light brown sugar, and granulated sugar.
Using either a hand mixer or a stand mixer, cream the ingredients together until the mixture becomes smooth.
Make sure your butter has softened to room temperature before starting. This helps it combine properly with both types of sugar.
Step 4: Add the Eggs and Vanilla
Once the butter and sugars are smooth, add the vanilla extract, one large egg, and one additional egg yolk.
Mix everything together until well combined.
Make sure both the egg and egg yolk are at room temperature, as specified in the ingredient list.
Step 5: Mix in the Dry Ingredients
Now it’s time to bring the wet and dry mixtures together.
Gradually add the prepared flour mixture to the butter mixture, adding a little at a time.
Start mixing on low speed until the ingredients begin to combine. Then increase the mixer to medium speed and continue mixing until everything is blended into a cookie dough.
Adding the dry ingredients gradually helps incorporate them evenly without adding everything at once.
Step 6: Fold in the Mermaid Baking Chips and Sprinkles
Once your cookie dough is ready, remove the mixer.
Add the mermaid-themed baking chips and sprinkles to the dough. Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, gently stir until the colorful additions are distributed throughout.
This is what gives the cookies their signature funfetti appearance.
Rainbow sprinkles are a great choice for this recipe, although nonpareils or other available sprinkles can also be used.
Step 7: Scoop the Cookie Dough
Take your prepared baking sheet and a medium-sized cookie scoop.
Scoop portions of cookie dough onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Arrange them approximately 2 inches apart so there is space between each cookie.
Continue until you have portioned the dough onto the baking sheet.
Step 8: Bake the Cookies
Place the baking sheet into your preheated oven at 375°F (190°C).
Bake the cookies for approximately 8–10 minutes.
Watch for the visual signs that indicate they are ready:
- The edges should be lightly browned.
- The tops should look puffy.
- The tops should be set.
Once these signs appear, remove the cookies from the oven.
Step 9: Cool Before Serving
After removing the cookies from the oven, allow them to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
This gives them time to cool slightly before you move them.
Next, carefully transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely.
Once cooled, your Mermaid Funfetti Cookies are ready to enjoy!
Tips and Variations for Mermaid Funfetti Cookies
A few details from the recipe can help you prepare and store these cookies successfully.
Choose Your Favorite Baking Chips
Mermaid-themed baking chips are the main colorful addition to this recipe. Michaels carries a variety of baking chip colors, so you can choose from the available options when preparing your cookies.
Experiment with Different Sprinkles
Rainbow sprinkles work best for these cookies, but you don’t have to limit yourself to one type. Nonpareils or other available sprinkles can also be used.
The sprinkles are mixed directly into the dough, so choose a variety that you enjoy seeing throughout your cookies.
Make Sure the Butter Is Softened
The recipe calls for unsalted butter softened to room temperature. This is important when creaming it together with the granulated and brown sugars.
Also, remember to bring the egg and additional egg yolk to room temperature before mixing.
Keep an Eye on Baking Time
The recommended baking time is 8–10 minutes. Rather than relying only on the timer, look for lightly browned edges and puffy, set tops.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
How to Store Mermaid Funfetti Cookies
If you have leftover cookies, storing them properly will help keep them ready to enjoy later.
At Room Temperature: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Freezing Baked Cookies: These cookies can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Freezing Unbaked Cookie Dough: You can also prepare the dough portions ahead of time and freeze them before baking.
Here’s how:
- Scoop the cookie dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer.
- Freeze the dough portions until solid, approximately 1 hour.
- Transfer the frozen cookie dough portions into a plastic freezer bag.
- When you’re ready to bake, place the frozen dough portions onto a baking sheet.
There is no need to thaw the frozen cookie dough before baking. Simply add a few additional minutes to the baking time.
Serving Suggestions
Once your Mermaid Funfetti Cookies have cooled completely, they’re ready to serve.
Their colorful baking chips and sprinkles make them a fun dessert to share with family and friends. You can arrange them on a serving plate or include them as part of a dessert selection.
They are also convenient to prepare ahead of time because the recipe includes instructions for freezing both baked cookies and unbaked dough portions.
Whether you serve them immediately after baking or prepare them for another day, these cookies offer a colorful twist on a classic sugar cookie.
You might like: Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
Final Thoughts
These Mermaid Funfetti Cookies are a simple and colorful dessert made with buttery cookie dough, mermaid-themed baking chips, and sprinkles. With just 15 minutes of preparation and 8–10 minutes of baking, you can make a batch of 30 cheerful cookies without a complicated baking process.