Dessert

Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

ByElena Hart December 17, 2025December 17, 2025

Introduction

These Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies are cheerful, soft, and bursting with colorful sprinkles in every bite. Perfect for celebrations or whenever you want to brighten your day with a fun, homemade treat.

A stack of five round cookies is shown on a white marbled surface, each covered in bright, multi-colored sprinkles. The top cookie is coated densely with small, round sprinkles in colors like white, red, blue, green, orange, yellow, and purple. The second cookie has longer, tube-shaped sprinkles with similar vivid colors sticking out from its sides. The third cookie, like the first, is covered in tiny round sprinkles, while the fourth cookie has the longer, tube-shaped sprinkles again. The stack is well-lit and the cookies have a soft, slightly crumbly texture with a light beige color under the sprinkles. Some similar cookies are blurred in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1¼ cups sugar

4 ounces cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

⅓ teaspoon almond extract (or 1⅓ teaspoons vanilla if allergic to nuts or prefer no almond)
1 large egg

1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

3 cups flour
Non-pareils or rainbow sprinkles (or both!)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2: 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, mixing until fully combined.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture on low to medium speed until evenly moistened.
Step 4: Place your sprinkles into a small bowl. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, form dough into balls about 1½ to 2 tablespoons each. You can adjust size to your preference.

Step 5: Roll each dough ball in the sprinkles, covering all but the bottom. Press firmly to ensure sprinkles stick well. Arrange the balls on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
Step 6: Gently press the cookies down with the bottom of a glass to flatten them to about ¼ to ½ inch thickness.
Step 7: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, watching closely to avoid browning. The cookies should be set but still soft.

Step 8: Let cookies cool on the pan for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips & Variations

For nut allergies, simply double the vanilla extract and omit the almond extract.
Use a mix of different colored sprinkles for an extra festive look.

Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to help the cookies hold their shape better.

Storage

Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If you want to keep them longer, freeze the baked cookies in a sealed container for up to 3 months. To reheat, let them come to room temperature or warm gently in a low oven.

How to Serve

A close-up image of a round cookie with one bite taken out of it, showing a soft, pale yellow inside. The cookie is fully covered in small, colorful round sprinkles in red, blue, green, yellow, orange, white, and purple, giving it a textured and vibrant top layer. A woman's hand holds the cookie delicately between thumb and fingers, with blurred cookies stacked on a white plate in the background, all resting on a white marbled surface. A glass of white milk with a bright pink straw is also visible in the soft background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Yes, but reduce or omit the additional salt in the recipe to prevent the cookies from becoming too salty.

What can I substitute for cream cheese?

Cream cheese adds moisture and a slight tang. If unavailable, you can try using an equal amount of softened butter, but the texture and flavor may be slightly different.