Name: Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter softened; 1 1/4 cups sugar; 4 ounces cream cheese; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/3 tsp almond extract (use 1 1/3 tsp vanilla if nut allergy or prefer no almond); 1 large egg; 1 tsp baking soda; 1/4 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 3 cups all-purpose flour; Non-Pareils or rainbow sprinkles (or both) as needed

Jump to Recipe· 4.6 from 36 reviews

If you’re craving a cookie that’s as joyful to look at as it is to eat, you’re going to love this Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe. I can’t get enough of how the bright, cheerful sprinkles add a pop of fun to these tender, buttery cookies. Whether you’re making them for a party, gifting, or just because—these cookies will bring a smile to your face and everyone else’s, too. Stick around and I’ll share all my tips and tricks to get them just right every time!

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Why This Recipe Works

Perfectly Balanced Texture: The combination of butter and cream cheese gives these cookies a tender, melt-in-your-mouth feel you don’t get with basic sugar cookies.
Vibrant, Crowd-Pleasing Sprinkles: Rolling the dough balls in rainbow sprinkles before baking ensures every bite is colorful and festive—kids love this!
Simple Ingredients with Big Impact: You don’t need fancy stuff to make these cookies shine, and the almond extract adds just a subtle, delicious twist.
Customizable Size: From bite-sized treats to generous cookies, you control how large (or small!) these sprinkles gems turn out.

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

Ingredients & Why They Work

The charm of this Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe lies in the simple, dependable ingredients that come together to create a soft, flavor-packed cookie with that irresistible sprinkle crunch. Quality counts, but you don’t have to hunt high and low—just grab your basics and you’re set!

Unsalted Butter: Room temperature gives you the perfect creamy consistency for creaming with sugar, which is key for soft cookies.
Sugar: Granulated sugar adds sweetness and helps create a subtle crisp edge that balances the softness.
Cream Cheese: This ingredient is my secret weapon—it makes cookies extra tender and a bit tangy, elevating the flavor beyond ordinary sugar cookies.
Vanilla Extract: Essential for that classic sweet aroma and flavor.
Almond Extract: Just a little gives a lovely warm depth; if you’re nut-averse, you can simply boost the vanilla instead.
Egg: Acts as a binder and adds richness to your dough.
Baking Soda & Baking Powder: The combo ensures a gentle rise and a soft crumb without being cakey.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
Flour: Regular all-purpose flour works perfectly here, providing structure.
Rainbow Sprinkles (Non-Pareils): The star of the show—these bring colorful fun and a slight crunch that contrasts the tender cookie.

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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.

Tweak to Your Taste

I love how flexible this Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe is—you can easily switch up extracts, dough thickness, or sprinkle types depending on what you have on hand or your flavor preferences. Don’t hesitate to make it your own!

Nut-Free Variation: Swap out almond extract with extra vanilla, perfect if someone’s allergic or just not a fan of nutty notes—I’ve done this plenty and it’s just as delicious.
Gluten-Free Adaptation: Use a reliable gluten-free flour blend like Jules, which a friend recommended after her testing, and chill the dough slightly for easier sprinkle rolling.
Sprinkle Mix-Up: Try mixing in mini chocolate chips or colored sanding sugar for a different texture and fancy look.

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

Step 1: Cream Together the Butter, Sugar, and Cream Cheese

Start by beating softened butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy—this takes about 2-3 minutes using a hand or stand mixer. Then add in the cream cheese, egg, and both extracts. Mix until everything’s beautifully combined. This step sets the stage for a tender, moist texture that makes these cookies stand out.

Step 2: Whisk Dry Ingredients and Combine

In a separate bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add this mixture to your wet ingredients on low to medium speed—adding a bit at a time—until just combined. The dough should be soft but firm enough to scoop.

Step 3: Roll Dough in Rainbow Sprinkles

Pour your rainbow sprinkles into a small bowl. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, form balls about 1½ to 2 tablespoons of dough each—small or big, your call! Roll the dough balls generously in the sprinkles, leaving the bottom clean to prevent sticking to your baking sheet. This blanket of color makes every cookie as joyful as the last.

Step 4: Flatten and Bake

Place the sprinkle-covered dough balls on a lined baking sheet, spaced about 2 inches apart. Using the bottom of a glass, gently press down to flatten the cookies to around ¼ to ½ inch thick—this helps them bake evenly and keeps a nice soft texture. Bake in your preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes. Watch closely so the bottoms don’t brown; you want soft, not crispy edges.

Step 5: Cool and Enjoy

Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes after baking to firm up, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. This is the hardest part—I always want to dig in right away!

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Pro Tips for Making Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

Keep Ingredients at Room Temp: This helps the butter and cream cheese cream together more smoothly for a better dough texture.
Don’t Skip Chilling (Optional): If your kitchen’s warm, chilling dough for 10 minutes before rolling in sprinkles stops the dough from getting too sticky.
Roll Generously: Don’t be shy with the sprinkles—covering your dough balls makes the cookies bright and fun, and it keeps sprinkles from falling off after baking.
Watch the Bake Time: Every oven’s different—start checking at 10 minutes to avoid browning, which can dry out the cookies.

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

While these cookies are pretty stars on their own, I sometimes add a tiny dollop of white chocolate drizzle or a sprinkle of edible glitter on top for special occasions. It just makes the colors pop and adds a little wow factor that kids and adults alike adore.

Side Dishes

They go great with a cold glass of milk (classic for a reason!) or a cup of your favorite tea or coffee. For parties, I like serving them alongside fruit platters or even with a fun ice cream sundae bar—those sprinkles make a great topping there too!

Creative Ways to Present

For birthdays or celebrations, I arrange the cookies in a rainbow shape on a platter or stack them wrapped in clear cellophane tied with colorful ribbons for gifting. It’s an instant smile-maker! You can even sandwich some frosting between two cookies for an extra treat.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, and they usually stay soft and fresh for about 5 to 7 days. If you find they start to get a little dry, a slice of bread inside the container works wonders to keep them moist.

Freezing

Freezing worked really well for me—I just pop the cooled cookies in a freezer-safe bag and keep them for up to 3 months. When I’m craving a cookie, I let them thaw at room temp or warm them in a low oven for a few minutes to get that just-baked feeling back.

Reheating

A quick zap in the microwave for about 10 seconds softens up the cookies nicely if they’re chilled or a little stale. If you want to keep the sprinkles looking perfect, warming in a low oven (about 300°F) for 5 minutes does the trick too without any melting mess.

FAQs

Can I use regular vanilla extract instead of almond extract in the Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! If you’re allergic or just prefer not to use almond extract, simply increase the vanilla extract to 1 1/3 teaspoons. The cookies will still be rich and flavorful, just without that subtle nutty twist.
How do I prevent sprinkles from falling off the cookies after baking?

Make sure to roll the dough balls generously in sprinkles so they adhere well. Also, gently pressing the dough balls slightly flat before baking helps the sprinkles stick better. Avoid touching the tops too much after baking to preserve the colorful coating.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

Yes! Swap the regular flour for a gluten-free flour blend like the Jules brand, which a friend recommended and tested with great results. Recently chilling the dough for 10 minutes helps with rolling and sprinkle adhesion.
How thick should the cookies be when I bake them?

Flatten the dough balls to between ¼ and ½ inch thick. This ensures they bake evenly without being too thin and crispy or too thick and doughy.

Final Thoughts

This Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies Recipe has become a go-to for me whenever I want to brighten up the day—whether it’s a quick treat or a festive batch to share. The combination of soft, buttery dough and cheerful sprinkles always wins hearts (and taste buds!). I hope you have as much fun making and enjoying these as I do. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll find yourself reaching for the sprinkles again and again!