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–+ servings
Paint palette sugar cookies styled on a serving tray, topped with colorful candy paint dots and tiny pretzel brushes for a fun art-themed dessert.

Paint Palette Sugar Cookies

Soft sugar cookies shaped like tiny artist palettes get decorated with colorful candy and a simple pretzel brush detail. This recipe keeps everything approachable while still creating a playful, eye-catching treat.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings: 18
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract optional
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons milk only if needed
For the Decoration
  • 1/2 cup white candy melts melted
  • 2 tablespoons black decorating gel or melted chocolate
  • 18 thin pretzel sticks
  • 3/4 cup M&M’s

Method
 

  1. Beat the butter and sugar together until smooth and creamy.
  2. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, then mix until combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until a dough forms.
  5. Add 1 tablespoon of milk if the dough is crumbly, and add a second tablespoon only if needed.
  6. Chill the dough for 45 to 60 minutes.
  7. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  8. Scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball.
  9. Flatten each dough ball into a thick round about 3 inches wide.
  10. Press a curved notch into one side of each cookie.
  11. Cut a small thumb hole near the notch using a piping tip or small cutter.
  12. Place cookies on a lined baking sheet.
  13. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until centers are set and edges are lightly golden.
  14. Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
  15. Break or cut pretzel sticks to about 2 1/2 inches long.
  16. Dip one end of each pretzel stick into melted white candy melts.
  17. Let the white tip set on parchment for about 10 minutes.
  18. Add a small black band below the white tip using decorating gel or melted chocolate.
  19. Let the pretzel brushes set fully.
  20. Add a small dab of melted white candy or icing to each cookie.
  21. Place one pretzel brush onto each cookie at an angle.
  22. Arrange 4 to 6 M&M’s on each cookie to resemble paint.
  23. Leave some open cookie space to keep the palette shape visible.
  24. Allow decorations to set before serving.

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