Calico Cat Cookies
Celebrate International Cat Day (or any day you’re feline festive) with these adorable calico cat sugar cookies! With their playful patches of orange, black, and white dough, they’re as fun to make as they are to eat. No two cookies are alike — just like real cats! 🐾
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for rolling)
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (or 1 1/2 tsp vanilla + 1 tsp almond extract)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Orange gel food coloring
- Black gel food coloring
Instructions
Cream Butter + Sugar
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add Eggs + Vanilla
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the wet ingredients until a soft dough forms.
Divide + Color Dough
- Split the dough into three bowls, leaving slightly more of the plain dough.
- Leave one portion uncolored (plain).
- Color one portion orange using gel food coloring.
- Color one portion black using gel food coloring.
- Mix color in gently until even.
Chill Dough
- Wrap each color in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
Preheat + Prepare
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Create the Calico Pattern
- Take small chunks from each color and gently press them together into a ball. Lightly roll out to about 1/4 inch thick, keeping the colors distinct.
Cut Cookies
- Use a cat-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes, aiming for a mix of colors in each cookie. Place onto prepared baking sheet.
Bake
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until edges are just barely golden.
Cool + Serve
- Let cookies cool completely before serving or storing in an airtight container.
Notes
Tips for the Best Calico Look
- Avoid kneading the colors together — it will turn the dough muddy.
- Chill cut-out shapes for 10 minutes before baking for cleaner edges.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without altering dough texture.