Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Cream the butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

Add egg and vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.

Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.

Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.

Incorporate cotton candy: Gently fold in the cotton candy pieces. Add the optional cotton candy flavoring or extract for enhanced flavor, and avoid overmixing.

Add color (optional): Divide the dough into sections and add a few drops of food coloring to each section for a pastel effect. Mix until the color is evenly distributed.

Scoop and bake: Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion out dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the dough balls about 2 inches apart. Flatten each dough ball slightly.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden. The centers may look soft, but they will firm up as they cool.

Cool and serve: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.