FUNFETTI®-Inspired Cookie Dough Balls

February 2031. Olivia called on a Sunday with news she said she'd been waiting to share properly: she and James are engaged. She described the proposal — James made dinner for her in his apartment, a full meal from her family's recipes (he'd apparently been in contact with Gary about what to make, which Gary had kept absolutely secret and now found extremely pleased with himself), and proposed over dessert, which was my carrot cake, which James has been learning to make for three months. She said: "He made your carrot cake." I said, "I know. I'm going to cry." She said, "I already did."

James made my carrot cake to propose to my daughter. He reached back through the family food to say: I know where you come from and I want to come from there too. That is a proposal that understands everything. I would have married him on the spot and I don't even know what he looks like without his coat on.

Gary and I sat on the back porch in the February cold and let the news settle. He said, "Three married." I said, "Four eventually." He said, "In time." I said, "In time." Two grandchildren, a third wedding to plan, a fourth book coming in April. The life keeps adding things. The kitchen keeps making room.

I made the carrot cake that evening. For no reason except that James had made it and I needed to be in it. Frosted it twice because the first batch of frosting wasn't right. Ate a piece standing at the counter at nine p.m. Thought about my daughter and her man who learned the right cake. Felt completely fine.

The carrot cake was already made and already eaten, and I was still too full of feeling to simply go to bed. When life hands you something this bright — a daughter engaged to a man who learned the right cake — you want color. You want something that looks the way the news feels. These FUNFETTI®-Inspired Cookie Dough Balls are what I reach for when I need to celebrate without a plan, because they come together in the time it takes the joy to settle, and every little fleck of color in them looks exactly like a reason to be glad.

Prep Time: 15 min | Chill Time: 30 min | Total Time: 45 min | Servings: 20 balls

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour, heat-treated (see step 1)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons whole milk, plus more as needed
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1/3 cup rainbow jimmies (not nonpareils)
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Extra rainbow sprinkles for rolling, optional

Instructions

Heat-treat the flour. Spread flour in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 5 minutes, or microwave in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until a thermometer reads 165°F. Let cool completely before using.
Cream butter and sugars. In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together with a hand mixer or wooden spoon until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Add wet ingredients. Mix in the vanilla extract and salt. Add the milk one tablespoon at a time, stirring after each addition, until the mixture is smooth and cohesive.
Incorporate the flour. Add the cooled heat-treated flour and stir until a soft cookie dough forms. If the dough feels crumbly, add an extra teaspoon of milk and mix again.
Fold in mix-ins. Gently fold in the rainbow jimmies and white chocolate chips, being careful not to overmix so the sprinkles don’t bleed color into the dough.
Portion and roll. Using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion the dough into roughly 20 pieces. Roll each piece between your palms into a smooth ball. Roll in extra sprinkles if desired.
Chill. Place the balls on a parchment-lined plate or baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, until firm. Serve cold or at cool room temperature. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Nutrition (per serving)

FUNFETTI®-Inspired Cookie Dough Balls — The Sweetness You Make Just Because