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

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.

In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Add the milk, egg, and vanilla extract, and mix until smooth.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a smooth batter forms.

Divide the batter into small portions, depending on how many colors you'd like to use. Add a drop or two of food coloring to each portion and mix until evenly colored.

Spoon small dollops of each colored batter onto the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced apart to avoid merging during baking.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the dot cakes are lightly golden and the centers are set.

Allow the dot cakes to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

If desired, dust the dot cakes lightly with powdered sugar before serving.