Description
Birthday Cake Cookies are delightful, soft sugar cookies with a classic birthday cake flavor, complemented by a creamy cream cheese frosting and festive confetti crumbs. Perfect for celebrations or anytime you want a sweet treat with a nostalgic cake taste.
Ingredients
Scale
For Cookies
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg white
- ½ teaspoon clear vanilla extract (may substitute regular vanilla extract)
- 3 ¼ cups (375 g) cake flour
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon table salt
For Frosting
- 4 Tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter softened
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese softened (use full-fat “brick-style” cream cheese)
- 2 ½ cups (315 g) powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon clear vanilla extract (may substitute regular vanilla extract)
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 batch confetti crumbs
Instructions
- Prepare Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, combine the softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture is light, creamy, and well combined.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Stir in the egg, egg white, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated into the butter-sugar mixture.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cake flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in 4 parts, stirring on low-speed after each addition until just combined to form the dough.
- Chill Dough: Shape the dough into a 1-inch thick disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up the dough.
- Preheat Oven: Once chilled, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Roll and Cut Cookies: On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to between ¼ and ½ inch thick. Use a 2-inch round cookie cutter to cut cookies and place them at least 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until lightly golden. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Frosting: In a bowl, use an electric mixer to blend softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and lump-free.
- Add Sugar and Flavor: Gradually add powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture until fully combined. Stir in vanilla extract and salt.
- Frost and Decorate: Pipe or spread frosting over cooled cookies using a ½ inch open tip or spatula. Immediately top with confetti crumbs or sprinkles for decoration.
Notes
- Clear Vanilla Extract: Clear vanilla is imitation vanilla that imparts a birthday cake flavor. You can substitute regular vanilla extract if preferred for a more natural taste.
- Handling Sticky Dough: If dough is too sticky to roll, chill longer or dust with flour. If it cracks, let it rest at room temperature briefly before rolling again.
- Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or wrap tightly and freeze for several months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
