Description
Birthday Cake Cookies are soft, buttery treats with a subtle cake-like texture and flavor, enhanced by creamy cream cheese frosting and festive confetti crumbs. These cookies are perfect for celebrations, offering the nostalgic taste of birthday cake in cookie form.
Ingredients
Scale
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
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
- Make cookie dough: Combine softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until light, creamy, and well-combined. Stir in egg, egg white, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together cake flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring on low speed until completely combined. Form the dough into a 1-inch thick disk and wrap with plastic wrap.
- Chill dough: Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour to firm up. This chilling improves texture and makes rolling easier.
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or prepare it ungreased.
- Roll and cut cookies: Remove dough from refrigerator and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough to about ¼ to ½ inch thickness. Use a 2-inch round cookie cutter to cut out cookies and place them on the baking sheet, spacing at least 2 inches apart.
- Bake cookies: Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make frosting: Combine softened butter and cream cheese in a bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until smooth and lump-free. Gradually add powdered sugar until fully combined, then stir in vanilla extract and salt.
- Decorate cookies: Pipe or spread the frosting over cooled cookies using a ½-inch open tip if piping. Immediately top with confetti crumbs or sprinkles.
Notes
- Clear vanilla extract: This is imitation vanilla with a flavor reminiscent of birthday cake. You may substitute regular vanilla extract for a more natural taste.
- Difficulty rolling dough: If dough is too sticky, chill longer or dust with flour. If dough cracks, let it sit at room temperature briefly before rolling again.
- Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or freeze well wrapped for several months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
