Description
Delight in these Birthday Cake Cookies featuring a tender, buttery base with a classic cake batter flavor, topped with creamy cream cheese frosting and colorful confetti crumbs for a festive touch. Perfect for parties or sweet treats any time.
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
- Prepare the cookie dough: Combine softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl and use an electric mixer or stand mixer to beat until light, creamy, and well-combined. Stir in egg, egg white, and vanilla extract until completely 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. Add the flour mixture in 4 parts, stirring until just combined after each addition.
- Chill dough: Form dough into a 1-inch thick disk and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up the dough and make it easier to roll out.
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 350F (175C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Roll and cut cookies: Remove chilled dough from the refrigerator and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough to a thickness between ¼ and ½ inch (about 1 cm). Use a 2-inch (5 cm) round cookie cutter to cut out cookies, placing them on the baking sheet about 2 inches (5 cm) apart.
- Bake cookies: Bake cookies in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Make frosting: Combine softened butter and cream cheese in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth, creamy, and lump-free. Gradually add powdered sugar until fully incorporated. Stir in vanilla extract and salt.
- Decorate cookies: Pipe or spread frosting over cooled cookies using a ½-inch open tip if piping. Immediately sprinkle with confetti crumbs or sprinkles for a festive finish.
Notes
- Clear vanilla extract is imitation vanilla that imparts a birthday cake flavor; regular vanilla extract can be substituted for a more natural taste.
- If dough is too sticky to roll, chill longer or dust with flour; if cracking or too stiff, let sit at room temperature before rolling.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or freeze wrapped well for several months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
