Description
These Birthday Cake Cookies are soft, buttery, and bursting with classic birthday cake flavors. Featuring a tender cake flour base and a creamy cream cheese frosting topped with colorful confetti crumbs, these cookies bring the festive taste of cake into every bite. Perfect for celebrations or anytime you want a sweet treat reminiscent of a birthday party.
Ingredients
Scale
For Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened (226 g)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (150 g)
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg white
- ½ teaspoon clear vanilla extract
- 3 ¼ cups cake flour (375 g)
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon table salt
For Frosting
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter softened (57 g)
- 4 oz cream cheese softened (113 g, full-fat “brick-style”)
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar (315 g)
- ½ teaspoon clear vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 batch confetti crumbs
Instructions
- Prepare 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 until evenly mixed.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring on low speed after each addition until just combined. Form dough into a 1-inch thick disk and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap.
- Chill Dough: Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour to make it easier to roll and cut.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or prepare an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Roll and Cut Cookies: Remove dough from refrigerator and lightly flour the work surface. Roll dough out to between ¼-½ inch thickness. Use a 2-inch round cookie cutter to cut cookies, placing them at least 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Make Frosting: Using an electric mixer, beat together softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and lump-free. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until fully combined. Stir in vanilla extract and salt.
- Decorate Cookies: Pipe or spread frosting onto completely cooled cookies and immediately top with confetti crumbs or sprinkles for a festive finish.
Notes
- Clear vanilla extract: This imitation vanilla provides a characteristic birthday cake flavor, but you may substitute regular vanilla extract for a more natural taste.
- Rolling dough tips: If the dough is sticky, chill it longer or dust the surface with flour. If cracking occurs, let dough sit at room temperature briefly before rolling again.
- Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. They can also be wrapped and frozen for several months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
