Description
Delight in these Birthday Cake Cookies featuring soft, cake-flour based cookies topped with creamy cream cheese frosting and festive confetti crumbs. Perfectly sweet with a hint of vanilla, these cookies offer the nostalgic flavor of birthday cake in handheld form.
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
- 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
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 batch confetti crumbs
Instructions
- Mix Butter and Sugar: Combine softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer or stand mixer to beat until the mixture is light, creamy, and well-combined.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Stir in the egg, egg white, and vanilla extract until completely incorporated.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cake flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring on low speed until completely combined. Add the flour mixture in four parts, stirring until just combined after each addition.
- Chill Dough: Form the dough into a 1-inch thick disk, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. While chilling, prepare the confetti crumbs if desired.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Roll and Cut Dough: Remove dough from refrigerator and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Roll dough to ¼ to ½ inch thickness. Use a 2-inch round cookie cutter to cut cookies as close together as possible. Place them on the baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Frosting: Combine softened butter and cream cheese in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add Sugar and Flavorings: Gradually add powdered sugar until fully combined, then stir in vanilla extract and salt.
- Decorate Cookies: Pipe or spread frosting over cooled cookies using a ½-inch open tip for piping if desired. Immediately top with confetti crumbs or sprinkles.
Notes
- Clear vanilla extract: This imitation vanilla extract gives a more artificial birthday cake flavor. You can substitute regular vanilla extract if preferred for a natural taste.
- Difficulty rolling dough: If dough is sticky, chill longer in the refrigerator. Dust with flour if needed to manage stickiness. If dough cracks, let it sit at room temperature briefly before rolling again.
- Storing: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Wrap well and freeze for several months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
