Description
Delightfully soft and tender birthday cake cookies with a creamy cream cheese frosting and festive confetti crumbs, perfect for celebrations or an everyday treat.
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
- 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 (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
- Prepare cookie dough: Combine softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl using an electric mixer until light, creamy, and well combined. Stir in egg, egg white, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Mix dry ingredients: Whisk cake flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring on low speed until just combined, adding flour in four parts.
- Chill dough: Shape dough into a 1-inch thick disk, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Set oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll and cut dough: Remove dough from fridge, roll out on lightly floured surface to ¼ to ½ inch thickness. Use a 2-inch round cookie cutter to cut cookies and place on baking sheet spaced at least 2 inches apart.
- Bake cookies: Bake for 10 minutes until edges are set. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make frosting: Beat together softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and lump free. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing thoroughly. Stir in vanilla extract and salt.
- Decorate cookies: Pipe or spread frosting over cooled cookies using a ½-inch open tip if piping. Immediately top with confetti crumbs or sprinkles.
Notes
- Clear vanilla extract is imitation vanilla with a more artificial flavor reminiscent of birthday cake; you may substitute with regular vanilla extract if preferred.
- If dough is too sticky to roll, chill longer or dust with flour; if cracking, let sit at room temperature briefly before rolling.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or freeze tightly 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: 35 mg
