Birthday Cake Cookies
Birthday cake cookies are soft, chewy treats bursting with rainbowsprinkles and rich vanilla flavor, perfect for any celebration. These funfetticookies bring the joy of cake into a handheld dessert for birthdays and specialoccasions
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 large egg
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled or weighed for accuracy
- 2 teaspoons corn starch helps make soft, thick cookies
- ½ teaspoon baking soda check for baking soda freshness
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup rainbow sprinkles avoid nonpareils to prevent bleeding
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper so your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
- In a large bowl, beat softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar for 2 to 4 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step helps give you that amazing soft cookie center.
- Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until everything is smooth and creamy. This helps build the flavor base of your birthday cake cookies.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, corn starch, baking soda, and salt. This combo helps keep the cookies thick, chewy, and soft.
- Slowly add the dry mix into your wet mix, stirring just until everything comes together. Be careful not to overmix or your cookies could turn out too dense.
- Gently fold in the rainbow sprinkles. Go easy here so the colors don’t run. Your dough will now look like pure celebration!
- Roll the dough into small cookie dough balls and place them on a plate or tray. Chill in the fridge for 15–30 minutes. This step is key to prevent cookie spreading and helps you get soft baked cookies.
- Place the chilled dough balls on your baking sheet and bake for 9–11 minutes. The edges should be set, but the center will still look soft—that’s what makes them perfect! Let them cool for a few minutes on the sheet, then move them to a rack to finish cooling.
Notes
For best results, always chill your cookie dough balls for at least 15 to 30 minutes before baking—this helps prevent cookie spreading and gives you those perfect soft baked cookies with a chewy center. If you're using salted butter, reduce the added salt by half. Want to make gluten-free cookies? Just use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Avoid using nonpareil sprinkles, as they tend to bleed color into the dough. Stick with jimmies-style rainbow sprinkles for the cleanest look. Also, don’t skip creaming butter and sugar—this step adds air and gives your birthday cake cookies a light texture.