Birthday Cake Cookies Recipe
Introduction
These soft and chewy birthday cake cookies are packed with white chocolate chunks and colorful rainbow sprinkles, bringing the fun of a classic birthday cake into a delightful cookie. Made with clear vanilla extract, they capture that nostalgic flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
- 180 g all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 115 g unsalted butter (melted)
- 125 g granulated sugar
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon clear vanilla extract
- 100 g white chocolate (roughly chopped, plus extra for topping)
- 50 g rainbow sprinkles (plus extra for topping)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
- Step 3: In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and granulated sugar using a hand mixer or whisk until the mixture is smooth and well blended. Add the egg and clear vanilla extract, then whisk until fully incorporated.
- Step 4: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until almost combined. Fold in the roughly chopped white chocolate and rainbow sprinkles with a spatula to avoid overmixing.
- Step 5: Use a cookie scooper to portion out the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing each cookie about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Step 6: Bake for 11 to 12 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers remain very soft. During the last 2 minutes, gently press extra white chocolate chunks and sprinkle additional rainbow sprinkles on top of each cookie.
- Step 7: Optionally, immediately after removing from the oven, use a round cookie cutter slightly larger than the cookies to gently swirl and shape the edges for a perfect round form. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes until firm, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips & Variations
- For a more intense vanilla flavor, try using a mix of clear and pure vanilla extract.
- Substitute the white chocolate with milk or dark chocolate chunks if preferred.
- Use your favorite sprinkles or colored sugar to customize the look for different occasions.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and keep the cookies thicker.
Storage
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them fresh longer, you can freeze the baked cookies for up to 2 months. Reheat gently in a microwave for 10-15 seconds before serving for a soft, fresh-baked texture.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use regular vanilla extract instead of clear vanilla extract?
Yes, you can substitute regular vanilla extract if you don’t have clear vanilla. It will add the vanilla flavor but may slightly affect the cookie’s color.
Why are my cookies spreading too much?
Cookies can spread if the dough is too warm or if there isn’t enough flour. Try chilling the dough before baking and make sure to measure flour accurately. Also, avoid over-mixing to maintain the dough’s structure.
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Birthday Cake Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: About 16 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These soft and chewy Birthday Cake Cookies are bursting with white chocolate chunks and colorful rainbow sprinkles, delivering the classic flavor of birthday cake in a delightful cookie form. Made with clear vanilla extract to enhance the signature sweet taste, they are perfect for celebrations or anytime you want a nostalgic treat.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 180 g all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 115 g unsalted butter, melted
- 125 g granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon clear vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 100 g white chocolate, roughly chopped (plus extra for topping)
- 50 g rainbow sprinkles (plus extra for topping)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir them together and set aside.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk or use a hand mixer to blend the melted butter and granulated sugar until fully combined. Add the egg and clear vanilla extract, mixing well to incorporate.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until almost combined. Fold in the chopped white chocolate and rainbow sprinkles gently with a spatula to avoid overmixing.
- Scoop Cookie Dough: Using a cookie scooper, portion out cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 11-12 minutes, or until the edges look set but the centers remain very soft. In the last 2 minutes of baking, press extra chunks of white chocolate onto each cookie and sprinkle with more rainbow sprinkles for a festive touch.
- Cool and Shape: Remove the cookies from the oven and optionally use a round cookie cutter slightly larger than the cookie to swirl and push in uneven edges for a perfect round shape. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes until firm enough to handle before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Using room temperature eggs helps to mix the batter evenly.
- Pressing extra white chocolate and sprinkles in the last two minutes of baking enhances the appearance and flavor.
- Swirling cookies with a cookie cutter is optional but gives a neat, round shape to each cookie.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Birthday Cake Cookies, White Chocolate Cookies, Chewy Cookies, Rainbow Sprinkles, Clear Vanilla Extract, Soft Cookies, Birthday Treats
