The Best Soft & Chewy Frosted Birthday Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
These truly are the ultimate thick, buttery, and incredibly soft birthday cake cookies. Each bite offers a dense, yet delightfully moist texture, perfectly complemented by a luscious cream cheese frosting swirled on top. Prepare for these scrumptious funfetti cookies to become your new go-to recipe for any celebration, bringing pure joy and a touch of bakery-style magic to your kitchen!
Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Birthday Cake Cookie Recipe
Every baker dreams of a cookie recipe that consistently delivers perfection. This frosted birthday cake cookie recipe isn’t just a dream; it’s a reality. Here’s why these funfetti delights will quickly become a cherished favorite in your recipe collection:
- Unforgettable Bakery-Style Texture: The hallmark of an exceptional cookie is its texture, and these birthday cake cookies truly shine. They boast a uniquely dense and chewy center, yet remain incredibly soft and luscious through every bite. Unlike many recipes that rely on pre-made cake mixes or oil, our recipe uses a rich, buttery base dough that yields a superior, homemade quality. If you’ve ever enjoyed my beloved soft and thick lemon sugar cookies, you’ll recognize the familiar, outstanding texture from that very same foundational dough.
- Authentic Buttery Cake Batter Flavor: What truly sets these cookies apart is their authentic taste, reminiscent of freshly mixed cake batter. We achieve this iconic flavor by incorporating cake batter extract, which infuses them with a deep, buttery essence that’s simply irresistible. If cake batter extract isn’t available, don’t worry! This versatile sugar cookie base still tastes fantastic with pure vanilla, almond, or even a bright lemon extract, offering a delightful alternative flavor profile.
- Perfectly Festive & Fun: What’s a birthday without sprinkles? Rainbow sprinkles are the ultimate expression of joy and a non-negotiable addition to these funfetti birthday cookies. They transform a simple cookie into a vibrant, celebratory treat, making them ideal for birthday parties, school events, or even just a mood-boosting weekend bake. For an extra layer of decadence, feel free to mix in some white chocolate chips – they melt beautifully and add another dimension of sweetness.
Essential Ingredient Notes & Flavorful Substitutions
Crafting the perfect frosted birthday cake cookie starts with understanding your ingredients. Here are some crucial notes and helpful substitutions to ensure your cookies turn out absolutely flawless every time:
- Don’t Skip the Cake Batter Extract (for authentic flavor)! While optional, for that iconic, buttery birthday cake taste, the cake batter extract is highly recommended. Many grocery stores now stock it, and it’s readily available on Amazon for a few dollars. It’s incredibly versatile, enhancing baked goods, frostings, and even homemade ice cream! Interestingly, McCormick has rebranded their “vanilla butter and nut flavor” to “cake batter,” so if you have the former, it’s likely the same delicious essence. If you absolutely can’t find it, a good substitute for the dough is ¼ teaspoon of almond extract, and another ¼ teaspoon for the frosting. Alternatively, using more pure vanilla extract or imitation vanilla will still yield a wonderful sugar cookie, though without the distinct cake batter note.
- Scoop Them Generously for Bakery-Style Results: To achieve those wonderfully thick, moist, and substantial cookies that resemble a professional bakery’s offerings, I strongly advise scooping the dough in ¼ cup portions. I personally rely on a 4-tablespoon cookie scoop, but a medium ice cream scooper works just as well. This larger size is key to their delightful chewiness and prevents them from drying out during baking.
- Experience the Magic of Chilled Cookies: Don’t underestimate the power of chilling these cookies! The texture becomes even more perfectly dense, satisfyingly chewy, and reminiscent of a beloved bakery treat after a night in the fridge. I developed this base dough long before Crumbl Cookies gained widespread fame, but I can confidently say that the texture of these cookies, especially when chilled, is very similar to their popular cold cookie varieties. It’s a game-changer for enhancing their chewiness!
- Proper Storage for Frosted Perfection: Once frosted, these delicious cookies should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator due to the cream cheese in the frosting. This ensures they remain incredibly soft, moist, and safe to enjoy for 3-4 days.
Craving a classic birthday cake experience in cookie form? Be sure to try my funfetti cookie cake! It’s a giant, sprinkle-filled, chewy cookie cake that captures all the nostalgia and flavor of a traditional birthday cake.
Watch Me Create These Delicious Cookies on TikTok!
These viral birthday cake cookies have captivated over 300,000 viewers on TikTok, proving just how irresistible they are! One delighted follower shared, “I just made these tonight after watching your video – they are SO good!” Join the fun and see how easy it is to whip up a batch of these frosted funfetti cookies yourself!
@designeatrepeat BIRTHDAY CAKE COOKIES 🎂🤩 This dough is so versatile and can be made with any flavorings if you can’t find the cake batter extract (I get mine on Amazon). Just use more vanilla, almond extract, lemon extract, etc instead! Recipe in pr0fi1e! #cookies #recipes #birthdaycookie #frostedcookies #bakingrecipe #PepsiApplePieChallenge
♬ FEEL THE GROOVE – Queens Road, Fabian Graetz
Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Perfect Birthday Cake Cookies
This section provides a detailed overview with step-by-step photos to guide you. For exact measurements and concise instructions, please jump down to the full recipe card below.
Step 1: Prepare the Cookie Dough
Begin by following the detailed instructions in the recipe card to create the perfect sugar cookie dough base. One of the many advantages of this recipe is that all ingredients can be mixed in a single large bowl, eliminating the need to separate wet and dry components. The dough, once mixed, should have a soft, pliable consistency akin to playdoh. As the melted butter cools, it will firm up slightly. If your dough appears too wet or runny compared to the accompanying photo, gradually add 1-2 extra tablespoons of all-purpose flour until the desired texture is achieved.
Mixing tip: This melted butter-based dough is incredibly forgiving and can be easily mixed by hand, which means no need for an electric mixer or waiting for ingredients to reach room temperature! However, for the frosting, a hand mixer or stand mixer will be essential to achieve that wonderfully smooth and creamy consistency.
Step 2: Scoop, Shape, and Bake to Perfection
Once your dough is ready, use a ¼ cup (or 4-tablespoon) cookie scoop to portion out generous amounts. Roll each portion gently between your hands to form smooth balls, then lightly flatten the tops to create thick, even discs, as shown in the images below. This crucial step helps the cookies bake evenly and spread into a beautiful, uniform shape, preventing them from developing overly domed tops.
Bake the cookies until the centers no longer appear wet or glossy, but be careful to remove them from the oven just before you see any significant golden-brown coloring around the edges. This ensures they remain wonderfully soft and moist.
Tip: If you’re passionate about achieving truly big, impressive bakery-style cookies, investing in a ¼ cup cookie scoop is a game-changer! It guarantees consistent size and perfectly thick cookies every time.
Step 3: Whip Up the Decadent Cream Cheese Frosting
Once your freshly baked birthday cake cookies have cooled completely, it’s time to prepare the star of the show: the rich and creamy cake batter cream cheese frosting. This buttercream frosting is incredibly smooth, boasts that delightful buttery cake batter essence, and has a dream consistency that’s perfect for piping elegant swirls or simply spreading generously with a knife.
Piping Tip: For an even and beautiful layer of frosting, hold your piping tip very close to (but not touching) the cookie surface. If you hold the tip too high above the cookie and swirl, you’ll end up with an excessively thick layer, and you might find yourself running out of frosting before you finish all your cookies! If you prefer a truly decadent, thick layer, consider doubling or tripling the frosting recipe.
Step 4: Finish with Festive Sprinkles and Enjoy!
The final touch for these celebratory treats is a generous shower of rainbow sprinkles atop each frosted cookie! These homemade birthday cake cookies are profoundly more flavorful and satisfying than any dry, store-bought alternative. Once you’ve experienced the joy of making these from scratch, you’ll never look back.
These festive cookies are guaranteed to impress any crowd, make a delightful weekend treat, and might even remind you of those popular Crumbl birthday cake cookies. Get ready for smiles and compliments!
Storage & Freezing Tips for Freshness
To ensure your delicious frosted birthday cake cookies stay as fresh and delightful as the day they were baked, proper storage is key. Here’s how to store and freeze them:
- Storing Frosted Cookies: Because the delectable frosting contains cream cheese, it’s essential to store these frosted cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will keep them wonderfully soft and moist for 3-4 days.
- Storing Unfrosted Cookies: If you plan to serve them unfrosted or frost them later, the baked cookies do not require refrigeration. Simply place them in an airtight container at room temperature. For an extra boost of moisture and to extend their shelf life, you can even add a slice of plain bread to the container – the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread, keeping them soft!
- Freezing for Later Enjoyment: While you can freeze frosted cookies, I highly recommend freezing them unfrosted. This prevents the vibrant sprinkle colors from bleeding into the frosting once thawed. To freeze, place the unfrosted cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (about 1-2 hours). Once solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe airtight container or bag, separating layers with parchment paper. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply thaw the cookies at room temperature and then top them with freshly made cream cheese frosting and sprinkles.
Thoughtful Gifting Idea: These beautiful cookies make a perfect homemade gift! Package them elegantly in a bakery box and attach a personalized gift card. For more creative ideas and printable tags, explore my 7 Easy Cookie Packaging Ideas.
Expert Tips & Tricks for Perfect Birthday Cake Cookies
Unlock the secrets to baking the most incredible frosted birthday cake cookies with these tried-and-true tips:
- Embrace the Cake Batter Extract: As mentioned, this ingredient is a game-changer for authentic birthday cake flavor. It’s becoming widely available in grocery stores and easily found on Amazon. McCormick’s “vanilla butter and nut flavor” is now often labeled as “cake batter,” so keep an eye out for that too! While substitutions like almond or extra vanilla work, they won’t replicate that unique, buttery cake batter taste.
- Go Big with Your Scoops! For those desirable thick, moist, and chewy cookies that stand out, a generous ¼ cup scoop is your best friend. A 4-tablespoon cookie scoop ensures consistency and produces impressive, bakery-sized treats.
- Chill for Enhanced Chewiness: Don’t rush to eat them all! These cookies develop an even more wonderfully dense and chewy texture after a night in the refrigerator. The chilling process allows the flavors to meld and the fats to solidify, creating a firmer, more satisfying bite, similar to the popular chilled cookies from Crumbl.
- Avoid Overmixing the Dough: Once you add the flour, mix only until it’s just incorporated. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough, rather than tender, cookies. A light hand is key!
- Room Temperature Cream Cheese and Butter for Frosting: Ensure your cream cheese and butter are properly softened to room temperature for the frosting. This is crucial for achieving a smooth, lump-free, and perfectly creamy consistency. Cold ingredients will result in a clumpy frosting.
- Don’t Overbake: For soft and chewy cookies, it’s better to slightly underbake than overbake. The cookies will continue to cook slightly on the hot baking sheet after being removed from the oven. Look for edges that are just set and centers that still look a little soft.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I make these birthday cake cookies ahead of time?
A: Yes! You can prepare the cookie dough up to 3 days in advance. Store it wrapped tightly in plastic wrap in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes to soften slightly before scooping and baking. You can also bake the cookies unfrosted and freeze them as described in the storage section.
Q: What if I can’t find cake batter extract?
A: While cake batter extract gives these cookies their signature flavor, you can absolutely make delicious cookies without it! For the dough, substitute with an additional ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract or ¼ teaspoon of almond extract. For the frosting, use an additional ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract. The cookies will still be incredibly tasty sugar cookies with a classic flavor!
Q: My cookies are spreading too much. What went wrong?
A: Several factors can cause cookies to spread excessively. Ensure your butter wasn’t too hot when added to the sugar (it should be melted but not scorching). Make sure you’re using the correct amount of flour and not undermeasuring. Also, chilling the scooped dough for 15-30 minutes before baking can help prevent over-spreading, especially if your kitchen is warm.
Q: How do I get perfectly round cookies?
A: After baking, while the cookies are still warm and pliable on the baking sheet, use a large round cookie cutter or the rim of a glass that’s slightly larger than your cookies. Place it around each cookie and gently swirl it to nudge the edges inwards, creating a perfectly round shape. This trick works wonders!
Q: Can I use different sprinkles?
A: Absolutely! While rainbow sprinkles are classic for birthday cake cookies, feel free to use any color or type of sprinkles you prefer. Seasonal sprinkles are great for holidays, or you can match them to a specific party theme!
Frosted Birthday Cake Cookies
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- ¾ cup unsalted butter (1 ½ sticks), melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cake batter extract see notes for substitutions
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk (you will be using 1 whole egg + 1 extra egg yolk)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour be sure not to overmeasure
- ¼ cup rainbow sprinkles you can use more or less based on your preference!
Cream Cheese Frosting (for a very thick layer, double the recipe!)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (½ stick), softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cake batter extract see notes for substitutions
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons milk if needed to thin frosting
Topping
- Rainbow sprinkles
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
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In a small glass bowl, microwave unsalted butter (¾ cup, i.e. 1 ½ sticks) until fully melted. Pour the melted butter into a large mixing bowl. Add in granulated sugar (½ cup) and powdered sugar (½ cup), then stir well until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
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Add the large egg (1 whole), extra egg yolk, vanilla extract (2 teaspoons), and cake batter extract (½ teaspoon) to the bowl. Stir again until everything is fully combined.
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Add baking powder (1½ teaspoons), baking soda (½ teaspoon), and salt (¼ teaspoon). Mix until just combined. Gradually add all-purpose flour (2½ cups) in half-cup increments, mixing until the flour is just incorporated and no dry streaks remain. Finally, gently fold in the rainbow sprinkles (¼ cup) until evenly distributed.The dough should have a texture similar to playdoh; it will firm up slightly as the melted butter cools. If the dough appears too runny compared to the photos, add an additional 1-2 tablespoons of flour.
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Scoop the dough into ¼ cup (i.e., 4-tablespoon sized) portions. Roll each portion into a smooth ball with your hands, then lightly flatten the top of each ball into a thick disc before placing it on the prepared cookie sheet. (Since this dough uses melted butter, it’s best to scoop and bake immediately to prevent it from becoming dry and crumbly if left out too long.)
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Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 11-12 minutes, or until the centers no longer look wet and the very edges show just a hint of golden-brown color. The cookies might appear slightly underdone in the middle, but they will continue to set and finish baking on the hot cookie sheet after you remove them from the oven. (Oven temperatures can vary, so use your best judgment; if they look severely underbaked, add another minute or two.)
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After removing from the oven, let the cookies cool on the hot baking sheet for 10 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make frosting:
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Note: For a very thick and generous layer of frosting, I recommend doubling this frosting recipe!
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In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter (¼ cup, i.e. ½ stick) and softened cream cheese (4-ounces) on medium speed using a hand mixer or a stand mixer (with the paddle attachment) for about 1 minute, until the mixture is light, fluffy, and creamy.
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With the mixer still on medium speed, slowly add in the vanilla extract (1 teaspoon), cake batter extract (¼ teaspoon), and powdered sugar (1½ cups). Once the powdered sugar is incorporated, increase the mixer speed to high and beat for 2 minutes until the frosting is wonderfully creamy and smooth.If your frosting is too thick for piping or spreading, gradually add 1-2 tablespoons of milk to thin it out to your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, you can add a bit more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time.
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Once the cookies are completely cooled, spread or pipe the frosting generously on top. For that perfect, classic cookie swirl, I recommend using a large round piping tip. Finish by sprinkling with plenty of festive sprinkles!Piping Tip! For an even layer of frosting, hold the piping tip very close to (but not touching) the cookie. Swirling from too high above the cookie will result in a much thicker layer, and you might run out of frosting before decorating all your cookies! If you desire a very thick layer, consider making 1.5x or 2x the frosting recipe.
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Store the frosted cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain their softness and freshness for 3-4 days.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.