These birthday cake cookies are a soft sugar cookie loaded with sprinkles and a bit of cake batter flavoring, topped with a sweet vanilla buttercream and extra sprinkles. They're like a funfetti cake in cookie form. Perfect for any celebration!
Birthday cake cookies are always a fun idea whether you're celebrating or not. Just like my super popular sprinkle sugar cookies, they're simple to make, but these have a layer of frosting to add another level of birthday cake vibes to them.
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Why You Will Love These Cookies
- Cake Flavored: These cookies use a little cake batter extract to taste even more like an actual birthday cake.
- Sprinkles: The color jimmie sprinkles make these cookies feel like the cookie version of my funfetti cake.
- Easy to Make: These cookies can be made in one bowl, and don't require any chill time, so they can be made quick and easy!
Ingredient Notes
Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Butter: I always use salted butter, but unsalted is fine too.
- Oil: I used melted coconut oil, but any neutral oil will work great.
- Sugars: You will use both granulated and powdered sugar.
- Egg: It helps to have room temperature eggs.
- Cake Batter Extract: I love using a little bit of this to give these an actual cake flavor like I do in my funfetti cookie cake, but if you don't have that you can use extra vanilla or replace with almond extract as well.
- Flour: Weighing your flour will help to ensure the correct amount is being used. If you do not have a scale, lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup.
- Sprinkles: Jimmie sprinkles are best for baking because the color won't bleed when baking.
Step by Step Instructions
STEP 1: Place butter, oil and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add water, egg, vanilla and cake batter extract and mix again until combined.
STEP 2: Add baking soda, cream of tartar, salt and flour to the bowl and mix on low, until completely mixed. Fold in sprinkles.
Step 3: Scoop the dough into large balls. I like to use a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop. Place 8 cookie balls on your baking sheet. Flatten cookie balls with a glass until they are about ½ inch thick. I like to spray the bottom of my glass with cooking spray and dip in sugar before flattening.
Step 4: Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes. You're looking for a barely light golden brown outside rim. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
Step 5: Mix together butter, sour cream, salt and 2 cups of powdered sugar on low until completely combined. Add milk and another 1-2 cups of powdered sugar and mix on medium-high for about 2 minutes. Add more milk or powdered sugar to get desired consistency. Fold in sprinkles.
Step 6: Spread frosting evenly on top of each cookie and sprinkle with extra sprinkles.
Expert Baking Tips
- Jimmie sprinkles are preferred for the cookies because they won't bleed while baking.
- I prefer these cookies to be chilled before eating. It is not necessary to chill them, but might be worth a try for you to see if that's how you prefer them too!
- I have given both cups and grams as measurements. Grams will be more precise, especially when measuring flour. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, no problem! Just lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup to insure its not packed in there. Light and fluffy is the key.
FAQ
The easiest way to fix crumbly dough is to add a little bit of moisture or liquid. Add a few teaspoons more of lime juice or water and that should help.
No, you can flatten them with your hand as well, I just like the little ridges they get from the glass.
Yes, these make a great sugar cookie with or without the sprinkles.
Storing & Freezing
Birthday cake cookies can be stored at room temperature, or in the fridge, in an airtight container. They will keep fresh this way for 3-4 days.
These cookies will keep fresh in an airtight container in the freezer for 3-4 months. You can freeze before or after frosting them. Just allow them to come to room temperature before eating!
Other Popular Recipes to Try
For more yummy treats follow me on instagram @thesaltedsweets. And be sure to tag me and comment if you make them and love them as much as I do!
Birthday Cake Cookies
Ingredients
Birthday Cake Cookies
- ½ cup (113.5 g) salted butter room temp
- ⅓ cup (78.86 ml) neutral oil I have used melted coconut or vegetable
- ⅓ cup (40 g) powdered sugar
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 large egg room temp
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) cake batter extract can sub with more vanilla or almond
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
- 2¾ cups (385 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup jimmie sprinkles
Buttercream Frosting
- ½ cup (113.5 g) butter room temp
- 2 tablespoon sour cream
- ⅛ teaspoon (0.13 teaspoon) salt
- 3-4 cups (360 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1-2 tablespoons jimmie sprinkles
Instructions
To make cookies:
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Place butter, oil and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add water, egg, vanilla and cake batter extract and mix again until combined.
- Add baking soda, cream of tartar, salt and flour to the bowl and mix on low, until completely mixed. Fold in sprinkles.
- Scoop the dough into large balls. I like to use a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop.
- Place 8 cookie balls on your baking sheet. Flatten cookie balls with a glass until they are about ½ inch thick. I like to spray the bottom of my glass with cooking spray and dip in sugar before flattening. Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes. You're looking for a barely light golden brown outside rim. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
To make frosting:
- Mix together butter, sour cream, salt and 2 cups of powdered sugar on low until completely combined. Add milk and another 1-2 cups of powdered sugar and mix on medium-high for about 2 minutes. Add more milk or powdered sugar to get desired consistency. Fold in sprinkles. Frost on cooled cookies and top with extra sprinkles.
Cassidy Mickelsen
Great recipe! I was skeptical because I have never added powdered sugar into cookie dough, but these turned out beautifully and I like the consistency of the dough. I also love the added sour cream to frosting. I am taking to a friend for her birthday tomorrow.
Kim Carroll
Oh these are good!! The cookie itself is delicious and melts in your mouth but once you add the frosting they taste even better. Make them!
Andrea Skidmore
We loved these cookies! Easy to make, perfect texture and delicious too. Love that it’s easy to switch up the sprinkles for different holidays. They were the perfect treat for a gloomy day and we’ll definitely be making them again.
Stephanie Wright
These are AMAZING!
Brooke Homec
Yay!! This makes me so happy!
Ashley Poynor
Really enjoyed making these.
I baked for 12 minutes and they came out perfect!!
Frosting was yummy too! Super fun cookie to make!
Brooke Homec
Thank you Ashley!! I'm so glad!
Katie Rogers
Funfetti cookies! They just made me happy! Can cookies be cute? These were, and tasted great as well! Thanks for sharing!
Brooke Homec
I totally agree!! Sprinkles just make me happy, and even better when you get a cookie too!
Michelle D. Viray
Happy 3rd Birthday to The Salted Sweets!! Another great cookie club cookie! These were so fun to make…yay for sprinkles on the batter, frosting and even more on top! Can’t wait to share this sweet delicious cookie creation with my friends at work tomorrow!
Giada
These cookies are really cute 😋Perfect recipe, cake aroma!
Kirsten M
Such a fun birthday treat, happy birthday Salted Sweets! Making these to keep in the freezer and enjoy to celebrate the birth of our 2nd baby very soon!! Of course we couldn't help but dig into a couple before saving the rest. They are delicious!
Maricela
This is probably my new favorite sugar cookie recipe! Easy to make, delicious and had the perfect texture.I added almond extract.
A+ from my taste testers(kids).
Maricela C
My new favorite sugar cookie! Easy to make and so tasty…love the texture and flavor the Almond extract added. A+ from my kids!
Tara Smith
Such a fabulous sugar cookie! I think they tasted even better the next day. I left them room temperature and we enjoyed them this way. My son said they reminded him a little bit like the loft house cookies. I did not have cake batter extract, so used almond extract and I really liked that flavor. You did it again, Booke!
Maggie
These cookies are SO good. Very sweet and huge, but super good. I love the frosting and they were so fun to make!
Sidney
I’m a sucker for a frosted cookie, and these hit the spot!! Definitely one I will make time and time again.
Sidney
I’m a sucker for a frosted cookie, and these hit the spot!! Definitely one I will make time and time again. I prefer a smaller cookie - so this recipe made 20 cookies for me 🙂
Leslie
I’m always in for birthday cake flavored anything! My family really liked these too. The dough was crumblier than I expected but they came together great. I didn’t have sprinkles so mine weren’t visually as fun as they could have been, but flavor was A+.
Theresa Lane
We usually pass on cakes and cupcakes- nobody in my crew is a fan of icing either so a birthday cake cookie was right up our alley!! Everyone loved these - and they are definitely worth the wait (we ate ours chilled as Brooke suggested)!!!
Brooklyn Motes
These were a yummy and cute cookie! Fun to make for spring/Easter too with the sprinkles.
Heidi Murphy
I really enjoyed the consistency of these cookies. They were a big hit at a St. Patrick’s Day party. I turned the icing green and called them Paddy’s Over The Rainbow Cookies! Really enjoyed will be making again. I think they’re great even without icing.
Janee
Wonderful and fun cookie!! Everyone loved this cookie, the frosting was just perfect and the sprinkles made it fun! I love this can be made for any occasion or holiday by just changing the sprinkle color.
Leslie Gilchrist
AMAZING! These cookies taste so good! The hint of birthday cake flavor makes the cookie pop! My kids want these instead of birthday cake that’s how good they are! Recipe is super easy to follow and I love the “expert tip” they do come in handy and helps me become a better baker!
Aubrey
Such a cute and easy cookie! Delicious of course but that’s a given with any salted sweet recipe!
Lonna Seger
My special needs adult son and I have so enjoyed this Cookie Club! The Birthday Cookies were so delicious! The taste of butter and cake flavoring…very yummy. We love the texture of the cookie as well. The frosting was literally “the icing on the cake”! We tried the cookies room temperature and chilled as Brooke suggested…we are divided. My husband and son prefer them room temp, and I prefer them chilled. This recipe is certainly one that we will make again!
Elisa
Happy birthday, Salted Sweets! I’m not a huge sugar cookie / birthday cake lover… But these cookies are soft and tasty!
Denise Knight
These cookies are so good! Easy to make and delicious. The buttercream and sprinkles make these even better and are so cute! Will definitely be making these again.
Brooke Homec
Thank you so much Denise! I'm so glad you loved them!!
Camille Knudsen
These cookies are happy! Not only do they taste great, but the sprinkles within the dough and on top make them fun! I will go for this recipe instead of making cut out sugar cookies because these are so tasty and quick!
Katie McGinn
My whole family loved these cookies, especially my kids! My daughter is requesting that I make them for her birthday party next month. I enjoyed the flavor of the cake batter extract, and the rainbow sprinkles make them so fun! We ate them at room temperature but put them in the fridge overnight, so I'm looking forward to trying them chilled.
Shauna Phillips
Nice and soft. Added Easter sprinkles to make them festive for this coming weekend.
Jen Bucher
These were delicious! As always a really easy recipe to follow and quick to make. I love the icing/cookie combo!
Jennifer
Better than Crumble! Honest! Simple to make. Didn't have jimmies, used sprinkles instead, love the little crunch it added. Can't stop eating these.
Lindsey Coleman
My kids LOVED these. I loved how easy they are to make! I didn't have the cake extract, so I used the almond. It was delicious. I'd love to try it with the cake extract next time just to compare. Thanks!!
Katelyn
Another great recipe. The texture of the cookie was amazing and my kids loved the sprinkles and the frosting.
Pattie Welch
Turned out super cute. We made them for our Easter dessert table.
Mackenzie
We really enjoyed these cookies, my husband LOVED them! They were super fun and easy to make and the flavor was spot on; they taste just like you’d think they should taste.
Laura Rockenbaugh
Sooo yummy! And the most delicious buttercream frosting ever! These will be my go-to sugar cookies from now on - so festive and versatile with the sprinkles!
Emily
Supper cute! Used cake batter extract. Tasty and soft texture.
Joan
Such a fun cookie! Loved the cake flavor. Cookies were a hit at Easter dinner.
Rachel
My family really enjoyed these ones! The kids loved the sprinkles. I used coconut oil and cake batter extract and the flavor was great. We will make these again.
Haylie
I made these as a surprise for my kids and shared them with our church youth group. Parents were texting me after, asking for the recipe. They are so cute with the sprinkles, and very sweet to the taste. We enjoyed them!
Danielle Solis
Yummy and easy to make. Perfect for a birthday party!
Sarah G
Such an easy, delicious, and fun cookie!! I made these for my son’s birthday party at school and will definitely be making again! I used a small cookie scoop and it made 24 cookies.
Bailey
Such a crowd pleaser! The perfect cookie.
Megan Rader
I had such fun making these! They went together really well. I haven’t used Cream of Tartar before and it worked out great!
Hannah S
These were everything I love in a cookie and were soooo good chilled!
Also turned out great gluten free.
Ashley J
Sooooo pretty! I think next time instead of cake batter I will try Almond Extract!