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Birthday Sugar Cookies (Birthday Cake Cookie) Recipe

Get ready to take your celebrations to the next level with these irresistible Birthday Sugar Cookies! Bursting with colorful sprinkles and creamy white chocolate chips, they’re the ultimate perfect treat for your special day. With a hint of almond extract to bring that nostalgic cake flavor, these cookies are as festive as they are delicious—and they come together in one large bowl for easy cleanup!

Birthday sugar cookies on a plate.

If you’re looking for more sweet treats to celebrate with, check out my brown butter birthday cake cookies, and my birthday cake blondies! My m&m sugar cookies and m&m brownies, chocolate chip cookies made without brown sugar, and lucky charms cookies are perfect, too!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Funfetti Magic: The colorful sprinkles make these cookies a perfect gift for any birthday party or celebration.
  • Bakery-Style Texture: Chewy centers with slightly crisp edges, these cookies deliver on flavor and texture.
  • One-Bowl Simplicity: No need for a bowl of a stand mixer or multiple steps—just mix, scoop, and bake.

Ingredients

Ingredients for birthday sugar cookies.
  • Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and structure. For softer cookies, try using fine sugar.
  • Unsalted Butter: Melted for easy mixing and extra-rich flavor.
  • Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture, making the cookies incredibly soft.
  • Large Egg: Helps bind the dough; ensure it’s at room temperature for smoother mixing.
  • Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the cookies with its warm, sweet notes.
  • Almond Extract: Just a small amount creates a subtle birthday cake flavoring.
  • All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of the cookies. Measure carefully or use a kitchen scale for accuracy.
  • Baking Soda and Baking Powder: These work together to ensure the cookies are light and fluffy.
  • Pinch of Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
  • Rainbow Sprinkles: Adds fun pops of color; gel sprinkles work best to prevent bleeding.
  • White Chocolate Chips: Creamy and sweet, these pair perfectly with the almond and vanilla flavors.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Cake Flour for All-Purpose Flour: For softer cookies with a finer texture, swap in cake flour.
  • Dark Chocolate Chips for White Chocolate Chips: Add a rich, slightly bittersweet contrast to the sweet dough.
  • Gel Food Coloring for Sprinkles: Add a few drops to the dough for colorful, themed cookies without sprinkles.
  • Lemon Extract for Almond Extract: Bring a bright citrusy twist to the classic birthday cookie.

Ingredient Additions

  • Crushed Oreos: Mix in for a cookies-and-cream spin on your birthday cookies.
  • Toasted Coconut: Adds a chewy, nutty element that pairs beautifully with the almond extract.
  • Colored Drizzle: Use melted white chocolate tinted with gel food coloring to decorate the tops.
  • Mini Marshmallows: Add some gooey texture for a fun twist!

Step by Step Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Making dough for birthday sugar cookies.

Make the Dough:
In a large mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup (115g) melted unsalted butter, 1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil, and 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar. Stir until smooth. Add 1 large egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/4 tsp almond extract. Mix until fully incorporated.

Making dough for birthday sugar cookies.


Add 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt to the wet ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to mix until just combined.

Making dough for birthday sugar cookies with sprinkles and white chocolate chips.


Gently fold in 1/2 cup (90g) white chocolate chips and 1/2 cup (80g) rainbow sprinkles.

Making dough for birthday sugar cookies with sprinkles and white chocolate chips.

Portion and Shape: Use a large cookie scoop or 2 tablespoons of dough to form cookie dough balls. Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart.

Birthday sugar cookie dough balls on a baking sheet.

Press a few extra sprinkles onto the tops of the cookies for a festive look.

Birthday sugar cookies on a baking sheet.

Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are set and lightly golden while the centers remain soft. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Expert Tips

Birthday sugar cookies on a plate.

Serving Suggestions

  • Ice Cream Sandwiches: Pair two cookies with a scoop of cake batter or vanilla ice cream for a decadent treat.
  • Frosted Cookies: Spread cream cheese frosting or royal icing on the cooled cookies for a celebratory touch.
  • Birthday Cookie Platter: Arrange these with colorful cupcakes or a single layer cake for an eye-catching dessert table.
  • Perfect Gift: Package them in a freezer bag with a handwritten tag for party favors or gifts.

Storage Instructions

  • Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Place a slice of bread inside to keep them soft.
  • Freezing Cookie Dough Balls: Freeze unbaked dough in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding an extra 1–2 minutes to the baking time.
  • Freezing Baked Cookies: Let cookies cool completely, then layer them between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container before freezing for up to 2 months.
Birthday sugar cookies on a plate, zoomed in.

Birthday Sugar Cookies (Birthday Cake Cookie) Recipe

Allie Hagerty
Celebrate in style with these festive Birthday Sugar Cookies! Packed with colorful sprinkles and creamy white chocolate chips, they're a must-have for any birthday party.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 29 cookies
Calories 134 kcal

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Rubber spatula
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Parchment-lined baking sheet
  • Wire rack

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter melted
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract
  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup (90g) white chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup (80g) rainbow sprinkles plus extra for topping

Instructions
 

Preheat the Oven:

  • Preheat your oven to 350°Fahrenheit (175°Celsius) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Make the Dough:

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter, vegetable oil, and granulated sugar. Stir until smooth. Add 1 large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until fully incorporated.
  • Add all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and kosher salt to the wet ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to mix until just combined.

Fold in the Mix-ins:

  • Gently fold in white chocolate chips and rainbow sprinkles.

Portion and Shape:

  • Use a large cookie scoop or 2 tablespoons of dough to form cookie dough balls. Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Press a few extra sprinkles onto the tops of the cookies for a festive look.

Bake the Cookies:

  • Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are set and lightly golden while the centers remain soft.

Cool and Serve:

  • Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Chill the Dough: A short chill in the fridge helps the sugar cookie dough firm up, creating evenly baked cookies.
  • Perfect Cookie Shape: Use a cookie scoop for uniform dough balls and round cookies every time.
  • Sprinkle Control: Fold sprinkles into the dough gently to avoid breaking them, and press extras onto the top for a finished look.
  • Watch for Golden Brown Edges: For the best texture, bake until the edges are set and just turning golden.
Serving: 1cookieCalories: 134kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 48mgPotassium: 22mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 107IUVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 0.4mg
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