Birthday Cake Cookies
Funfetti in cookie form: soft, vanilla-forward, and bursting with rainbow sprinkles. An instant mood-lifter.
Ingredients
Total time: 25 minutes
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg plus 1 yolk
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 2/3 cup rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
- 1
Heat the oven to 350°F and line two sheets with parchment.
- 2
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.
- 3
Cream the butter and sugar until very fluffy, 3 minutes.
- 4
Beat in the egg, yolk, and both extracts.
- 5
Stir in the dry ingredients, then gently fold in the sprinkles.
- 6
Scoop 2-tablespoon mounds 2 inches apart.
- 7
Bake 9–11 minutes, until the edges are just set and the centers look soft.
- 8
Cool on the sheet 5 minutes.
Zoe's Tips
- Use jimmies (long sprinkles), not nonpareils, so the colors don't bleed.
- The extra egg yolk makes these extra soft and rich.
- A little almond extract gives them that classic 'birthday cake' flavor.
Nutrition estimate
Approximate, per serving — a rough guide, not a lab measurement.
A note from Zoe:this recipe is newly developed from classic, trusted baking ratios — it hasn't been through rounds of reader testing yet. Bake with a baker's eye, and if you try it, I'd genuinely love your feedback so I can make it even better.
You might also like
CookiesClassic Chocolate Chip Cookies
The one everyone asks for: crisp golden edges, a soft chewy middle, and pools of melty chocolate in every bite.
CookiesBrown Butter Cookies
Nutty, caramel-toned cookies made with browned butter and a hint of toffee. Deeply cozy and a little grown-up.
CookiesOatmeal Raisin Cookies
Hearty, spiced, and chewy with plump raisins and a warm cinnamon hug. The classic lunchbox cookie done right.