Funfetti Sugar Cookie Cake

JUMP TO RECIPE PIN RECIPE
5 from 11 votes

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.

This giant sugar cookie cake recipe yields a soft and buttery center and crunchy edges. Top it with a creamy and buttery almond vanilla buttercream and sprinkles and you’re ready for a celebration!

aerial photo of funfetti sugar cookie cake with a slice being taken out of it

If you’re looking for the best way to throw a party, you’ve come to the right place… If you couldn’t tell by the giant sugar cookie cake staring you in the face with all its colorful sprinkles and gorgeous waves of frosting.

Yeah. That’s the stuff.

This cake has been on my blog since 2015, when I turned 30. If you’ve been around here for some time, you know that for my 29th birthday, I shared a chocolate chip cookie cake, and started the trend of sharing a recipe for a cookie cake on or around my birthday every year (see all my recipes for cookie cake).

funfetti sugar cookie cake

Since then, this frosted sugar cookie cake has graced many party tables and has been used to showcase all kinds of color schemes for various other celebrations (it gets popular around the Super Bowl and typically dons super-team-spirited sprinkles).

Save This Recipe form

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!

aerial photo of a slice of funfetti sugar cookie cake on a plate

This sugar cookie cookie cake is truly fit for any celebration, really. There are a ridiculous amount of sprinkles to go around, and if you’re feeling a tad bit jazzy, a blank canvas awaits whatever sort of celebratory message you’d like to convey to the receiver/celebrator in icing.

aerial photo of funfetti sugar cookie cake

Or… More sprinkles. Because that’s never frowned upon!

If you’re a regular around here, you know that the key to any funfetti recipe is a healthy dose of almond extract.

In fact, there’s even a little in the buttercream that I used to decorate this sugar cookie cake and let me tell you what– that vanilla almond buttercream is worthy of licking ALL of the beaters and spatulas involved in making it.

Believe me.

funfetti sugar cookie cake with a slice taken out of it

HOW TO MAKE A COOKIE CAKE

The cookie cake itself is easy peasy and no fuss. You don’t even need a mixer and there’s no chilling of any dough. In fact, if you’re really looking to simplify things, you can leave the cookie cake naked and completely forego the buttercream.

a slice of funfetti sugar cookie cake on a plate

But really, I beg of you to add it. It just completes the package. Think of it as the big, enticing bow on the birthday present of sugar.

The vanilla almond buttercream itself is also quite easy, and if you’ve made my vanilla buttercream before, you’ll recognize the simple recipe.

aerial photo of funfetti sugar cookie dough in a springform pan

I like to bake my cookie cakes in a springform pan. This way, I can remove the cake and place it on a platter for a pretty presentation.

This is totally optional though! It will work just fine in a pie plate or round cake pan, which also makes for easy transport.

This funfetti sugar cookie cake has been taste tested by many people over my years of bringing it to gatherings, and the consensus is always the same: the slightly crisp edges and super soft and buttery center create the perfect cookie cake experience.

funfetti sugar cookie cake with a slice being taken out of it

Sturdy enough to eat with your hands but soft enough that you can cut it with a fork and eat it like cake. Plus, this recipe is so simple that little bakers could definitely help out!

And what kid doesn’t love sprinkles? I know mine are a little sprinkle obsessed!

a slice of funfetti sugar cookie cake on a plate

If you’re looking for something quick and easy to celebrate a special occasion, this is definitely the soft sugar cookie cake recipe you want to keep on hand.

Change up the sprinkles for different holidays or throw in your favorite sports team’s colors and whip up a cake for the next Sunday afternoon football game!

Whatever the reason to celebrate, definitely include this sprinkley funfetti birthday cookie cake.

a slice of funfetti sugar cookie cake on a plate with a bite taken out of it

Thanks for helping me celebrate my blog’s birthday this week, dear reader. Here’s to many more exciting adventures in and out of the kitchen and, hopefully, all of the sprinkles!

a slice of funfetti sugar cookie cake on a plate
5 from 11 votes
Pin Recipe Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

Funfetti Sugar Cookie Cake

This giant sugar cookie cake recipe yields a soft and buttery center and crunchy edges. Top it with a creamy and buttery almond vanilla buttercream and sprinkles and you're ready for a celebration!
Prep Time15 minutes
Bake Time32 minutes
Total Time47 minutes
Recipe Author Lynn April
Servings: 10 slices

Ingredients

COOKIE CAKE

  • 2 and ¼ cups (270g) all-purpose flour be sure to measure properly
  • 2 teaspoons (5g) cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter melted
  • 1 and ¼ cup (250g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (170g) white chocolate chips
  • cup (67g) sprinkles not nonpareils

VANILLA ALMOND BUTTERCREAM

  • 2 Tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • teaspoon almond extract
  • ½ Tablespoon (8mL) milk or cream
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

SUGAR COOKIE CAKE

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Spray a 9" springform pan1 with non-stick spray. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, toss together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a medium size bowl, whisk together the butter and sugar until smooth. Whisk in the egg, egg yolk, and extracts until completely combined.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until no flour clumps remain. Fold in the white chocolate chips and sprinkles. Press the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake the cookie cake for 26-32 minutes until edges begin to brown. You may cover the cake with foil to prevent browning, if preferred. Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack completely before decorating with frosting.

VANILLA ALMOND BUTTERCREAM

  • In a medium size bowl with a handheld mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, both extracts, and milk or cream. Turn the mixer onto low and slowly add the powdered sugar. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat until completely combined, scraping down sides as needed. Add salt to taste. Tint2 frosting, if desired.
  • For more buttercream troubleshooting tips, see my book, The Home Baker's Guide to Basic Buttercream.
  • Remove cooled cookie cake from springform pan and place on serving platter. Fill a piping bag with the frosting and decorate the cookie cake. I like to use a Wilton 1M tip. Cookie cake remains fresh covered tightly at room temperature for up to 4 days. Undecorated cookie cake may be frozen, up to 2 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight and allow to come to room temperature before decorating.

Notes

  1. Springform pan: alternatively, you may use a 9″ pie plate or a 8″ or 9″ round or square baking pan.
  2. Tint frosting: I prefer to use gel color. AmeriColor is my favorite. I used “turquoise” for this frosting.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @freshaprilflours on Instagram or tag #freshaprilflours!

Nutrition Disclosure

All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

42 Comments

  1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LYNN!!!!! What a crazy amazing year 30 was for you – hope 31 can live up to it 🙂 LOVING this sugar cookie cake as a way to celebrate, too. I’m 100% a cookie-over-traditional cake gal and this looks like birthday perfection!!

  2. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GORGEOUS LADY!!!!
    This funfetti sugar cookie cake is the perfect way to celebrate 31! This year is going to be just as amazing as the last, and you get to share it all with Joey 🙂
    I knew we were meant to be friends, I’m definitely more on the cookie train than the cake train, but you already knew that 😉
    HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

  3. Happy, happy birthday! I am alllll about cookie cakes. Order of cake deliciousness: ice cream cake > cookie cake > regular cake. Ugh, except this post makes me kind of sad that I can no longer bake anything funfetti flavored to bring to work, because our new lab manager is deathly allergic to all nuts. Sob.

    1. Thanks, Julie! I must say I definitely agree with your cake hierarchy. And what a bummer about the funfetti!! That is super sad!!

    1. 5 stars
      Was searching for s fun thing to celebrate my Sunday school students birthday. I found it here. Read your story and rejoiced with you on the birth of your son. Thanks for the recipe, praying much happiness ahead for you!

  4. 5 stars
    I love this cake – thank you! It’s been a big hit for my daughter’s birthday- she doesn’t care that much for traditional cakes. Only question- for the frosting, is it really only 1 tbsp of butter? Doesn’t seem like enough? (Maybe 1 stick?)

    1. Hey, Tami! The measurement is correct. I only make enough for just piping a simple border on the cake. If you want more for something like spreading on top of the whole thing, feel free to make more!!

  5. I need to make a 14 inch cookie cake. How should I alter the recipe to make that large of a cake?

    1. Hey, Kathleen! I would suggest doubling the recipe, and then adding about 5-7 minutes to the bake time before checking for doneness. Sounds like an epic cake!!

  6. What sort of baking time would you suggest if I was making this in a slice sectioned silicon pan that would make 8 individual cookie slices? X

  7. Hi, this recipe looks amazing! I’m hoping to make it for my little brother’s birthday. Question, though: how did you get the edge of the cake to “rise” like that and be thicker than the center? Was it the pan that you used?

    1. Hey, Audrey– I use a 9″ springform pan for all of my cookie cakes, and that’s always how they turn out!

  8. 5 stars
    I used a tiny bit of store bought frosting; cookie was very sweet. May decrease almond extract by half next time. Overall quick and tasty!

    1. Oh! Yes, of course! I wondered if this was what you meant to comment on, haha. That would work totally fine. Enjoy!

  9. 5 stars
    Is this something that would be ok to bake the day before or is it better day of? Thanks! Looks so delish