December 6, 2023

These birthday cake sugar cookies are cute AND scrumptious! The dough is pressed as a substitute of minimize out which makes them really easy to make.

Dotted with colourful sprinkles inside the cookie dough, these frosted sugar cookies are successful for any event.

Sugar cookie with sprinkles in the dough and frosted with pink frosting on parchment paper with more sprinkles.

Swig sugar cookies originated years in the past at somewhat soda/cookie store in Utah. The signature pressed cookie form with tough, crinkly edges gained reputation and spawned lots of knockoff cookie retailers AND cookie recipes.

The time period “swig cookie” typically describes sugar cookies like this which are pressed as a substitute of rolled and minimize out with cookie cutters (sort of like how we are saying “kleenex” when speaking about any kind of tissues).

Some would argue that the unique Swig cookies aren’t pretty much as good as they was or that Swig wasn’t the primary place to develop these cookies or that such-and-such has manner higher sugar cookies. The subject conjures up fierce loyalties and fiery opinions, so watch out when and the way and with whom you carry up the topic. 😉

To me, all that issues is that it’s actually, very easy to make a Swig-style sugar cookie at dwelling, and they’re much more scrumptious than something you’ll get at a cookie store.

Glass bowl with butter, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, sour cream and vanilla.

Birthday Cake Sugar Cookies

I took this widespread traditional Swig sugar cookie recipe and made it right into a sprinkled birthday cake model, as a result of a) so cute and b) so tasty.

To get the cake batter vibe and taste, we’re:

  1. including rainbow sprinkles to the cookie dough
  2. growing the vanilla within the cookie dough, ideally utilizing Mexican vanilla for a stronger taste

As a result of Mexican vanilla is stronger, it helps amplify the cake taste. In case you don’t have Mexican vanilla, pure vanilla extract works – be certain that to make use of the total tablespoon. I’ve talked about this vanilla-butter emulsion for baking, and it’s wonderful on this recipe for a yummy cake batter taste. In case you have it, add a teaspoon or two along with the vanilla extract. 

Rainbow sprinkles on top of sugar cookie dough in glass bowl.

Finest Sprinkles for Sugar Cookies

The most effective sprinkles for these sugar cookies are the jimmie-style rainbow sprinkles. They hold their form and colour higher than utilizing tiny non-pareil sprinkles.

Add the sprinkles when the cookie dough has a couple of dry streaks remaining, after which gently combine by hand till the sprinkles are evenly mixed all through the dough.

Sugar cookie dough with sprinkles in glass bowl.

No Rolling or Slicing Out

These birthday cake Swig-style sugar cookies are fast and easy as a result of the dough doesn’t should be rolled and minimize out with cookie cutters.

As a substitute, roll the dough into balls and use a flat-bottomed glass dipped in sugar to press the cookie dough balls into thick circles wherever from 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick.

The cookies will unfold and flatten a bit extra whereas baking, so don’t press the cookie dough too skinny.

Pressing sugar cookie dough into thick circle with glass dipped in sugar.

Underneath Bake Simply Barely

Over baking these sugar cookies, even by a minute or two, is a travesty I can hardly put phrases to. They depend on being below baked only a bit, in any other case they’re dry and crumbly.

Pull them out of the oven when the perimeters are simply set and the middles look slightly below finished nonetheless. They agency up as they cool leading to a comfortable, creamy, slightly-dense cookie that’s exceptionally yummy.

Allow them to cool utterly earlier than including frosting. Unfold the frosting within the heart of the cookies leaving a skinny border across the edge.

As a result of sprinkles are outstanding within the cookie dough, I don’t add extra sprinkles on prime. However you’ll be able to. Solely you and your coronary heart will know if extra sprinkles are mandatory. 💗

Spreading pink frosting on a sprinkle-filled sugar cookie with offset spatula.

Tips on how to Freeze Frosted Sugar Cookies

The most effective saved secret for these (and different) frosted sugar cookies is that they freeze amazingly nicely, and style contemporary and scrumptious after being thawed.

Right here’s how I do it:

  1. Frost cooled sugar cookies (and add sprinkles, if utilizing)
  2. Freeze or refrigerate in a single layer on a sheet pan till frosting is agency.
  3. Place sugar cookies in freezer storage baggage or different containers, separating layers with parchment or wax paper. Ideally, don’t exceed greater than two to 3 layers per container.
  4. Take the frozen sugar cookies out of the baggage/containers and place in a single layer on serving trays or sheet pans to thaw (takes about an hour at room temperature).

I’ve made and frozen lots of of frosted sugar cookies through the years, and I can attest it really works brilliantly nicely. Nobody may even inform the cookies had been made forward of time.

Top down view of pressed sugar cookie with sprinkles and pink frosting.

My household is in hearty settlement that these birthday cake sugar cookies are simply as scrumptious as our beloved traditional favourite.

The sprinkles and further vanilla add one thing particular to an every single day sugar cookie, and they’re an absolute hit each time I serve them or carry them wherever.

Cute, tasty, and so, really easy.

I desire serving (and consuming) them chilly. However they just do effective at room temperature, too.

I hope you’ll find a cause to make sprinkled sugar cookies sooner reasonably than later. 😊

Sugar cookie broken in half on top of frosted sugar cookie.

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Pressed sugar cookie with sprinkles and pink frosting.

Birthday Cake Swig-Type Sugar Cookies

Cookies:

  • 1 cup (227 g) salted butter, softened to room temperature
  • ¾ cup (164 g) neutral-flavored oil, like canola, vegetable or grapeseed
  • 1 ¼ cups (265 g) granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup (86 g) powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons bitter cream
  • 2 giant eggs
  • 1 tablespoon Mexican vanilla or pure vanilla extract (see word)
  • 5 ½ cups (781 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ to ¾ cup (35 g) rainbow sprinkles (see word)

Frosting:

  • ¾ cup (170 g) salted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons bitter cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 cups (684 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons milk or cream
  • Preheat the oven to 350 levels F (or 325 levels F for convection bake) and line a number of half sheet pans with parchment paper.

  • Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a bowl utilizing a handheld electrical mixer, add the butter, oil, granulated sugar and powdered sugar. Sprinkle the baking soda, baking powder, and salt throughout the highest of the sugars and blend till well-combined, 1-2 minutes, scraping down the edges of the bowl as wanted.

  • Add the bitter cream, eggs and vanilla and blend for 1-2 minutes, till very well-combined.

  • Add the flour and blend till a couple of dry streaks stay. Add the sprinkles and blend by hand till no dry streaks stay and the sprinkles are evenly mixed.

  • Scoop the dough into 2- or 3-tablespoon sized parts (I take advantage of a #20 cookie scoop) and roll into balls. Place a number of inches aside on the ready baking sheets.

  • Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar to a shallow dish or bowl. Calmly spray the underside of a flat-bottomed glass with cooking spray. Dip the underside of the glass into the sugar after which press every cookie dough ball right into a thick circle, about 14 to 1/2-inch thick. Dip the glass into the sugar between every press.

  • Bake the cookies for 7-8 minutes till simply set – the facilities should still look slightly below finished. It is higher to below bake these cookies than to over bake them, so watch intently!

  • Let the cookies cool for a couple of minutes on the baking sheets earlier than eradicating to a cooling rack to chill utterly.

  • For the frosting, in a medium bowl with an electrical mixer, whip the butter, bitter cream and vanilla till thick and creamy, 1-2 minutes.

  • Add the powdered sugar and cream (or milk) and blend till well-combined and creamy, 1-2 minutes, scraping down the edges of the bowl as wanted. Add meals coloring (ideally gel meals coloring), if utilizing, and blend till evenly coloured and mixed. Add extra milk or cream one tablespoon at a time, if wanted, to regulate the consistency of the frosting. It ought to be thick, creamy, and simply spreadable.

  • Frost the cooled cookies leaving a skinny border across the edges.

Vanilla: as a result of Mexican vanilla is stronger, it helps amplify the cake taste. In case you don’t have Mexican vanilla, pure vanilla extract works – be certain that to make use of the total tablespoon. I’ve talked about this vanilla-butter emulsion for baking, and it’s wonderful on this recipe for a yummy cake batter taste. In case you have it, add a teaspoon or two along with the vanilla extract. 
Sprinkles: one of the best sprinkles for this recipe are the jimmie-style rainbow sprinkles
Over Flouring: watch out to not over flour the dough or the cookies may be dry as a substitute of soppy after baking. In case you don’t weigh the flour, be certain that to fluff the flour within the container earlier than scooping within the measuring cup and leveling (don’t pack or shake the flour into the cup!).

Serving: 1 cookie, Energy: 250kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 3g, Fats: 13g, Saturated Fats: 2g, Ldl cholesterol: 13mg, Sodium: 141mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 14g

Observe @MelsKitchenCafe on Instagram and present me the recipes you’re making from my weblog utilizing the hashtag #melskitchencafe. I like seeing all of the goodness you’re whipping up in your kitchens!

Recipe Supply: from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe (tailored from this favourite Swig cookie recipe)

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