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Birthday Cake Sugar Cookies

Birthday cake sugar cookies are soft, buttery cookies coated with colorful rainbow jimmies and baked until their edges are just beginning to turn golden. A 30-minute chill helps the dough hold its shape while the centers stay tender.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Chilling 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 3 minutes
Servings: 20 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 205
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1.25 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 egg large, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 0.5 teaspoon almond extract
  • 0.75 cup rainbow jimmies divided

Equipment

  • 2 baking sheets
  • 1 electric mixer

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  3. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl.
  4. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and creamy, about 2 minutes.
  5. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until smooth.
  6. Add the flour mixture and mix on low just until no dry streaks remain.
  7. Fold in 1/2 cup of the jimmies.
  8. Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  9. Scoop the dough into 2-tablespoon portions.
  10. Roll the portions into balls.
  11. Press the tops into the remaining 1/4 cup jimmies.
  12. Arrange the dough balls on the prepared sheets about 2 inches apart.
  13. Bake for 11–13 minutes, rotating the sheets between oven racks halfway through, until the edges are set and just beginning to turn golden.
  14. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes.
  15. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

For evenly shaped cookies, chill the dough for the full 30 minutes before scooping. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days; freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months. Dairy-free butter can be used as a swap.