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Sugar Cookie Cake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 86 reviews

This Sugar Cookie Cake is a delightful fusion of classic sugar cookies and a moist vanilla cake, layered with a luscious cream cheese frosting and chunks of festive sugar cookie dough. Perfect for holiday celebrations or any special occasion, this cake combines tender cookie discs baked right into each cake layer with creamy, tangy frosting and colorful sprinkles for a joyful finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Sugar Cookie Dough

  • 2 3/4 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 1 1/4 cups White granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup Milk
  • 2/3 cup Christmas sprinkles (jimmies)

Vanilla Cake

  • 3 1/2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp Baking soda
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 3 TBSP Oil (canola or vegetable oil)
  • 1 1/2 cups White granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
  • 4 Large eggs (room temperature)
  • 3/4 cup Sour cream (room temperature)
  • 1 cup Buttermilk

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 2 cups Unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 6 oz Cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 5 cups Powdered sugar (sifted)
  • 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare Sugar Cookie Dough: Preheat the oven to 300℉. Spread the flour on a cookie sheet and bake for 8 minutes, then allow it to cool completely. Add salt to the flour. Using a mixer, beat the butter and sugar on high speed for 2 minutes until pale and fluffy. Scrape the bowl, then add vanilla and milk, mixing on medium speed until combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients and Christmas sprinkles, mixing on low speed just until combined.
  2. Form and Freeze Cookie Dough Discs: Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Use a small cookie scoop to portion the dough into discs and flatten each with your hands. Place 15 discs on the sheet and freeze while preparing cake batter. Set aside two 1/2 cups of cookie dough for filling and roll the rest into small balls for decoration, freezing them until ready to use.
  3. Prepare Vanilla Cake Pans: Preheat the oven to 350℉. Spray three 8-inch cake pans with nonstick spray and line bottoms with parchment paper circles, spraying again. Set aside.
  4. Mix Dry Cake Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  5. Prepare Cake Batter: Using a mixer, beat butter, oil, and sugar on high speed for 2 minutes until pale and fluffy. Scrape the bowl, then add vanilla, eggs, and sour cream, mixing on medium speed until combined. Gradually add dry ingredients and buttermilk, mixing on low speed until just combined. Finish mixing with a rubber spatula to ensure uniformity.
  6. Assemble and Bake Cake Layers: Divide batter evenly among the three pans. Place 5 frozen cookie dough discs on top of the batter in each pan. Bake for 26-32 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cakes sit in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks and cool completely.
  7. Make Cream Cheese Frosting: Sift powdered sugar into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, beat butter on high speed for 2 minutes until smooth and creamy. Add cream cheese and beat on high speed for 1 minute, scraping the bowl in between. Gradually add powdered sugar in two parts, mixing on low speed after each addition. Add vanilla and a pinch of salt, then beat on low until combined and switch to high speed to achieve creamy texture.
  8. Assemble the Cake: Trim domes off cake tops with a serrated knife. Place the first cake layer on a plate and spread 3/4 cup of frosting evenly. Pipe a border of frosting around the edge, then spread 1/2 cup of cookie dough discs inside the border. Repeat with the second layer and place the last layer upside down on top. Apply a crumb coat using a thin layer of frosting and freeze cake for 15 minutes.
  9. Decorate the Cake: Frost the cake with the remaining cream cheese frosting and decorate the top with the reserved sugar cookie dough balls or discs. Chill slightly before serving to set.

Notes

  • Ensure all refrigerated ingredients, such as butter, eggs, and sour cream, are at room temperature for optimal mixing and texture.
  • If desired, substitute Christmas sprinkles with any festive or colorful sprinkles to personalize the cake.
  • Freezing cookie dough discs helps them keep their shape while baking within the cake layers.
  • Allow the cake layers to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting the frosting.
  • The crumb coat is essential to seal in crumbs and create a smooth finish for decorating.
  • Store the cake refrigerated and allow it to come to room temperature before serving for best flavor and texture.

Keywords: sugar cookie cake, sugar cookie, vanilla cake, cream cheese frosting, Christmas sprinkles, holiday dessert

Find it online: https://spatulaqueen.com/sugar-cookie-cake-recipe/