Celebrate the arrival of the new year in the most delicious way possible with this incredible Happy New Year Cookie Cake recipe! This show-stopping dessert is surprisingly easy to whip up, making it the perfect centrepiece for your New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day gathering, proving you don’t need to be a professional baker to create a memorable and crowd-pleasing treat.
Key Ingredients for Happy New Year Cookie Cake
For the Cookie Base:
- 1 cup (2 sticks or 226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Optional: A few drops of festive food coloring (red, blue, gold, or silver) for a vibrant cookie base
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup (2 sticks or 226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
- ¼ cup (60ml) milk or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: Festive food coloring to match your theme
For Decoration:
- Sprinkles (New Year’s themed, metallic, or in your favorite colors)
- Edible glitter
- Cookie cutters in numbers (e.g., “2025”) or festive shapes
- Piping bags and tips (optional, for more detailed frosting designs)
How to Make Happy New Year Cookie Cake
This Happy New Year Cookie Cake is a delightful explosion of sweet, buttery cookie goodness topped with creamy frosting and festive decorations. It’s remarkably simple to make, requiring no chilling time for the dough, and the assembly is straightforward, making it perfect for last-minute celebrations. With a prep time of just 30 minutes and a bake time of 20-25 minutes, you’ll have a stunning dessert ready to ring in the new year.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch or 10-inch round cake pan, or line it with parchment paper. Alternatively, you can bake this directly on a parchment-lined baking sheet if you prefer a freeform cookie cake.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar:
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. This step is crucial for a tender cookie.
3. Add Eggs and Vanilla:
Beat in the large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract. If you’re adding food coloring to the cookie dough for a festive base, add a few drops now and mix until evenly colored.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients:
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures the leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can result in a tough cookie. The dough will be thick and slightly sticky.
6. Spread Dough in Pan:
Spoon the cookie dough into the prepared cake pan (or onto the baking sheet). Use a spatula or your lightly floured hands to evenly spread the dough into a flat, even layer. For a freeform cake on a baking sheet, shape it into your desired circle.
7. Bake the Cookie Cake:
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set and lightly golden. For a baking sheet, baking time might be slightly shorter, so keep an eye on it.
8. Cool the Cookie Cake:
Let the cookie cake cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before carefully inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. If you baked it on a baking sheet, carefully slide the parchment paper with the cookie cake onto a wire rack to cool. Ensure it’s entirely cool before frosting.
9. Prepare the Frosting:
While the cookie cake cools, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, alternating with the milk or heavy cream, mixing until smooth and spreadable. Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. If using food coloring, add it now and mix until the desired festive color is achieved. You might need a little more or less milk to reach your desired frosting consistency.
10. Decorate Your Happy New Year Cookie Cake:
Once the cookie cake is completely cool, spread a generous layer of frosting evenly over the top. Use a spatula or offset spatula to create swirls and peaks for a decorative finish.
11. Add Festive Touches:
Now for the fun part! Decorate your Happy New Year Cookie Cake with an abundance of sprinkles, edible glitter, or even use cookie cutters to imprint numbers like “2025” into the frosting or cut out shapes from a second batch of cookie dough to place on top. Get creative and make it uniquely yours!
12. Slice and Serve:
Allow the frosting to set slightly before slicing and serving your spectacular Happy New Year Cookie Cake.
Why You’ll Love This Happy New Year Cookie Cake
You’ll adore this Happy New Year Cookie Cake for its utterly irresistible chewy, buttery cookie base, perfectly complemented by a rich, creamy vanilla frosting. Unlike a traditional layered cake that can be fussy, this cookie cake is incredibly straightforward to assemble, making it a stress-free dessert option for any holiday celebration.
The real magic, however, lies in the endless possibilities for personalization; from vibrant sprinkles to edible glitter and custom messages, you can tailor its appearance to perfectly match your New Year’s theme, making it a showstopper that’s as fun to decorate as it is to eat.
Forget the expensive bakery options! Making this Happy New Year Cookie Cake at home is not only budget-friendly but also incredibly rewarding, allowing you to control the quality and freshness of every ingredient. It’s a delightful alternative to a typical birthday cake, offering a satisfyingly chewy texture that cookie lovers crave, while the customizable decorations ensure it’s a memorable centerpiece for your festive feast. Dive into this delightful recipe and bring a touch of homemade joy to your New Year’s festivities – we promise you won’t be disappointed!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Storage: Leftover Happy New Year Cookie Cake can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days, especially if it’s not too warm where you are. If your frosting is very delicate or you won’t eat it within a few days, it’s best to refrigerate it. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The cookie base might become slightly firmer when refrigerated, but the flavor will remain delicious.
Reheating: To enjoy a chilled cookie cake at room temperature, simply remove it from the refrigerator about 30-60 minutes before serving to allow it to soften slightly. If you prefer a slightly warm treat (though not recommended for frosted cakes), you could gently warm a slice in a very low oven (around 200°F / 95°C) for just a few minutes, but be very careful not to melt the frosting.
Freezing: You can freeze the unfrosted cookie cake for longer storage. Once completely cooled, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature. You can also freeze individual slices. For best results, frost the cookie cake after it has been thawed.
Final Thoughts
This Happy New Year Cookie Cake is more than just a dessert; it’s a simple yet impactful way to make your New Year’s celebration extra special. Its ease of preparation and visual appeal make it a perfect, joyful addition to any festive table. Get ready to impress your friends and family with this delicious and customizable treat – your taste buds (and your guests) will thank you!
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Happy New Year Cookie Cake
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch or 10-inch round cake pan, or line it with parchment paper. Alternatively, you can bake this directly on a parchment-lined baking sheet if you prefer a freeform cookie cake.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. This step is crucial for a tender cookie.1 cup unsalted butter, 1.5 cups granulated sugar
- Beat in the large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract. If you’re adding food coloring to the cookie dough for a festive base, add a few drops now and mix until evenly colored.2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, festive food coloring (red, blue, gold, or silver)
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures the leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed.3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 0.5 teaspoon salt
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can result in a tough cookie. The dough will be thick and slightly sticky.
- Spoon the cookie dough into the prepared cake pan (or onto the baking sheet). Use a spatula or your lightly floured hands to evenly spread the dough into a flat, even layer. For a freeform cake on a baking sheet, shape it into your desired circle.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set and lightly golden. For a baking sheet, baking time might be slightly shorter, so keep an eye on it.
- Let the cookie cake cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before carefully inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. If you baked it on a baking sheet, carefully slide the parchment paper with the cookie cake onto a wire rack to cool. Ensure it’s entirely cool before frosting.
- While the cookie cake cools, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, alternating with the milk or heavy cream, mixing until smooth and spreadable. Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. If using food coloring, add it now and mix until the desired festive color is achieved. You might need a little more or less milk to reach your desired frosting consistency.1 cup unsalted butter, 4 cups powdered sugar, 0.25 cup milk or heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 pinch salt, Festive food coloring
- Once the cookie cake is completely cool, spread a generous layer of frosting evenly over the top. Use a spatula or offset spatula to create swirls and peaks for a decorative finish.
- Now for the fun part! Decorate your Happy New Year Cookie Cake with an abundance of sprinkles, edible glitter, or even use cookie cutters to imprint numbers like “2025” into the frosting or cut out shapes from a second batch of cookie dough to place on top. Get creative and make it uniquely yours!Sprinkles (New Year’s themed, metallic, or in your favorite colors), Edible glitter, Cookie cutters in numbers (e.g., “2025”) or festive shapes, Piping bags and tips
- Allow the frosting to set slightly before slicing and serving your spectacular Happy New Year Cookie Cake.