Frosted Sugar Cookie Cake

Name: Frosted Sugar Cookie Cake
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter (softened); 1 cup vegetable oil; 1 cup white granulated sugar; 1 cup powdered sugar; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 2 eggs; 4½ cup all purpose flour; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon cream of tartar; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 cup unsalted butter (softened); 5 cup powdered sugar; ¼ cup heavy cream (can substitute half and half, whole, 2% or skim)

4.89

25 minutes

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By: Julie Blanner30 Comments
Updated: 1/9/23

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This easy to make frosted sugar cookie cake is a favorite amongst children and adults alike. It’s a melt-in-your-mouth recipe for every occasion, including Valentine’s Day, birthdays and more.

Celebrate any special day with this delicious and easy frosted sugar cookie cake! It’s buttery, decadent, and so much fun to make and serve.

A frosted cookie cake topped with sprinkles, in a heart shaped pan, on a marble countertop.

Every time I make this frosted sugar cookie cake, someone asks for the recipe. The thick, melt-in-your-mouth decadent texture combined with the best buttercream frosting is irresistible.

I dare you to try to eat just.one.square.

In fact, I can’t make this frosted sugar cookie cake to bring somewhere without making one for home as well. The girls (and Chris) cheer with joy, and I can’t help but indulge on a few bites as well.

Looking for more Valentine’s inspiration? Check out this complete guide to my favorite Valentine’s Day Recipes.

Table of Contents

No decorating skills required
Crowd pleaser
Quick and easy
Beautiful, without the effort!

You just need some pantry basics to make this amazing cake recipe!

★★★★★
5 STAR REVIEW
“Just made this tonight for my daughter’s 3rd birthday. It was so delicious! My family loves cookies and this was perfect. Everyone loved it.”
— NATALIE—

Ingredients and Substitutions

Butter – Salted or unsalted, your choice.
Vegetable Oil – In combination with butter, it gives this cake a melt in your mouth texture you just can’t resist.
Sugar – White granulated sugara.
Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioner’s sugar, it makes this cake melt-in-your-mouth. Don’t have any? Learn how to make powdered sugar here.
Vanilla Extract – Adds a hint of flavor. You can also use almond extract, or any other of your favorites.
Flour – All purpose, no need to sift.
Salt – Brings out all the other flavors in baking
Cream of Tartar – stabilizes the eggs and other ingredients.
Baking Soda – The leavening agent.
Milk – Whatever you have on hand.

It’s so quick and easy to make this celebration cake!

Prep – Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease baking dish.
Combine Wet Ingredients and Sugars – Combine butter, oil, sugars and vanilla until smooth. Blend in eggs.
Add Dry Ingredients – Add flour, salt, cream of tarter and baking soda until blended in.
Bake – Press dough into a greased pan. Bake 20 minutes*.
Make Frosting – Combine butter, powdered sugar and milk until smooth.
Frost Cake – Spread over cooled sugar cookie cake.

A variety of gold cake pans, loaf pans and muffin baking pan sizes laid out on a marble surface.

Tools to Use

Mixer (You can also mix by hand)
Measuring Cups + Measuring Spoons
Note: the Le Creuset heart tart pan pictured in this recipe post is no longer available, but measures 11.8 inches at its widest point. Any similarly sized baking dish will work! A few options:
10″ Round Tart Pan
Metal Heart Tart Pan with Removable Bottom
Heart Shaped Aluminum Cake Pan, 10-Inch

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Tips

Don’t over-mix! That’s how you achieve the out of this world texture and thickness!
For a fully baked cookie cake, avoid pressing dough all the way to edges. Dough will spread. This will ensure a smooth, even rise without leaving the center under baked or edges over baked.
Baking time will vary depending on the pan you use. Reduce baking time for thinner cookie cakes checking in at 15 minutes and increase for thicker cakes if you want them more done.
When adding dough into the pan, careful to not overfill and factor in 1/3 of dish for the cake to rise.
Let the cake completely cool before adding the frosting to prevent it from melting off.
Forgot to take out your butter? To soften butter directly from the refrigerator, place the butter unwrapped in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.

Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a cookie and a cookie cake?

A cookie cake is actually all the same ingredients of your favorite cookies, baked into one large “cake” instead of individual small cookies. Whereas a cookie cake is made with cookie dough, a traditional cake is made with a cake batter and bakes up much lighter and fluffier.

How many calories are in a slice of cookie cake?

This frosted cookie cake makes approximately 20 servings, and comes out to around 559 calories per slice. Lighten it up by using milk instead of heavy whipping cream, and less frosting overall.
You can also consider replacing the oil in this recipe with apple sauce, though we’ve never personally tested that out!

Serving Suggestions

Warm, with a scoop of No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream
Add colored icing and whatever add-ons that fit your celebrations!

Dietary Considerations

Nut Free

Vegetarian

How to Store

At Room Temperature – Cover with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container up to three days at room temperature.
Refrigerate – Refrigerate in an airtight container up to seven days.
Freeze – Freeze in an airtight container and covered in plastic wrap to prevent odors from seeping in, up to three months.

If you think this cake is fun, you’ll also love my easy Donut Cake! Or check out my incredible cookie butter cake for a dessert that is a surefire success at your next gathering!