Description
This decadent birthday cake features moist, tender golden layers generously studded with chocolate sandwich cookie chunks. Finished with a velvety, cookie-infused buttercream, it is the perfect centerpiece for any celebratory gathering.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 large egg whites, room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 14 chocolate sandwich cookies, roughly chopped
- Cookies and cream buttercream frosting
Instructions
- Preheat your oven. Set your oven to 160°C (320°F) with the fan on, or 175°C (347°F) for standard ovens, and grease two eight-inch cake tins with parchment paper lining.
- Chop the cookies. Roughly chop fourteen chocolate sandwich cookies into noticeable chunks and set them aside for the batter.
- Sift dry ingredients. Sift the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl, whisking to ensure even distribution.
- Cream fats and sugar. Beat the butter, vegetable oil, and sugar in a stand mixer on medium-high speed for two minutes until pale and fluffy.
- Incorporate the eggs. Add the room-temperature eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition to maintain a stable emulsion.
- Add liquid aromatics. Add the vanilla extract, white vinegar, and half of the buttermilk, mixing on low speed until incorporated.
- Fold by hand. Fold in half the dry ingredients, then the remaining buttermilk, and finally the rest of the dry ingredients using a silicone spatula.
- Fold in cookies. Gently fold the chopped cookie pieces into the batter before dividing the mixture evenly between the prepared cake tins.
- Bake the layers. Bake for thirty-three minutes or until a wooden tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Assemble the cake. Once cooled, stack the layers with buttercream and cookie crumbles in between, then frost the exterior and decorate with whole cookies.
Notes
- Ensure all dairy and egg components reach room temperature before mixing to prevent the batter from curdling.
- Measure flour using a digital scale to avoid over-packing, which can lead to a dry crumb.
- Use a fine-mesh sieve for dry ingredients to prevent clumps of leavening agents in the sponge.
- Briefly warm the bowl over hot water if your buttercream becomes greasy to help the emulsion come together.
- Cool your cakes completely in the pan for fifteen minutes before attempting to move them to a wire rack.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 33 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
