Gilded Birthday Cake

Ingredients

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cup sprinkles
• Egg wash (1 egg beaten)
• Gold sanding sugar / sanding sugar of your choice

Preparation

1. In your mixer (with paddle attachment), combine the butter and sugar, on low speed, until smooth (approximately 2 minutes).
2. Add the egg and vanilla to the mixer. Mix well.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix thoroughly.
4. Gradually, mix the dry ingredients with the creamed ingredients, in the mixer on low speed.
5. Once the ingredients are combined, gradually add the sprinkles.  Mix on low until combined throughout.
6. Follow instructions for My Perfect Cookie.
7. After the dough logs have chilled for a minimum of 3 hours, take out of the tubes.
8. Brush the logs with the egg wash and roll in the sanding sugar.  Preferably, gold sanding sugar.  Tip: clean stained fingers with a baking soda and water paste.
9. Slice the log into 1/4” thick cookies. Remember to roll the log about 1/8 of a turn after each slice to prevent the log from flattening from the weight of the knife. Keeps the cookies round at each slice.
10. Place the cookies on parchment or silpat-lined baking sheet. Leave about 1” between cookies.
11. Bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 15 to 18 minutes. Cookies should be slightly brown.  
12. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for a few minutes and then transfer to wire racks.