Cookie art cake

Ingredients

For the cake

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For decorating

• White and assorted colored buttercream or fondant
• Food coloring in different colors
• Piping bags and tips in different sizes
• Small cookies in different shapes
• Edible sugar sheets printed with cookie art designs

Step-by-step preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and prepare two round cake pans with nonstick spray or butter and flour.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
4. Add half the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat on low speed until combined. Then add the milk and vanilla, followed by the rest of the flour. Beat on low speed until the batter is smooth.
5. Pour the batter into the pans and bake for 25–30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning them out onto a rack to cool completely.
7. To decorate, cover each layer with white buttercream or fondant. Divide the remaining icing or fondant into portions and tint them with food coloring.
8. Use piping bags and tips to create cookie art designs on the cake. Use cookies in different shapes for a unique, creative design, and the printed sugar sheets as a guide.
9. Add small cookies on top of the cake for extra texture and flavor, using different shapes for a more artistic, fun look.
10. As a finishing touch, add details in colored icing or fondant to highlight the cookie designs. You can also add a few edible flowers on top for an elegant, fresh touch.