Cookie Monster Cake

🧁 PART 1: Cake Base (Vanilla or Chocolate)

Option A: Vanilla Cake

• 2½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
• 2½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240ml) milk

Option B: Chocolate Cake

• 1¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (65g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup (180ml) vegetable oil
• 1¾ cups (350g) sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
• ½ cup (120ml) hot coffee or water

Instructions for either:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch round pans.
2. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
3. In another bowl, cream butter/oil and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla.
4. Alternate dry ingredients with milk/buttermilk. Mix until just combined.
5. Divide into pans. Bake for 30–35 min or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Let cool completely.

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🍪 PART 2: Cookie-Dough Buttercream

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar
• ½ cup (100g) brown sugar
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp milk
• ½ cup mini chocolate chips
• ½ cup heat-treated flour (optional for dough flavor)
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Cream butter, brown sugar, and vanilla.
2. Slowly beat in powdered sugar and flour.
3. Add milk and beat until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips.

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💙 PART 3: Cookie Monster Blue Frosting

Vanilla Buttercream:

• 1 cup (226g) butter, softened
• 3–4 cups (360–480g) powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Blue gel food coloring

Instructions:

1. Beat butter until fluffy.
2. Gradually add sugar, then milk and vanilla.
3. Tint with blue gel coloring (aim for vibrant royal blue).

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👀 PART 4: Assembly & Decoration

1. Level and stack cake layers with cookie-dough buttercream between.
2. Apply a crumb coat of blue buttercream and chill.
3. Add a thick final coat and use a grass piping tip (#233) to create a fuzzy Cookie Monster fur texture.
4. Add large candy eyes:
   • Use fondant circles, marshmallows with chocolate chips, or piped white/black chocolate.
5. Decorate with:
   • Mini chocolate chip cookies
   • Crushed cookies around the base
   • A cookie sticking out of his “mouth” (carve a small cavity if desired)

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📝 Optional Extras

• Add a surprise cookie core: cut a hole in the center of the bottom layer and fill with mini cookies or chocolate chips.
• Flavor buttercream with cookie butter or crushed Oreos.

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🎉 Tips:

• Use gel food coloring to avoid thinning your buttercream.
• Freeze cake layers before stacking to make decorating easier.
• This cake can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 3–4 days.