Birthday Bash Recipe Round-Up + Happy Birthday to Me!

Guess who turned 19 today? Your very own Smart Cookie Cook! It’s a bittersweet age because I’ve come to the realization that this is my last year as a teen. Next year, I’ll be…(lord, can I even say it?)…20 years-old. That’s just unfathomable. Let’s all forget about that for today.

On the brighter side of the spectrum, every year that goes by is another 365 days of cooking and baking experience under my belt. This past year has been one of particular growth and garnered knowledge for me. It was only a little over a year ago that I started Smart Cookie, and since then, I have pushed myself to the top of all kinds of towering culinary mountains. The climb, however, is one that never ends. I will be ascending until the day I die.

Naturally, I’ll be celebrating today with the thing I love most: food. I’ve got a fantastic cake with my name on it (literally): marble cake + whipped cream filling + fudge frosting. I’m concerned no one else in my family will get a slice before I inhale that entire frosting-blanketed behemoth myself.

But you know what they say:

It’s my party, and I’ll eat that whole damn cake if I want to.

The only downside to these festivities is that I cannot share them with all of you. Of course, you can expect pictures and what not, but you can’t join me for dinner and cake in person (not that there’s any guarantee I’d share anyway). So, to make up for that, I’ve compiled The Ultimate Birthday Bash Round-Up, complete with my best party-ready recipes so you can have the best, most delicious birthday ever.

Look at me, giving out presents on my own birthday!

Birthday Breakfast:

Waffle Brownies
It’s your birthday…therefore, you have every right to consume brownies at breakfast. They’re made in a waffle maker, which technically makes them waffles, which makes them perfectly acceptable as breakfast food.

Finger Food:

1. Mini Rainbow Sugar Cookies with Vanilla Glaze
   Give party guests something fun and festive to set the mood.

   

2. PB & J Dip
   The most perfect party snack there ever was.
3. Party Bread
   It’s called “Party Bread;” what more do you need?

Cheers:

Birthday Cake Oreo Milkshake
Because a plain birthday cake shake isn’t awesome enough, this one’s got Oreos.

Birthday Dinner:

1. Pretzel-Topped Mac & Cheese
   The kind of decadent, unique twist on a crowd pleaser that’s perfect for a b-day bash.
2. Skillet Pizza Monkey Bread
   The classic b-day dinner food, pizza, meets shareable, tearable monkey bread.
3. Mac & Cheese Pizza
   This is party food perfection: everyone’s favorites in one delicious place. Who wouldn’t want this for their birthday?

   

4. Best Eggplant Parmigiana
   If you really want to give the birthday girl/guy something special and show-stopping, this is it.

Take the Cake:

1. Fun – Candy Bar Cake
   Everybody knows that candy is an essential food at a birthday party, second only to the cake. So why not have them both in one place?
2. Cool – Banana Split Ice Cream Cake
   A colorful, whimsical ice cream cake that will make any party special.
3. Elegant- Dulce de Leche-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes
   Sometimes, one big cake won’t do the job; you need personal-sized, handheld cupcakes. These caramel stuffed cuties are the ultimate sugar fix.
4. Classic – Homemade Funfetti Cake
   The birthday classic; a tried and true favorite, only this version is much better than from a box.
5. Kid-Approved – Turtle Cake
   For the kids (or the kid in you): a cake that’s almost too cute to eat.
6. Non-Traditional – Strawberry Coconut Poke Cake w/ Whipped Cream Frosting
   I celebrated my blog’s birthday with this heavenly cake.
7. Over-The-Top – Funfetti Oreo-Stuffed Cupcakes with Cookies & Cream Buttercream
   Party guests will flip to find their favorite funfetti cupcakes stuffed w/ a whole Oreo.
8. Deconstructed – Confetti Cake Blizzard
   If chunks of frosted vanilla cupcake swirled into vanilla soft-serve doesn’t say “Happy Birthday,” then nothing does.

   

If Cake Ain’t Your Thing:

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie with Fudge Frosting
Some people don’t like cake. Give them a giant cookie the size of a cake, covered in frosting instead.

I hope that’s enough to get your party started! I know I’m ready to celebrate!