Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe

If there’s ever been a cake that can turn any day into a party, it’s this Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe. With soft, tender layers flecked with cheery rainbow sprinkles and the dreamiest cloud of cream cheese frosting, each slice is bursting with celebration. Whether you’re planning a birthday bash or just feel like treating yourself to a baked hug, this is the cake that brings back happy childhood memories and always, always gets rave reviews!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Every great Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe starts with a lineup of simple, everyday ingredients that promise layers of flavor, structure, and, of course, color. Let’s take a peek at why each one matters – because in baking, details make all the difference!

• Cake Flour: Provides a delicate, soft crumb perfect for classic celebration cakes.
• Baking Powder: Ensures those glorious, fluffy layers rise sky-high.
• Baking Soda: Boosts the leavening for a lighter texture.
• Salt: Just a pinch deepens all the sweet flavors and balances the cake.
• Unsalted Butter: The key to rich flavor and tender layers – make sure it’s room temperature!
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the batter and contributes to that signature golden edge.
• Egg Whites: Give the cake its famously airy, cloud-like texture.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a perfectly even crumb.
• Sour Cream: Don’t skip it – it adds both tenderness and a subtle tang.
• Oil (Canola or Vegetable): Keeps your cake moist for days (if it lasts that long!).
• Vanilla Extract: Real vanilla makes the flavor shine – worth splurging on!
• Rainbow Sprinkles: The magic ingredient for a festive pop of color in every bite.
• Cream Cheese: Makes the frosting tangy, creamy, and impossible to resist.
• More Unsalted Butter (for frosting): Blends with the cream cheese for a luscious finish.
• Confectioners’ Sugar: Sifts into the frosting for silky smoothness.
• Milk (for frosting): Loosens the frosting just enough to spread or pipe.
• Nonpareil Sprinkles (optional): For dazzling decorations that sparkle on top.

How to Make Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Your Cake Pans

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line them with parchment paper rounds for extra insurance – nothing ruins the party like a stuck cake! Set the pans aside while you mix your batter.

Step 2: Sift Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This step not only blends but also aerates your dry ingredients, ensuring your Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe bakes up light as air.

Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar

Add your softened butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high until silky and smooth, then gradually add the sugar, cranking it up to high speed for a couple of minutes. The result? Fluffy, pale buttercream that gives your cake structure and that classic tender bite.

Step 4: Mix in Egg Whites

Reduce the speed to low and add the beaten, frothy egg whites little by little. Scrape down the bowl as needed to keep things even. This extra care ensures your cake stays ultra moist and impossibly light.

Step 5: Stir Wet Ingredients Together

In a measuring cup, combine milk, sour cream, oil, and vanilla extract. Give it a quick mix – no need for perfection here, just an even blend. These wet ingredients guarantee your Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe stays soft and flavorful with every slice.

Step 6: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients, Fold in Sprinkles

Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk mixture, and mix just until combined. The trick is not to overwork the batter – you want a tender crumb, not a dense one. Gently fold in the rainbow sprinkles, taking care they don’t bleed too much color.

Step 7: Bake the Cakes

Divide the batter between your prepared pans and smooth the tops. Slide them into the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. When the edges turn lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean, you’re good to go. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 15 minutes before inverting them onto racks to cool completely.

Step 8: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

For the ultimate finish, beat the super soft cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Slowly add the sifted confectioners’ sugar, salt, and milk, beating until you get fluffy, dreamy frosting. Reserve some in a piping bag to make gorgeous finishing swirls!

Step 9: Assemble and Decorate

When your cakes are fully cool, carefully slice each one in half horizontally to create four layers. Stack them up, spreading a generous amount of frosting between each. Once the final layer is in place, cover the entire cake in a silky blanket of frosting, then pipe or swirl stars on top. Press extra sprinkles around the sides for a classic party finish, and let your decorated masterpiece rest for about 20 minutes before slicing.

How to Serve Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe

Garnishes

The final flourish can make your Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe extra special. Pipe stars or swirls of reserved cream cheese frosting along the top, and generously scatter your favorite rainbow and nonpareil sprinkles. Want to add a fun twist? Place some edible glitter or pastel candies on top for a sparkling touch.

Side Dishes

This cake is the star of the show, but you can pair it with a scoop of vanilla or strawberry ice cream, a bowl of fresh berries, or even a splash of bubbly lemonade. These sides let the cake’s sweetness shine, balancing every bite with something light and refreshing.

Creative Ways to Present

Present your Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe on a vibrant cake stand for an instant centerpiece. For a whimsical party, serve the cake as mini slices on individual plates with a party favor or sparkler. Or, for birthdays, write a cheerful message on the top with colored gel icing or extra piped frosting. No matter how you slice it, a confetti-filled surprise awaits in every piece!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store any extra slices (if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers!) in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The moisture from the sour cream and oil means this cake stays tender and delicious for up to five days – just let slices sit at room temperature before serving for the best flavor.

Freezing

If you want to make your Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe in advance, freeze the unfrosted cake layers tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and foil for up to two months. You can also freeze individual frosted slices; just wrap them well and place in an airtight container. Defrost overnight in the fridge and bring to room temp for serving.

Reheating

Cake is best enjoyed at room temperature. If you like, you can microwave an individual slice for just 10 to 15 seconds to take the chill off and enjoy the frosting even creamier. Avoid overheating so you don’t melt the sprinkles or dry out the cake!

FAQs

Can I use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour?

Yes, in a pinch! Substitute 2 and 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour plus 1/4 cup cornstarch for the cake flour. This combination will keep the crumb light and tender, though cake flour gives the very best texture in this Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe.

What kind of sprinkles work best in the cake and for decorating?

Use classic “jimmies” or confetti sprinkles for the batter, as they’re less likely to bleed color. Save nonpareils for outside decorations since they can melt into the batter during baking. Both add a festive touch to your Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe!

Can I make this recipe into cupcakes?

Absolutely! Divide the batter among lined muffin pans, filling each about two-thirds. Bake at the same temperature, but start checking for doneness around 18 minutes. Pipe on the cream cheese frosting and top with sprinkles for party-perfect cupcakes.

What’s the secret to perfect cake layers?

Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature – especially butter, eggs, and dairy. Sift the dry ingredients, and avoid overmixing once you combine everything. Finally, use a serrated knife for slicing baked layers – this keeps them level and beautiful for stacking in your Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe.

Can I make this cake ahead of time?

Absolutely! Bake and cool the cake layers up to two days ahead, wrapping tightly and storing at room temperature or in the fridge. The frosting can be made a day in advance, just bring it to room temp and give it a quick whip before assembling your cake.

Final Thoughts

This Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe is pure joy in cake form. Every bite is a celebration, bright with color and flavor, and meant to be shared with the people you love most. If you’re looking for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, or simply a way to add a little spark to an ordinary day, you can’t go wrong here – so gather your sprinkles and start baking!

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