Funfetti Cake Recipe

Introduction

Funfetti Cake is a joyful, colorful treat that’s perfect for celebrations or brightening any day. This tender, moist cake is filled and topped with creamy buttercream frosting and sprinkled with vibrant rainbow jimmies for a festive look and taste.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (220g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (110ml) vegetable or canola oil
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 3 1/4 cups (435g) all purpose flour
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (125g) full fat sour cream, room temperature
• 1 cup (225ml) buttermilk, room temperature
• 3/4 cup (140g) rainbow jimmies sprinkles
• 1 1/2 cups (330g) unsalted butter, room temperature (for frosting)
• 5 cups (600g) powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
• 2-3 tbsp milk
• 1/2 cup (90g) sprinkles for decorating

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease and line the bottoms of three 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper. You may use 8-inch pans but leave out about 1 cup of batter to prevent sinking. Fill the pans little over halfway.
2. Step 2: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
3. Step 3: Using a hand or stand mixer with a whisk attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy.
4. Step 4: With the mixer on low, pour in the oil. Scrape down the bowl, then mix again briefly.
5. Step 5: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then add the vanilla extract. Scrape down the bowl after every two eggs to ensure even mixing.
6. Step 6: Mix in the sour cream until combined.
7. Step 7: Add the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the batter alternately, starting and ending with the dry ingredients (dry, wet, dry, wet, dry). Do not overmix.
8. Step 8: Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the sprinkles gently with a rubber spatula.
9. Step 9: Divide the batter evenly among the pans and spread it out smoothly. Bake 30-35 minutes for 9-inch pans, or 35-40 minutes for 8-inch pans. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
10. Step 10: Let the cakes cool in the pans for 30 minutes. Run a knife around the edges, invert onto a cooling rack, and peel off the parchment. Chill the cakes in the fridge for about 1 hour before frosting if assembling the same day, or wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight if baking ahead.
11. Step 11: For the buttercream, whip the butter until smooth using a mixer with the whisk attachment.
12. Step 12: Gradually add powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing on low. Add vanilla and milk as it thickens to reach desired consistency.
13. Step 13: If the frosting is too thick, add an additional tablespoon of milk.
14. Step 14: Level the chilled cakes if needed. Spread a thin layer of buttercream between each layer, then apply a thin crumb coat all over the cake.
15. Step 15: Refrigerate the crumb-coated cake for 20 minutes, then finish frosting the cake with remaining buttercream.
16. Step 16: Decorate the cake with additional sprinkles and enjoy your festive Funfetti Cake!

Tips & Variations

• Use cake strips around pans to help the layers bake evenly without doming.
• Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature for the best texture.
• For a dairy-free version, substitute sour cream and buttermilk with coconut yogurt and plant-based milk with a splash of vinegar.
• Fold sprinkles in gently to avoid color bleeding into the batter.
• Try different types of sprinkles or use festive shapes to match your occasion.

Storage

Store the assembled cake covered tightly in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Bring it to room temperature before serving for the best flavor and texture. The cake layers can be wrapped tightly and frozen for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before frosting.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen eggs or butter?

For best results, use room temperature eggs and butter. Cold ingredients can cause the batter to curdle and affect the texture of the cake.

What can I use if I don’t have buttermilk?

You can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using in the recipe.

Funfetti Cake Recipe

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This Funfetti Cake is a festive and moist layered vanilla cake filled with colorful sprinkles that create a delightful surprise in every bite. Perfect for celebrations, it features a rich buttercream frosting studded with more sprinkles for an extra pop of fun and sweetness. With a tender crumb and classic buttery vanilla flavor, this cake is sure to brighten any occasion.

• Author: Elena
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
• Yield: 12 servings (three 9-inch cake layers) 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cake

• 1 cup (220g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (110ml) vegetable or canola oil
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 3 1/4 cups (435g) all purpose flour
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (125g) full fat sour cream, room temperature
• 1 cup (225ml) buttermilk, room temperature
• 3/4 cup (140g) rainbow jimmies sprinkles

Buttercream Frosting

• 1 1/2 cups (330g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 5 cups (600g) powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 2–3 tbsp milk
• 1/2 cup (90g) sprinkles for decorating

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line the bottoms of three 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper. Optionally, line the pans with cake strips to prevent doming. If using 8-inch pans, reduce batter by 1 cup to avoid overflow.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a hand or stand mixer with a whisk attachment on medium-high speed, cream the unsalted butter and granulated sugar for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy.
4. Add Oil: Lower the mixer speed and slowly pour in the vegetable or canola oil. Scrape down the bowl and mix briefly to combine.
5. Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla: Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla extract after the eggs. Scrape down the bowl every two eggs to ensure even mixing.
6. Add Sour Cream: Mix in the full-fat sour cream until fully incorporated.
7. Alternate Dry Ingredients and Buttermilk: Beginning and ending with the dry flour mixture, alternate adding the dry ingredients and buttermilk into the batter. Mix gently until just combined.
8. Fold in Sprinkles: Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom, then gently fold in the rainbow jimmies sprinkles to disperse evenly without bleeding colors.
9. Fill Pans and Bake: Pour the batter evenly into prepared pans, filling them just over halfway. Bake 30-35 minutes for 9-inch pans or 35-40 minutes for 8-inch pans. The cakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
10. Cool Cakes: Let the cakes cool in the pans for 30 minutes. Run a knife around the edges and invert onto cooling racks to remove the parchment paper. Chill the cakes in the refrigerator for about 1 hour if assembling same day, or wrap and refrigerate overnight if preparing ahead.
11. Prepare Buttercream: Using a hand or stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing well. Stir in vanilla extract and 2-3 tablespoons of milk incrementally until the frosting reaches spreading consistency. Add more milk if needed.
12. Assemble the Cake: Level the chilled cakes if needed. Spread a thin layer of buttercream between each cake layer. Apply a thin crumb coat around the entire cake to seal crumbs, then refrigerate for 20 minutes.
13. Final Frosting and Decoration: Frost the cake evenly with the remaining buttercream. Decorate the top and sides with remaining sprinkles. Serve and enjoy your colorful Funfetti Cake!

Notes

• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth batter and even mixing.
• Filling the cake pans just over halfway helps prevent sinking or overflowing during baking.
• Folding in sprinkles gently prevents the colors from bleeding into the batter.
• Cooling and chilling the cakes before frosting allows for easier assembly and crisper frosting edges.
• Use cake strips on pans for more even baking and to minimize doming.

Keywords: funfetti cake, vanilla sprinkle cake, birthday cake, layered cake, buttercream frosting, celebration cake