Funfetti Cake is a delicious, moist, light, and tender birthday cake that’s made with rainbow sprinkles. It’s the perfect birthday cake. I made this cake for my son’s first birthday party and it was a huge hit.

For Krish’s first birthday, I had to bake him a cake that was made with love and made from scratch. Yes, my cake decorating skills are far from perfect, but my baking skills are on point if I say so myself. 🙂

I’ve been dreaming about baking my little baby boy his first birthday cake and I wanted to bake him a traditional birthday cake, and this funfetti cake was it.

What is Funfetti Cake?

Name: Funfetti Cake
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups flour; 1 1.2 tsp baking powder; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 cup butter (room temperature); 1 cup sugar; 1 egg + 2 eggs whites; 2 tbsp oil (flavorless oil); 1 tbsp vanilla extract; 3/4 cup milk; 1/3 cup sprinkles; 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature); 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 1 tbsp vanilla extract; 3 tbsp milk

Funfetti Cake or Confetti Cake or Birthday Cake are essentially the same cake. This type of cake is typically made with rainbow sprinkles, and it’s light and tender.

You can opt for a yellow or white batter which is based on whether you use eggs or egg whites. For my recipe, I used one egg and two egg whites resulting in a more white cake. This is the best funfetti cake and super moist.

Can I make this recipe vegan, gluten-free?

For a vegan option – I don’t have any suggestions here.

For a gluten-free option, simply replace the all-purpose white flour with gluten-free white flour.

What kind of sprinkles should I use for Funfetti Cake?

Rainbow Sprinkles, aka Jimmies.

You can find rainbow sprinkles on Amazon, Target, or Michael’s. You can also find them at most grocery stores.

Can I make the cake ahead of time?

Yes! I baked Krish’s birthday cake two days in advance. I covered it tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerated it. Two days later I frosted the cake and it was super good and tasted fresh.

Additionally, once frosted, the cake tasted even better the next day because the frosting seeped through.

Tips on making Funfetti Cake:

Make sure the butter is at room temperature.
Do not overmix the batter else it’ll become tough.
Do not overmix the sprinkles in the batter, simply fold them in or gently stir.
Let the cake completely cool before frosting.

Ingredients you’ll need for Funfetti Cake:

All-purpose flour: You will need all basic white flour for this recipe. For a gluten-free option, you may use white gluten-free flour.

Butter: You’ll need butter for both the cake and frosting. Make sure the butter is at room temperature and unsalted.

Sugar: You will definitely need sugar for this recipe as it’s a birthday cake.

Powdered Sugar: An essential when making frosting is powdered sugar.

Egg & Egg Whites: You will need one room temperature egg and two egg whites for this recipe.

Oil: Any type of flavorless oil will work in this recipe – sunflower, avocado, grapeseed, canola, or vegetable. The oil will result in a moist cake.

Milk: You’ll need milk for both the cake and frosting. Both whole milk or 2% reduced-fat milk will work.

Vanilla Extract: For this recipe, you need to use good quality vanilla extract, not the imitation kind. For both the cake and the frosting, you will need a tablespoon of vanilla.

Rainbow Sprinkles: You will specifically need the rainbow sprinkles or jimmies for this recipe. You may also use pastel-colored rainbow sprinkles. Additionally, you will need rainbow sprinkles to decorate the cake on top.

Basics: Salt, Baking Powder.

Funfetti Cake is:

Colorful
Fun
Delicious
Moist
Melts-in-your-mouth
Perfect for a Kid’s Party
Ideal Birthday Cake

How to make Funfetti Cake recipe step by step?

For the Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 8″ cake pans and dust with flour. This will prevent the cake from sticking.
2. Combine all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl – flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy.
4. Add sugar and cream for a few minutes until the mixture is creamy and smooth.

5. Add one egg at a time and vanilla extract. Mix well until it’s all combined.
6. This is what you should have.
7. Add dry ingredients and milk in batches starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix, but do NOT over mix. Now begin by adding 1/3 of the dry ingredients.
8. Add 1/2 of the milk. Then add dry ingredients – milk – dry ingredients.
9. Result so far.

10. Add sprinkles. Mix the sprinkles in using a spatula. Do not over mix.
11. Batter is ready.
12. Split the batter evenly into 2 round baking trays. Into the oven for 25-30 minutes.
13. Cake is done. Let it completely cool before frosting.

For the Frosting

1. Add 2 sticks of room temperature butter to a large mixing bowl.
2. Using an electric mixer, cream until light and fluffy.
3. Add powdered sugar and mix well.
4. Add vanilla extract. Mix.
5. Now add milk. Mix. Frosting is ready.

Frost the cake – I did not frost the sides

1. Add a dollop of frosting to the cake stand.
2. Place one round cake on top – flat side up.
3. Top with half the frosting – so a very generous amount.
4. Place the second cake on top with the flat side facing up.
5. Top with a generous amount of frosting. Use a spoon to make some swirls.

6. Top with sprinkles and add some to the middle layer on the sides.

Pin & Enjoy!

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Funfetti Cake

Funfetti Cake is a delicious, moist, light, and tender birthday cake that's made with rainbow sprinkles. It's the perfect birthday cake.

5 from 2 votes

Prep Time40 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time1 hr 5 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Diet Vegetarian, Gluten-Free option

Servings: slices

Calories: 400kcal

Author: Nisha

Ingredients

for the cake

1 3/4 cups flour
1 1.2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 egg + 2 eggs whites
2 tbsp oil flavorless oil
1 tbsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup sprinkles

for the vanilla buttercream frosting

1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp milk