This funfetti cake is a yummy vanilla cake filled with sprinkles of all colors and frosted in a creamy vanilla frosting. The perfect cake for any celebration!
WHAT IS A FUNFETTI CAKE EXACTLY
Funfetti cake has always been a favorite of mine. When I got married many, many years ago I requested a layer of funfetti in my wedding cake, and the baker wouldn't do it. They said it wasn't a flavor they offered and didn't want to try. But over the years this cake has become one that I think more and more people are accustomed to eating, because who wouldn't want something so cheery and filled with sprinkles?
Although similar to a traditional white cake, a funfetti usually uses both eggs and egg whites, leaving it a little more dense. It's also has more vanilla than your average cake, so the flavor is so powerful and wonderful.
HOW TO MAKE FUNFETTI CAKE
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour three 8-inch cake pans.
- In a medium bowl whisk flour, salt, powder and soda. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment cream together butter and sugar on high for 5 minutes.
- On medium-high speed, add 1 whole egg at a time, beating well after each addition until all 4 whole eggs are mixed in. Set the 2 egg whites aside for now. Beat in the vanilla extract. Scrape sides of bowl if needed.
- With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, and mixing each addition just until incorporated. Be careful not overmix the batter.
- In a seperate bowl beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the batter. Followed by folding in the sprinkles.
- Pour batter evenly between the three pans. If weighing, this should be about 605g for each cake pan.
- Bake for about 26-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of that cake. Let cakes cool in the pans for about 30 minutes before turning onto a cooling rack. If baking the cakes a day ahead, allow the cakes to cool to room temp on the rack for 1 hour, then wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight.
TO MAKE FROSTING
- In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed for a few minutes until creamy. Add the powdered sugar a few cups at a time and continue to mix. Add cream, vanilla and salt and mix together on high for about 3 minutes until nice and smooth. You may need to add a bit more cream or sugar to get the desired consistency.
HOW TO ASSEMBLE THE CAKE
- Level the cakes if they have any bit of a dome on the top, this makes it easier to frost.
- Place one of the cake layers, top side up, on a cake plate or serving stand. Spread a small amount of frosting over the first layer.
- Place the second cake layer, top side up, on top of the frosting. Repeat spreading a small amount of frosting again over the second layer.
- Place final cake layer, top side down.
- Frost the entire cake, top and sides, with a thin crumb coat layer of the cream cheese frosting. Place in the fridge or freezer for about 10-15 minutes to chill.
- Pull the chilled cake out, and frost the cake with the remaining frosting. Top cake with extra sprinkles.
WHAT TYPE OF SPRINKLES SHOULD I USE?
Rainbow jimmies, which are the long skinny sprinkles are the best kind to use for funfetti cakes because the color doesn't bleed at all through the batter. If you have other kinds on hand I do like to use all the different kinds for the outside on top of the frosting.
CAN I MAKE MY OWN BUTTERMILK, OR USE REGULAR MILK?
I would suggest making your own buttermilk if you don't have any. To make your own buttermilk, just add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a liquid measuring cup, and then fill the rest of the 1 cup up with milk. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes until it's curdled.
DOES IT REALLY MATTER IF INGREDIENTS ARE ROOM TEMPERATURE?
Yes! This really does make a difference, especially when making a cake, so try and plan ahead if possible when making this.
SOME OTHER GREAT CAKE OPTIONS TO TRY:
For more yummy treats follow me on instagram @thesaltedsweets. And be sure to tag me and comment below if you make them and love them as much as I do.
Funfetti Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 3¼ cup cake flour or AP flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 1¾ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup oil
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 2 large egg whites room termperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk room temperature
- ½ cup sour cream room temperature
- ½ cup jimmie sprinkles
For the Frosting:
- 1½ cups butter room temperature
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cream or milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
To make the cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour three 8-inch cake pans.
- In a medium bowl whisk flour, salt, powder and soda. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment cream together butter and sugar on high for 5 minutes.
- On medium-high speed, add 1 whole egg at a time, beating well after each addition until all 4 whole eggs are mixed in. Set the 2 egg whites aside for now. Beat in the vanilla extract, oil and sour cream. Scrape sides of bowl if needed.
- With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, and mixing each addition just until incorporated. Be careful not overmix the batter.
- In a seperate bowl beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the batter. Followed by folding in the sprinkles.
- Pour batter evenly between the three pans. If weighing, this should be about 605g for each cake pan.
- Bake for about 26-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of that cake. Let cakes cool in the pans for about 30 minutes before turning onto a cooling rack. If baking the cakes a day ahead, allow the cakes to cool to room temp on the rack for 1 hour, then wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight.
To make the Frosting:
- In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed for a few minutes until creamy. Add the powdered sugar a few cups at a time and continue to mix. Add cream, vanilla and salt and mix together on high for about 3 minutes until nice and smooth. You may need to add a bit more cream or sugar to get the desired consistency.
To assemble cakes:
- Level the cakes if they have any bit of a dome on the top, this makes it easier to frost.
- Place one of the cake layers, top side up, on a cake plate or serving stand. Spread a small amount of frosting over the first layer.
- Place the second cake layer, top side up, on top of the frosting. Repeat spreading a small amount of frosting again over the second layer.
- Place final cake layer, top side down.
- Frost the entire cake, top and sides, with a thin crumb coat layer of the buttercream frosting. Place in the fridge or freezer for about 10-15 minutes to chill.
- Pull the chilled cake out, and frost the cake with the remaining frosting. Top cake with extra sprinkles.
Amy
Hi there! You have sour cream listed as an ingredient but no instruction on when to mix. I’m making it now 🙂
brooke
So sorry! I'll fix it right now!
Amy
Or oil.
Amy
Also, for the frosting instructions you have stated after the crumb coat to then spread cream cheese frosting but this is buttercream frosting.
Don’t worry about a thing! I’m sure it will all turn out. I definitely forgot the oil so fingers crossed. If it doesn’t work out, it’s just cake and I’ll try it again 🙂
brooke
Oh my gosh!! Clearly my head was not in the right space when I wrote out this recipe. I have edited the cream cheese to buttercream, and its not much oil, so I bet you'll be fine!
Amy
Even without oil, the cake was super moist (I know that word bothers some). I can’t try it because, unfortunately, I can’t tolerate gluten. But… I definitely sampled the buttercream and it is probably the best I’ve ever tried. I’ll take a picture and tag you on Instagram when it’s actually all done. I’m sure I’ll try some other recipes because this one turned out so well.
Sarah
You’re my go to for all baking recipes! Could this be converted to cupcakes for a cupcake loving toddler’s birthday party?
brooke
Yes, I've done this a few times in cupcake form. I would set the timer for 16 minutes and then watch them after that. They could take up to 20 minutes depending on your oven.
Taylor Perkinson
Made this for my 5 year olds bday as she requested funfetti cake. It was incredible!! Sent the recipe to a few friends who demanded they needed to make it too! So so good. This will be my go-to for funfetti always!
brooke
Thank you is much!!! And thank you for sharing!
Josh
Had this for my birthday cake this year. Legendary is the word that comes to mind.
brooke
Yay!! I'll take legendary any day! Thanks Josh!
Mary
Can you make this recipe into cupcakes?!
brooke
Of course!
Mary
How long do you bake for with cupcakes? Same time?
brooke
Mary I'm not exactly sure. I would set your timer for about 15 minutes and then keep your eye on them. You want just a light golden brown along the rim of the cupcakes and a toothpick inserted to come out clean, or if you touch the top with your finger it should bounce back instead of making a dent.
Diane
Do you think I should double the recipe to
bake in a sheet pan? Thanks!