Funfetti Cake

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This Funfetti cake is made up of three layers of moist, buttery vanilla cake packed with colorful rainbow sprinkles. It is filled and frosted with a rich, vanilla buttercream and finished off with even more rainbow sprinkles. It practically screams “Party time!”.

The Best Funfetti Layer Cake

There’s something so nostalgic about Funfetti. It harkens back to countless birthday parties and celebrations. I can’t help but smile every time I see it appear in a dessert. This cake is no exception.

Funfetti layer cake is made up of three layers of buttery, fluffy vanilla cake dappled with rainbow sprinkles. The layers are filled and the cake is frosted with a rich vanilla buttercream that ties the whole thing together. The dessert is topped with a smattering of more rainbow sprinkles making for a perfectly sweet, wonderfully celebratory cake that will have you and yours grinning from ear to ear.

What Does Funfetti Taste Like?

Funfetti cake tastes like a buttery vanilla cake that is loaded with sweet rainbow sprinkles. While the sprinkles don’t add much in flavor, they add color that isn’t over-the-top. Simple and nostalgic, I associate the taste with birthday excitement.

Recipe Ingredients

Here is a list of what you will need to make this Funfetti layer cake. Make sure to scroll to the recipe card below for measurements.

Ingredients for Funfetti cake separated into bowls.

Funfetti Cake Layers

  • All-purpose flour – You want to be sure not to over or under measure your flour. Too much flour can dive you a dense and dry cake. I like to use a food scale to make sure it’s accurate. Feel free to use your favorite 1:1 gluten-free substitute instead.
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda – This cake uses both baking powder and baking soda for the ideal rise and texture. The baking soda adds an extra touch of lightness to the cake.
  • Salt – To bring out the flavors in the dessert.
  • Unsalted butter – The butter must be at room temperature. It will not cream properly with the sugar if it is not.
  • Sugar
  • Vegetable oil – The addition of vegetable oil to this cake gives it a little extra moisture.
  • Vanilla extract
  • Eggs – Make sure you use large eggs that are at room temperature. They will mix into the batter more easily.
  • Buttermilk – The buttermilk really adds to the lightness of this cake, so I highly recommend you stick with that over another milk. Make sure the buttermilk is at room temperature. It will incorporate into the batter more easily.
  • Rainbow jimmies sprinkles – Jimmies are the best, in my opinion. I find that other sprinkles tend to bleed color into the cake.

Vanilla Buttercream

  • Unsalted butter – The butter should be at room temperature. Otherwise, it will not mix well with the other ingredients, giving you with a lumpy buttercream.
  • Powdered sugar – The powdered sugar adds volume to the frosting and helps you get the right consistency.
  • Vanilla extract – For flavor.
  • Heavy cream
  • Salt – It might seem counterintuitive to add salt to a sweet treat but trust me, it helps bring out the flavors in the frosting.
  • Sprinkles – I like rainbow sprinkles but you can choose any color you’d like.
Closeup of a slice of Funfetti layer cake on a plate surrounded by rainbow sprinkles.

How to Make Funfetti Cake

A simple cake and a delicious buttercream is all it takes to make this colorful Funrfetti dessert. Here’s a quick overview of how to make it. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

Make the Cake Layers

  • Prep. Preheat oven to 350°F and line the bottom of three 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper and grease the sides.
  • Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Cream together the butter and sugar on medium speed until light in color and fluffy.
  • Add. Mix. Add. Mix. Add the vegetable oil and vanilla extract and beat until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition.
  • Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix. Add the buttermilk and mix. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix. Fold in the sprinkles.
  • Bake. Divide the batter between the cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes.
  • Cool for 2-3 minutes before transferring to cooling racks to cool completely.

Make the Buttercream

  • Beat the butter until smooth and creamy.
  • Mix in half of the powdered sugar.
  • Add the vanilla extract, 4-5 tablespoons of water or cream, and salt. Mix until smooth.
  • Mix in the remaining powdered sugar.

Assemble the Cake

  • Fill. Place the first cake on a serving plate and spread 1 cup of frosting over the top of the cake. Repeat with the other 2 cakes.
  • Frost the outside of the cake with the remaining vanilla buttercream.
  • Add sprinkles to the sides and the top edge of the cake.
Funfetti cake on a serving platter with a slice taken out of it.

Tips for Success

Get your notepads out, everyone. Here come a few simple tips and tricks that will help you achieve the best Funfetti layer cake you can imagine.

  • Room temperature ingredients. When making the cake, it is important that the butter, eggs, and buttermilk are all at room temperature. They will incorporate more smoothly into the batter than they would if they were cold. This helps minimize the risk of over mixing the batter.
  • Cream Fully. You want the butter and sugar to be fully creamed so that air is incorporated into the cake batter, helping it rise and not end up dense. Look for the mixture to lighten in color and get fluffy.
  • Use jimmies. Jimmie sprinkles don’t bleed as much as other types, like nonpareils, and they won’t be crunchy.
  • Don’t over mix the batter. Over mixing the batter will cause the glutens in the flour to overdevelop, giving you with an overly dense, tough cake.
  • Let the cake cool completely before frosting unless you want your buttercream to slide right off the cake.
  • Adjust the frosting as needed. You might need to add more water or cream to the frosting to get the right consistency. Read up on how to get the right consistency of frosting.
  • Frost like a pro. Check out my tutorial for frosting a smooth cake in order to get the most visually appealing dessert possible.
Overhead of a slice of Funfetti layer cake on a plate surrounded by rainbow sprinkles.

Serving Suggestions

This cake is absolutely delicious on its own but it is so fun to doll it up with an accompaniment or two. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve homemade Funfetti cake.

Overhead of Funfetti cake on a cake platter.

How to Store Extra Cake

Store the cake in an airtight container. Cake carriers are a great option but, if you don’t have one, you can cover the cake in saran wrap (I suggest using toothpicks to prop the plastic away from the cake). You can also refrigerate it until firm, then cover it, so that you don’t mess up the frosting. Alternatively, you can slice the cake and arrange the slices in a single layer in an airtight container.

In any case, the cake can be stored at room temperature for about 24 hours before it needs to be transferred to the refrigerator. It should be eaten within 4 days of making it.

Funfetti layer cake on a cake stand near a bowl of rainbow sprinkles.

Can I Freeze Homemade Funfetti Cake?

You can! Cut the cake into slices and wrap each piece individually. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to enjoy, allow the Funfetti cake slices to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. While I don’t typically freeze full cakes, this one might work well, since it doesn’t have fruit or anything in it. To do that, flash freeze it for about an hour, then wrap it well. Before using, thaw it in the fridge to avoid having condensation form.

More Funfetti Desserts

Something about Funfetti just screams “Time to celebrate!”. I love incorporating it into desserts. This Funfetti layer cake is one of my favorites but here are some other ideas for you to try.

See How To Make Funfetti Cake

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A slice of Funfetti layer cake on a plate surrounded by rainbow sprinkles.
Recipe

Funfetti Cake

  • Author: Lindsay Conchar
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Yield: 16 slices
  • Category: Cake
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This celebratory Funfetti cake is made up of three layers of buttery vanilla cake packed with colorful rainbow sprinkles. It is filled and frosted with a rich, vanilla buttercream and finished off with even more rainbow sprinkles. 


Ingredients

Funfetti Cake Layers

  • 3 1/2 cups (455g) all-purpose flour (measured correctly)
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (224g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 1/4 cups (466g) sugar
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 5 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups (240ml) buttermilk
  • 3/4 cup rainbow jimmies sprinkles

Vanilla Buttercream

  • 2 1/2 cups (560g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 10 cups (1150g) powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 68 tbsp (90ml-120ml) heavy cream
  • Pinch of salt
  • Sprinkles, for decorating

Instructions

Make the Cake Layers

  1. Prepare three 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom and grease the sides. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
  2. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
  3. Add the butter and sugar to a large mixing bowl and beat on medium speed until light in color and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Do not skimp on the creaming time.
  4. Add the vegetable oil and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
  5. Add the eggs one a time, mixing until combined before adding the next.
  6. Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until mostly combined. Slowly add the buttermilk and mix until combined. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until well combined and smooth, then fold in the sprinkles. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated. Do not over mix the batter.
  7. Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
  8. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool for about 2-3 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely. The cakes will fall a bit as they cool and end up flat on top.

Make the Buttercream

  1. Beat the butter until smooth and creamy.
  2. Slowly add half of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
  3. Add the vanilla extract, 4-5 tablespoons of water or cream and salt and mix until smooth.
  4. Slowly add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add additional water or cream, as needed to get the right consistency of frosting.

Assemble the Cake

  1. Place the first cake on a serving plate or a cardboard cake round. Spread a little more than 1 cup of frosting evenly on top of the cake. Add the second layer of cake and another cup of frosting. Top the cake with the remaining layer.
  2. Frost the outside of the cake with the remaining vanilla buttercream. Refer to my tutorial for frosting a smooth cake, if needed. Use an offset spatula to create a spiral design on the top of the cake, if desired.
  3. Press some additional sprinkles onto the sides of the cake and add some around the top edge.
  4. Store the cake in an airtight container. It should be fine at room temperature for about 24 hours, then can be refrigerated. Serve at room temperature. Cake is best eaten within 3-4 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Slice
  • Calories: 990
  • Sugar: 107.9 g
  • Sodium: 387.7 mg
  • Fat: 54.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 132.5 g
  • Protein: 6.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 174.8 mg

Categories

Lindsay
About Lindsay

I'm a wife and a mom to twin boys and a baby girl! And I've got a serious sweets addiction! Bring on the treats!

Scripture I’m Loving

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29