The funfetti cake is the most awesome birthday cake you can bake for someone you love. Not only does it scream fun and happiness inside and out, it’s also a really delicious cake that’s bursting with the vanilla flavour everyone loves.
(Is your birthday celebrant a chocolate lover? They will love this chocolate explosion cake!)
I live away from my family. They are, quite literally, on the other side of the world and it takes about 20 hours for me to get home by plane. Yeah, they are that far.
So I’ve missed a lot of Christmases and weddings and birthdays. I have a new niece that I haven’t even met yet. Luckily, I was home a few months after my nephew was born.
And he turns 3 in a few days (my theory is time flies much faster for an absentee aunt). He’s such an awesome little guy.
He likes cars and dinosaurs and puzzles. He likes to sing and to dance. He makes me smile and laugh out loud.
He’s my favourite little man in the whole world.
I won’t be there for his birthday (again) but I thought I’d make a day of it by baking a birthday cake for him. I wanted a fun one, appropriate for someone like him. And I think this is the funnest one out there.
I mean, there are sprinkles in it and all over it. So if you ever need a cake for the special little fellas (or ladies) in your life that screams HAVE AN AWESOME BIRTHDAY, this is it.
The funfetti cake
The funfetti cake is at its core a buttermilk vanilla cake…just funner.
You make the cake as usual then at the end you gently fold the sprinkles.
And did you know there are actually different kinds of sprinkles? And if you plan on doing a funfetti cake, you better use the right ones – jimmies is what they are called – if you don’t want the colours to get all mushed up.
Sprinkles, sprinkles everywhere
And this cake is not only fun for the birthday celebrant, it’s fun for the baker too.
I’ve worked with sprinkles before but not at this magnitude and let me tell you – there were sprinkles everywhere.
Just when you thought you got it together, that you’re all organized, there will be a sprinkle explosion and sprinkles will be in your hair, under your nails, in every crevice of your kitchen.
But it’s fun! Red was my assistant on bake day and driving her crazy was fun in and of itself.
The best birthday cake ever
Another great thing about a funfetti cake is it’s very forgiving, decorating-wise.
Since you’re covering it up with sprinkles anyway, your frosting does not need to be perfect (it just needs to be even). It will look awesome in the end. And it will make any 3-year old (or anyone, really) feel like the most special person in the world.
Happy birthday my sweet Georgie! I’ll see you soon!
(Recipe adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction.)
Happy baking!
Did you make this funfetti cake? Tell me about it in the comments section below. I’d love to hear about how it went. What’s your all time favourite birthday cake?
Check this out if cupcakes are more your style.
Funfetti Cake: A Very Special Birthday Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 4 cups sifted cake flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 pieces large eggs room temperature
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk room temperature
- 2 pieces egg whites from large eggs room temperature
- ¾ cup sprinkles
For the Frosting:
- 1 ¼ cups unsalted butter room temperature
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 5 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar
- Sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
For the Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350F and prep 3 9-inch round baking pans by greasing the bottom and sides. Additionally (and this is optional), you can line the bottom with parchment paper to ensure easy release.
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- Using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium-high speed until smooth, light and creamy (about 2 minutes).
- Add sugar and beat on medium-high speed for another 5-7 minutes until very creamy (almost like whipped cream – you cannot see grains of sugar anymore). Remember to scrape the bottom and sides of your bowl.
- Add the eggs one at a time until each one is well incorporated. Then add vanilla.
- Switch to low speed and add a third of your flour mixture. Then half of your buttermilk. Another third of your flour. The last of your buttermilk then finally the last third of your flour. Make sure each addition is mixed just until incorporated before the next one is added (do not over mix). You will notice the batter will be thick but still smooth and creamy.
- Turn to your egg whites and beat until thick and foamy. Gently fold into your batter. Then gently fold sprinkles.
- Transfer your batter into your prepared pans and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes completely on a wire rack before frosting.
For the Frosting:
- Using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium speed until creamy (about 2 minutes).
- Switch to low speed and add heavy cream, vanilla, salt and confectioner's sugar (don't add the sugar all at once though; do it gradually, about ½ cup at a time).
- Once everything is incorporated switch to medium-high speed and beat the frosting until you get the consistency you desire. You might need to add more sugar if the frosting is too watery, more cream if the frosting is too thick or more salt if the frosting is too sweet.
Assembly:
- Trim the tops of your cakes if they are uneven using a serrated knife or a cake leveller. The important thing is all three cakes are of equal height.
- Take one and place on a platter or cake turntable, smooth side down (trimmed side up). Evenly cover the top with frosting. Repeat with the 2nd and 3rd layers. For your 3rd layer, remember to place it smooth side up (trimmed side down) so that you’ll have an even top.
- Finish the cake by also covering the sides of your cake with frosting. To help even out the frosting on top and the sides, use a bench scraper and gently scrape away excess frosting.
- Decorate with sprinkles as desired.
Notes
- For those of you who have little mixers like me – note that this is a lot of batter. My mixer almost overflowed and I had a few flour explosions so watch out.
- I beat my 2 egg whites by hand and it was the most painful 5 minutes of my life (I have a brand new respect for bakers who whisk eggs by hand all the time). I haven’t whisked eggs by hand again after this. I always turn to my trusty electric hand mixer.
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Tiina A
I love this kinds of fun looking cakes. This one looks super delicious as well. There’s a birthday party this weekend so a cake recipe was needed 🙂
Kimberly C.
Wow, this cake looks delicious. I love sprinkles, and I love to bake…Well, I try to at least;) Might try to make this for the next birthday although it looks challenging with that many ingredients….(can you tell I’m not good in the kitchen.) Never say never! Nice post.
Jolina
Hi Kimberly! It’s really not that difficult 🙂 Plus, it is so much fun to do! You’ll do great 🙂 Would love to hear how your bake day goes!
Colleen Welsch
This is so cute! I’m in my late 20’s and I would still love this as my birthday cake!
Jolina
I think nobody is “too old” to have funfetti cake 🙂 It’s the kind of cake that’ll make you feel like a million bucks eh? Thanks Colleen! I wish you get a funfetti cake on your birthday 🙂
Khadija
I feel your pain, I haven’t been home in two years now 🙁 the sadness. This cake looks so good, and perfect for a kid
s birthday especially my little cousin
Jolina
Hi Khadija. Homesickness takes its toll doesn’t it? I’m going on 3 years but I’m planning to visit later this year so I’m really excited about that. Hope you can go for a visit too! And thanks for your kind words. Your cousin will go nuts over this fun cake 🙂
Daniela Apostol
A special cake for a special birthday! I would love a piece of this yummy cake. The funfetti make it so pretty.
Jolina
Thanks Daniela! The sprinkles really do a great job of masking any frosting imperfections 🙂
Ronda Eagle
My daughter loves sprinkles so this funfetti cake is right up her alley.
Jolina
Hello Ronda! Something about sprinkles eh? Kids just adore them 🙂
Jo
Oh what a beautiful cake – I love it! I will have to try it, I just need to source the right sort of sprinkles here in the UK (pinning the recipe for sure). My family and friends are far away too so I feel your pain about missing things x
Jolina
Thanks very much! I didn’t realize there were different kinds of sprinkles too before this 🙂 I hope you find the right kind! And thanks for the pin 🙂
Elizabeth
This is so darling! What a fun way to celebrate your far-away nephew. I know my own son would flip over this cake!
Jolina
Thanks Elizabeth! I’ll see him later this year so I’m thinking I could recreate it as a (very) belated birthday cake 🙂 Oh yeah your son (all kids!) will go gaga over this fun cake.
Natanja
OMG what a pretty cake! I’ve always wanted to make a cake like this, it’s on my bucket list. It looks so fun and pretty, anybody would be lucky to receive this on their birthday!
I believe you when you said there were sprinkles EVERYWHERE! But that’s part of the fun I think 🙂
Jolina
Thanks Natanja! It’s so much fun to do. I’m not a very good cake decorator so covering the whole cake with sprinkles was just perfect. Hope you try it. Get ready for sprinkles EVERYWHERE lol! Happy Saturday!
Liz
My eyes about popped out of my head when this showed up on my IG feed. LOVE LOVE LOVE! This is perfect for so many reasons … (1) festive, (2) I could make it look decent even if I don’t have that cake turntable yet, (3) it looks like so much fun to create! I’m picturing sprinkles in the air like confetti. Happy birthday to your nephew – what a lucky kid with a cake like this!
Jolina
Hi Liz! Thanks very much! When I did it I really didn’t realize how much fun it was going to be…and turn out. And yes, there were sprinkles in the air haha. Thanks for the birthday greeting too…he’s an adorable kid 🙂
Tiina A
Oh, this cake looks great – so happy and fresh! Made me smile and want a slice right now. My all time favourite birthdaycake has been fudge/caramel cake with banana and cream. It’s probably a Scandinavian thing as I haven’t seen it here in the middle of Europe.
Jolina
Thanks very much Tiina! I’m so happy to have made people happy with this cake 🙂 Oooh I love the fudge/caramel combo. With bananas and cream…I think I’ve eaten something similar. Like a banana cream pie? In any case, it sounds wonderful 🙂
Robin
Happy Birthday to your nephew! What a gorgeous cake 🙂
Jolina
Thanks! He is one lucky, loved kid 🙂 Cannot wait to see him 🙂
Nicoletta
Well, we’re definitely on the same page 😉 . I posted my sprinkle sugar cookies yesterday and here you are with sprinkles in and on your cake! I agree it is a lot of fun to work with sprinkles. Your cake is absolutely stunning, outside and out. And it must taste delicious!
Jolina
Aha same wavelength! Just different provinces lol 🙂 It’s so much fun isn’t it? There’s something about them that reminds us of childhood I guess 🙂 Thanks Nicoletta!
Julie
Gorgeous cake! Sprinkles are perfect for a birthday for anyone of ANY age – maybe I’ll make this for my birthday next month. 😉 I never have the patience to trim my layer cake levels to equal height, but I really should – equal layers look so lovely in a picture.
Jolina
Hi Julie! Thanks so much! I didn’t use to trim my cakes too but now I’m all about baking rulers and cake levellers lol! And yes, this is for birthday celebrants of EVERY age 🙂 Hope you have fun baking it as much as I did! Get ready for sprinkle explosions! 🙂
Dawn
This does look like a super fun birthday cake and love that it is forgiving too (cause I’m not the best at frosting things). I’m sure your nephew will appreciate the gesture! This cake just put a smile on my face…love all the sprinkles instead the actual cake and on the icing. Pinning 🙂
Jolina
Hi Dawn! As I was making this and it was starting to take shape I surprised even myself at how fun it was! And you’re right, it just makes you smile 🙂 Be ready for sprinkles everywhere though lol! Thanks for pinning 🙂