Funfetti Cake is the ultimate celebration cake! With its light and fluffy layers dotted with colorful sprinkles, it’s sure to brighten any special occasion. The soft texture of the cake pairs perfectly with the rich, creamy cream cheese frosting, and extra sprinkles on top add a fun, festive touch. This is a crowd-pleasing dessert that brings a burst of joy with every slice.
Ingredients
Funfetti Cake
- 3 ½ cups All-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp Baking powder
- ½ tsp Baking soda
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 2 Tbsp Oil (canola or vegetable)
- 1 ¾ cups White granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp Clear vanilla extract (or pure vanilla extract)
- ½ cup Sour cream (room temperature)
- 4 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 cup Buttermilk (room temperature)
- ⅔ cup Rainbow sprinkles (use “jimmies” sprinkles)
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 ½ cups Unsalted butter (slightly cold)
- 8 oz Cream cheese (room temperature)
- 4 ½ cups Powdered sugar (sifted)
- 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp Salt
- Rainbow sprinkles (for decoration)
Instructions
1. Make the Funfetti Cake:
- Preheat oven: Set the oven to 350°F. Prepare three 8-inch cake pans by spraying with non-stick spray, lining the bottoms with parchment circles, and spraying again.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, sift together 3 ½ cups flour, 2 ½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, and 1 tsp salt. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a stand mixer, beat 1 cup butter, 2 Tbsp oil, and 1 ¾ cups sugar on high speed for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add 1 Tbsp vanilla extract and ½ cup sour cream, then mix on medium speed until well combined.
- Add eggs: Add 4 eggs one at a time, mixing on medium speed until incorporated after each addition.
- Alternate dry ingredients and buttermilk: On low speed, alternate adding ⅓rd of the dry ingredients and ½ cup buttermilk at a time. Mix until just combined. Repeat with another ⅓rd of the dry ingredients and the remaining buttermilk, finishing with the last portion of dry ingredients.
- Fold in sprinkles: Using a spatula, gently fold in ⅔ cup rainbow sprinkles. Be careful not to overmix, as overmixing can cause the colors to bleed.
- Bake: Divide the batter evenly among the 3 cake pans (a kitchen scale helps with precision). Bake for 18-23 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
2. Make the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Beat butter and cream cheese: In a stand mixer, beat 1 ½ cups butter and 8 oz cream cheese on high speed for 3 minutes until smooth and fluffy.
- Add powdered sugar: Gradually add 4 ½ cups powdered sugar on low speed, scraping the bowl as needed. The mixture will be thick at first.
- Finish with vanilla and salt: Add 1 tsp vanilla extract and ¼ tsp salt. Beat on low speed until combined, then increase to high speed for 1-2 minutes until creamy and smooth.
3. Assemble the Cake:
- Prepare the cake: Spread a tiny bit of frosting on the board or cake stand to secure the bottom layer.
- Layer and frost: Place the first cake layer down, then spread ¾ cup frosting evenly over the top. Repeat with the second layer. For the final layer, place it upside down (bottom facing up) to ensure a flat top.
- Crumb coat: Apply a thin layer of frosting around the entire cake to seal in the crumbs. Freeze the cake for 15 minutes to set the crumb coat.
- Final frosting: Remove the cake from the freezer and frost the entire cake with the remaining frosting. For a festive touch, top with additional rainbow sprinkles.
Description and Tips
This Funfetti Cake is an explosion of color and flavor that’s perfect for birthdays or any celebration! The cake itself is soft, fluffy, and buttery, with a slight tang from the sour cream and buttermilk. The rainbow sprinkles scattered throughout give it that signature funfetti look.
The cream cheese frosting is rich and smooth, providing a balance to the sweetness of the cake with its slight tang. The combination of textures—the softness of the cake with the creamy frosting—makes this dessert a standout.
Tips:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter, eggs, sour cream, and buttermilk are all at room temperature for the best texture and even mixing.
- Sprinkle Choice: Use jimmies (longer, cylindrical sprinkles) as they hold their shape and color better when baked. Avoid using nonpareils (tiny round sprinkles) as they can bleed color into the batter.
- Crumb Coat: Don’t skip the crumb coat step. This thin layer of frosting locks in any loose crumbs and ensures a smooth final layer of frosting.
- Decoration: You can get creative with the sprinkles on top—use different colors or shapes to match the theme of your celebration!
This cake is a guaranteed hit for any party, with its festive appearance and classic taste that will have everyone asking for seconds!
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