Description
This is the PERFECT funfetti cake recipe! It’s super moist, soft, loaded with sprinkles, and covered in creamy and sweet vanilla buttercream. With the perfect birthday cake texture and flavor, this is the right cake to make for any special celebration.
Ingredients
Funfetti Cake
- 1 cup (224g) unsalted butter, room temp
- 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (110g) vegetable or canola oil
- 4 large eggs, room temp
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (120g) full fat sour cream, room temp
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 3 1/4 cups (418g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 cup (225g) buttermilk*, room temp
- 3/4 cup (140g) rainbow jimmies sprinkles
Buttercream
- 1 1/2 cups (336g) unsalted butter, room temp
- 5 cups (550g) powdered sugar, spooned and leveled
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 tbsp milk, room temp
- 1/2 cup (90g) sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
Funfetti Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease and line the bottoms 3 – 9″ cake pans with parchment paper. You can also use 3 – 8″ cake pans but you will need to leave out about 1 cup of batter (If the pans are overfilled the cakes will sink in the middle. Make sure to only fill the pans a little over halfway). Line the pans in cake strips if you have them.
- Using a hand or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy mixing on medium high speed for about 3 minutes.
- With the mixer running on low, pour in the oil. Scrape down the bowl and give it another mix until fully combined. Then mix in the eggs two at a time followed by the vanilla. Scrape down the bowl and mix in the sour cream.
- Add in the baking powder, baking soda, and salt and mix to evenly distribute. Then add in half of the flour and mix until it’s halfway incorporated. Pour in the buttermilk and give it a rough mix, then dump in the remaining flour and mix until smooth and combined.
- Use a rubber spatula and give it a good mix by hand, scraping down the bottom and sides of the bowl. Then, fold in the sprinkles to evenly distribute.
- Divide the batter between your cake pans and spread even. For 9″ cakes, bake for 30-35 minutes. For 8″ cakes, bake for 35-40 minutes. They’re ready when a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and turn them out on to a cooling rack and peel the paper off. If you’re frosting the cake that day, transfer the cakes (still on the cooling rack) to the fridge to completely chill before assembling (about 1 hour). 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.
Buttercream
- Mix the butter using a hand or stand mixer with the paddle attachment until smooth.
- Mix in one cup (110g) of powdered sugar at a time, adding the vanilla and 2 tablespoons of milk as it begins to thicken.
- If the buttercream is still too thick when you’re done, add another tablespoon of milk.
Assemble
- Spread a thin layer of buttercream between each cake layer, then give the entire cake a thin crumb coat. Do so by spreading a very very thin layer all around the cake, just enough to enclose all of the crumbs. Place the cake in the fridge for 20 minutes.
- Frost the cake with the rest of the buttercream and decorate with extra sprinkles. Enjoy!
Notes
- *To make your own buttermilk if needed, mix together 1 cup of milk minus one tablespoon and add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for 10 minutes to thicken and curdle like buttermilk.
- SHEET CAKE – To bake this as a 9×13 cake, use my funfetti sheet cake recipe.
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American





