Funfetti Birthday Cake (2023)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Funfetti Cake is sometimes known as confetti cake, but I prefer the name funfetti because this cake really is so fun! It's made by mixing rainbow sprinkles into the cake batter which creates the effect. Then I've decorated it with more sprinkles on top! It's perfect for a party, and especially birthdays! It's flavour is simple vanilla, which is that classic flavour that everyone loves. The Funfetti Birthday Cake is so pretty when cut into. It has such a colourful and festive appearance. The bright rainbow colours of this cake are what make it stand out, and the light vanilla sponge and sweet vanilla buttercream give it lovely flavour.

For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to make Funfetti Birthday Cake

Make the sponge by mixing together butter and caster sugar. Then add eggs, two at a time, and mix between each addition. Then add vanilla extract, and finally fold in self raising flour.

Then fold in the sprinkles! Divide the mixture equally between the tins and bake the cakes for 35 minutes

Leave the cakes to cool fully. Make the buttercream by mixing butter, icing sugar and vanilla extract together until smooth.

On a plate start stacking the layers and piping buttercream between each one.

Put on the final layer of sponge and smooth icing all over the top using a palette knife to smooth it out. Then pipe swirls around the edge and fill the middle with more sprinkles!

For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

What is funfetti?

Funfetti cake goes by many names - confetti cake, birthday cake and sprinkle cake. The word funfetti is infact a combination of the words "fun" and "confetti". The trend of adding brightly coloured sprinkles to vanilla cake was started by the American company Pillsbury in the late 80s, and it has been popular ever since! It is a very simple concept of stirring sprinkles into cake batter, and then after baking you get brightly coloured dots throughout the sliced cake. It does not change the flavour of the cake, but adds a fun and unique appearance!

What are the best sprinkles to use?

The funfetti sprinkles I use are from The Shire Bakery, they are pricier than supermarket versions but this is because you get the best results. They retain their colour and are bake stable. You can also get them from Iced Jems and Sprinkles and Toppers.

Can this cake be made in different size cake tins?

Yes! If you would like to make this cake in different size tins, please check my Conversion Guide to find out how to adjust the recipe.

Can this cake be made into cupcakes?

Yes! Please head to my Funfetti Cupcakes post for the recipe.

Can this cake be made into a two layer cake?

Yes! Please check the notes after the recipe at the bottom of this post for details. It can also be made with one layer.

How long does this cake last and can it be frozen?

The cake will keep in an airtight container for 3 days in a cool place (depending on the brand of sprinkles, some can bleed their colour into the buttercream after a while). You can freeze the sponges either alone, or decorated (but do not freeze the sprinkles). Once the sponges are fully cool, wrap them well with cling film or put them in an airtight container with some baking paper between them. You can freeze the buttercream on it’s own in a tub, or you can decorate the cake and freeze it fully assembled. To do this and avoid damage to the decoration, freeze it either in an airtight container. Or let it freeze solid on a cake board or plate, then wrap in cling film. Remove the cling film when you take it out to defrost it, if you don’t it could damage the decoration as it defrosts and softens. You can also freeze slices of the cake, again well wrapped in cling film or in airtight containers.

Troubleshooting

If you have any questions about this recipe, or if something went wrong and you need help, please use the comment form below and I will get back to you. You can also get in touch with me on my Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to hear from you!

Recommended equipment & ingredients*

*I earn a small amount of money if you buy the products after clicking on the links. You will not be charged anything extra for this. Thank you for supporting The Baking Explorer!

More funfetti recipes...

Funfetti Vanilla Cupcakes
Funfetti Cookies

Funfetti Birthday Cake

Vanilla cake with rainbow sprinkles in the sponge, vanilla buttercream and decorated with rainbow sprinkles

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cake

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Decorating time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 14

Author: thebakingexplorer

Ingredients

For the cake

500 g Butter or baking spread
500 g Caster sugar
9 Eggs large
3 tsp Vanilla extract
500 g Self raising flour
75 g Sprinkles

For the buttercream

900 g Icing sugar
450 g Butter
2 tsp Vanilla extract
2-3 tbsp Milk

For decoration

25 g Sprinkles

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

Pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan/180C/350F/Gas Mark 4, and grease and line three 8" cake tins (that are at least 2" deep)
Mix together the butter and the caster sugar until smooth
Add the eggs, two at a time, and mix between each addition
Then add the vanilla extract, and whisk in the self raising flour
Fold in the sprinkles
Divide the mixture equally between the tins
Bake the cakes for 35 minutesor until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from the tins and leave them to fully cool on cooling racks
To make the vanilla buttercream mix the butter and icing sugar together. Once it starts to come together add the vanilla extract and milk, and mix until smooth. I use my electric hand whisk to do this but you can also do it by hand with a spoon. If the buttercream is too stiff, add more milk
If the cakes have domed on top, level them off with a cake leveller or a serrated knife
Stack the cake layes, piping or spreading buttercream between each layer
On the final sponge, smooth icing over the top and smooth it out using a palette knife
Then use a piping bag with a star nozzle to pipe swirls around the edge and fill the middle with more sprinkles!
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in a cool place for 2-3 days

Made this recipe?Share on Instagram with me @TheBakingExplorer or tag #thebakingexplorer!

Notes

For a two layer cake, use 335g of butter/caster sugar/self raising flour, 6 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla extract and 50g sprinkles. For the buttercream, 230g butter, 460g icing sugar and 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract. Plus a little milk if the buttercream is too stiff

For a one layer cake use 175g of butter/caster sugar/self raising flour, 3 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract and 25g sprinkles. For the buttercream, 115g butter, 230g icing sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Plus a little milk if the buttercream is too stiff

Nutrition