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*
- 8" cake tins
- Electric hand mixer
- Round cake tin liners
- Mixing bowls
- Cooling rack
- Piping bags
- Funfetti sprinkles
- Kitchen scales
- Wilton 8B Piping nozzle
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More funfetti recipes...
Funfetti Birthday Cake
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
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 minutes or 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
Charlene Flash
Happy birthday. Your birthday cake looks lush x
Kat BakingExplorer
Thanks Charlene!
Dan
Hi, can you tell what sprinkles you use and where to get them from please as mine dissappear when baked 🙃
thebakingexplorer
Hi, I used ones from The Shire Bakery. There are also some linked in the 'Recommended Equipment & Ingredients' section of this post from Amazon which have very good customer reviews for using in funfetti cakes. I hope that helps, let me know if you enjoy the cake!
Angela Campos
This looks so yummy!!! I can't wait to make it, my kids will Love it! Thanks for sharing at the Sunday Fitness 7 Food Link-Up...Pinned 🙂
Kat BakingExplorer
I do hope you enjoy it!
Stuart Vettese
This makes me so happy just looking at it! I bet it tasted divine too 🙂
Kat BakingExplorer
Me too Stuart! It certainly was the birthday treat I wanted 🙂
Kerry Edwards
Happy Birthday Kat! I love a sprinkly cake! 🙂
Kat BakingExplorer
Thanks Kerry!
Angela Entwistle
Happy belated birthday Kat, great cake too - it looks great fun. I love the appearance of cakes with piped 'blobs' between the two sandwiched layers.
Angela x
Kat BakingExplorer
Me too although I would like to improve my 'blob' neatness!
Kate Glutenfreealchemist
Happy Birthday Kat x
Great cake.... I've never added funfetti to the sponge before. It looks so pretty when you cut it doesn't it?
Beautiful piping as well....
Kat BakingExplorer
Thanks Kate! I was so happy with the effect when I cut into the sponge!
Anonymous
I'm looking at making a funfetti cake for a friends birthday this week 🙂 Which sprinkles you used as they look like they've kept their colour really well during the bake! A lot of the supermarket ones look really pale and I'm worried they won't survive the heat too well...
Jen x
Kat BakingExplorer
Hi Jen, I got them off ebay. They are the best ones to use as they keep the colour 🙂
Anonymous
Hi Kat,
I’m loving your recipes! Can I try this cake with fresh whipped cream rather than buttercream?
thebakingexplorer
Hi, thank you! Yes, you can absolutely use whipped cream!
Sophia
Hi, I am going to make this cake for someone’s birthday and just wondered what sprinkles you would recommend I live in the UK and have heard about the cake going green.
Many thanks
thebakingexplorer
Hi Sophia, I use The Shire Bakery sprinkles for this cake, they are UK based and you can order their sprinkles online 🙂
Monica
Hi, I want to make this cake but want to make a smaller size, preferably 8 slices.
How many of each ingredient would I need?
Ps, never made a cake or baked anything.... ever... is this Cake hard to make? Looks really nice and have my heart set on making this cake but worried I am make a total mess
thebakingexplorer
Hi Monica, I'm not sure how much to tell you for 8 slices as it depends how big you cut slices - my idea of an 8 slice cake may be very different from yours. If you want to make it in smaller cake tins, you can check my conversion guide here: https://thebakingexplorer.com/ingredients-conversions/ Or I also have a Funfetti Cupcake recipe here: https://thebakingexplorer.com/funfetti-vanilla-cupcakes/ It is an easy cake to make, but if you have never baked before it may be easier to start with cupcakes and work your way up to a large cake.
Jess
Hi! I really want to try this but I only have one cake tin. Is there a way I can put the whole mixture in one tin and cut them into three after? How would I change the cooking? Thank you so much!
thebakingexplorer
Hi Jess, I wouldn't recommend doing this as it is a BIG cake and it'll be so much mixture in one tin, you run a high risk of it not baking all the way through and being raw in the middle but over cooked on the outside. You can either get more cake tins, or divide the recipe by three and do each layer one at a time. Let me know if you have any other questions!