If you’re looking for a dessert that radiates pure happiness, Funfetti Cake is the ultimate celebration in every bite. With its soft, fluffy layers studded with colorful sprinkles and cloud-like vanilla frosting, this playful cake captures the joy of birthdays, milestones, or just because you want a little more fun in your kitchen. Making a homemade Funfetti Cake transforms any day into a party and guarantees big smiles all around, whether you’re six or sixty.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Every ingredient in this Funfetti Cake recipe plays a role in making each slice irresistibly moist, flavorful, and eye-catching. These are easy-to-find staples, but together, they build a cake that’s anything but ordinary, with each element adding texture, color, or depth of flavor.

Cake flour: The key to that classic light and tender crumb that makes each forkful so fluffy.
Granulated sugar: Gives our cake both sweetness and moisture, locking in that soft texture.
Baking powder & baking soda: These combine to provide lift and help the cake rise perfectly.
Salt: Just a little sharpens all the flavors and balances the sweet notes nicely.
Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter creams beautifully for richness and structure.
Vegetable oil: Adds moisture and keeps the cake super tender, even with days-old leftovers!
Whole milk: Ensures the cake is moist without being heavy—and is perfect for dissolving the other wet ingredients.
White vinegar: Reacts with the baking soda for extra height and fluffy texture.
Full-fat sour cream: Adds a subtle tang and serious richness; don’t skip this for maximum softness!
Pure vanilla extract: The heart of that nostalgic bakery flavor—use the real stuff for best results.
Large eggs: They help bind everything together and keep the crumb rich.
Rainbow jimmies sprinkles: The star of Funfetti Cake—use “jimmies” style, as they hold their color while baking.
For the vanilla buttercream frosting: A combo of unsalted butter, powdered sugar, salt, vanilla, and whole milk creates a billowy, dreamy finish.

How to Make Funfetti Cake

Step 1: Prepare Your Pans

Start by preheating your oven to 350F. Generously butter three round 8-inch cake pans, then line the bottoms with parchment paper—this makes unmolding a breeze. Dust the pan sides with flour and tap out any excess. Taking the time with this step sets you up for perfect, clean layers later on.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together your cake flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This thoroughly distributes the leaveners and ensures the cake layers rise evenly—a little upfront whisking goes a long way!

Step 3: Cut in the Butter and Oil

Add the room-temperature butter and vegetable oil right into your flour mixture. Using an electric mixer or your fingertips, blend the fat into the dry ingredients until no big butter pieces remain. This step coats the flour in fat, producing that sought-after velvety crumb in your Funfetti Cake.

Step 4: Combine Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together whole milk, white vinegar, full-fat sour cream, and vanilla extract. Once smooth, add the eggs and whisk again until well blended. The vinegar works with the baking soda to give the batter a little lift, creating extra-tender cake layers.

Step 5: Bring Batter Together

Pour about half of your wet ingredients into the flour-butter mixture and whisk until a thick batter forms. Add the remaining wet mixture and whisk just until combined—if you spot a few small lumps, don’t worry! A gentle mix keeps the cake light.

Step 6: Add the Sprinkles

Time for the best part! Fold in your rainbow jimmies carefully so the color doesn’t streak. Evenly divide the funfetti-speckled batter among your prepared pans for three gorgeous layers that will shout “party!” as soon as you slice in.

Step 7: Bake

Place the pans on the center rack of your oven and bake for 28 to 32 minutes. You’ll know your Funfetti Cake is ready when a skewer poked into the middle comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Let the cakes cool for 10 minutes in their pans before flipping onto wire racks to cool completely—patience pays off for easy frosting later.

Step 8: Make Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

While the cakes cool, whip your room-temperature butter with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add in sifted powdered sugar in two additions, beating on low to avoid a sugar shower. Add the salt, vanilla, and milk, then whip until fluffy and spreadable. If your frosting is thick, drizzle in a bit more milk until you reach that dreamy consistency.

Step 9: Assemble and Decorate

Lay your first cake layer on a plate or stand, spread on a lovely layer of buttercream, then repeat with the second and third layers. Frost the outside with swirls of vanilla buttercream and finish with even more rainbow sprinkles. That first colorful cut will never fail to impress!

How to Serve Funfetti Cake

Garnishes

The crowning touch for any slice of Funfetti Cake is an extra shower of rainbow sprinkles over the freshly frosted top and sides. For a little sparkle, you can add edible glitter or use a few white chocolate curls—there’s no such thing as too much fun with this cake!

Side Dishes

A classic pairing is a tall glass of cold milk, but Funfetti Cake also shines with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a handful of fresh berries on the side. If you’re serving this at a gathering, light, creamy drinks like homemade lemonade or fruit punch make a festive complement.

Creative Ways to Present

You can slice the cake into wedges and serve on vibrant plates, make individual Funfetti Cake parfaits by layering cubes of cake and frosting in cups, or use cookie cutters to cut mini shapes for a kids’ party platter. Stack thin slices with fresh fruit between for a playful twist!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Wrap your Funfetti Cake tightly with plastic wrap or keep it under a cake dome at room temperature for up to two days. For longer storage—especially if your kitchen is warm—store in the refrigerator, where it will keep its wonderful moisture for up to five days. Let it come back to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

Freezing

Both the unfrosted cake layers and the finished, frosted Funfetti Cake freeze beautifully. Wrap each cooled cake layer well in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to two months. If freezing the entire frosted cake, chill until the frosting is firm, then wrap and freeze. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.

Reheating

Funfetti Cake is best enjoyed at room temperature, so if your cake has been refrigerated or frozen, take it out ahead of time and let it soften on the counter for 30-60 minutes before serving. This lets the buttercream return to its creamy, luscious consistency—no microwave needed!

FAQs

Can I use regular all-purpose flour instead of cake flour?

For the most delicate crumb, cake flour is the winner, but if you only have all-purpose, you can substitute it by removing 2 tablespoons of flour per cup, then adding 2 tablespoons cornstarch—all sifted together for a closer texture to traditional Funfetti Cake.

Which type of sprinkles should I use?

Always use “jimmies” style sprinkles for baking Funfetti Cake—they’re the long, rod-shaped ones. Nonpareils and quins tend to bleed their color and can change the cake’s texture as it bakes.

How do I prevent my sprinkles from sinking?

If you gently fold the sprinkles in just before baking and evenly distribute the batter among your pans, you’ll keep those colorful pops suspended throughout your cake layers.

Can I make this as cupcakes?

Absolutely! This recipe divides nicely into 24 standard cupcakes. Just reduce the baking time to 18-20 minutes and test for doneness with a toothpick.

Is there a dairy-free version of Funfetti Cake?

You can swap the butter for plant-based margarine, use a favorite non-dairy milk, and a dairy-free sour cream (coconut or soy work well). Still deliciously festive and fluffy!

Final Thoughts

I hope you’ll grab your favorite sprinkles and whip up this Funfetti Cake soon! There’s no better way to spread joy than with a homemade slice, bursting with color and soft vanilla flavor. Whether it’s for a special celebration or just because, this cake promises to bring a smile—every single time.