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Best Homemade Funfetti Birthday Cake Recipe (Kid-Approved)

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This moist, tender funfetti cake is packed with rainbow sprinkles and topped with a silky vanilla buttercream. It’s budget-friendly, uses simple ingredients, and comes together in one bowl—perfect for birthdays, bake sales, or any celebration.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (312g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk, at room temperature
  • ½ cup (120g) sour cream or plain yogurt
  • ½ cup (about 80g) rainbow jimmies (sprinkles)
  • 1 cup (2 sticks, 226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3–4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
  • A pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans generously with butter or non-stick spray, then line the bottoms with parchment paper circles. Grease the parchment too.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In the same bowl, make a well in the center. Add the granulated sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, buttermilk, and sour cream. Whisk until smooth and well combined. Do not overmix.
  4. Gently fold the rainbow jimmies into the batter using a rubber spatula. Use a light hand to avoid color bleeding.
  5. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  6. Let the cakes cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Then, run a knife around the edges, invert onto the rack, peel off the parchment, and let them cool completely.
  7. While the cakes cool, make the buttercream. In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating on low speed. Add the vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk. Beat on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Add more milk, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired spreading consistency.
  8. Place one cooled cake layer on your serving plate. Spread about ¾ cup of frosting evenly over the top. Place the second layer on top, upside down. Apply a thin crumb coat of frosting all over the cake. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes to set. Then, apply the remaining frosting in a thick layer.
  9. Top with extra rainbow sprinkles while the frosting is still soft. Press them gently into the sides if desired.

Notes

Use jimmies (long rod-shaped sprinkles) to prevent color bleeding. Room temperature ingredients are key for proper emulsification. For a dairy-free version, use almond milk with lemon juice and vegan butter. The cake tastes even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: funfetti cake, birthday cake, homemade cake, sprinkle cake, kid-friendly cake, one-bowl cake, easy cake recipe

Find it online: https://daintydine.com/best-homemade-funfetti-birthday-cake-recipe-kid-approved/