Funfetti cake makes everyone smile and this recipe is so easy it will make YOU smile! Grab your sprinkles and make the easiest, moistest cake ever!
Slice of homemade funfetti cake on a white plate with a whole cake in the background.
Funfetti cake is one of those iconic recipes that makes people happy. Kids love the colors and sprinkles and adults love the trip back to memory lane when sprinkle cakes were at nearly every birthday party. For this funfetti cake recipe, I wanted to use the recipe from my Chocolate Sheet Cake which I had already modified for my Caramel Sheet Cake. It’s such an easy recipe and turns out moist and perfect every time. I love this recipe because it requires no mixer, just a whisk, and it comes together in just a few minutes. Anything that’s easy and gets me in and out of the kitchen fast is a winner in my book!
Overhead photo of a whole funfetti cake on a white background.

Funfetti Cake

This recipe for homemade funfetti cake makes just enough for two 9-inch layers or one sheet cake. I use my Homemade Buttercream Frosting Recipe but the cake would also be great with the Cream Cheese Frosting from my Red Velvet Cake.

What do you need for this sprinkle cake?

  • Sprinkles – If you’re going to be baking with sprinkles then buy them in large quantities since it’s much less expensive than buying multiple small containers from the grocery store. And if kids are helping you, you’ll go through A LOT of sprinkles!
  • Cake pans – I love these cake pans from Fat Daddio. You can pay more at a specialty cooking store, but why?
  • Cake stand – this funfetti cake is so pretty, it deserves a lovely display. I adore this aqua-mint color and I’m coveting this stand myself!

Ingredients for Homemade Funfetti Cake

The simplicity of this funfetti cake recipe is what makes it so wonderful. Just like Granny’s Chocolate Sheet Cake, this recipe comes together in less than one hour and you only need standard ingredients that you probably have on hand.
  • Flour
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Butter
  • Baking soda
  • Buttermilk
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla
  • Sprinkles

How to Make Funfetti Cake

Step 1. Start by generously buttering and flouring two 9-inch cake pans.
A plate of sugar cookie bars with sprinkles.
You may also like these Sugar Cookie Bars!
Step 2. Mix the sprinkles with a little flour to coat them and set them aside. Then sift the remaining flour and salt into a large bowl. Add the sugar and whisk it all together until well blended. Step 3. This is the part that give this funfetti cake its special moist texture! Combine all of the butter and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Then pour the melted butter over the flour mixture and just whisk until it’s all blended and looking like batter.

Pro Tip: You can certainly use a hand mixer here, but usually the boiling butter/water mixture is enough to make everything mix up smoothly in just a jiffy.

Step 4. Measure the buttermilk in a measuring cup, then whisk the eggs, soda, and vanilla into the measuring cup. Whisk this into the batter and stir until blended and smooth, then gently stir in the flour-coated sprinkles. Step 5. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 20-25 minutes, checking the cake after about 15 minutes. The funfetti cake is done when your tester comes out clean but be careful not to overcook. Step 6. Remove pans from oven and allow the cake to cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Then turn the layers onto parchment covered racks and allow them to cool completely, 30 minutes to an hour. Step 7. Frost the sprinkle cake with Classic Buttercream Frosting or Cream Cheese Frosting.

Pro Tip: You could add a little food coloring to make the frosting a fun color like pink, green, or blue!

Tips – How to Put Sprinkles on the Side of a Cake

Once your funfetti cake has frosting on it, just lightly press some sprinkles onto the frosting. Kids love to do this! It doesn’t have to be perfect, just fun and colorful. Here’s a fun guide to a Sprinkles Birthday Party where you could showcase this fun sprinkle cake!
Side view of a whole sprinkle cake with white frosting on a platter.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and we'll send the recipe straight to your inbox!
4.91 from 20 votes

Easy Homemade Funfetti Cake

This homemade funfetti cake tastes better than the boxed mix and is easy to make. It will give everyone a smile!
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Save This Recipe
A slice of funfetti cake on a plate with a fork.

Ingredients 

Cake

  • 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sifted all-purpose flour, divided
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ½ cup sprinkles, plus more for the top

Classic Buttercream Frosting

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, barely softened
  • 3 ¾ cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
  • 2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract, imitation
  • Pinch salt
  • 2-4 tablespoons heavy cream, you can use half-and-half or whole milk

Instructions 

Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour two 9-inch cake pans.
  • Stir one tablespoon of flour into the 1/2 cup of sprinkles to coat them then set aside. Sift remaining flour and salt into large bowl. Add sugar and whisk until blended.
  • Combine butter and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and pour over the flour and sugar, whisking until blended. Add the soda, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla, and whisk until blended and smooth. Gently stir in the coated 1/2 cup of sprinkles.
  • Pour batter into greased and floured baking pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes, checking cake after about 15. Cake is done when tester comes out clean but be careful not to overcook.
  • Remove pans from oven and allow to cool on a rack for 15 minutes, then turn layers onto parchment covered racks to cool completely.
  • Frost with Classic Buttercream Frosting or Cream Cheese Frosting.

Classic Buttercream Frosting

  • In bowl of stand mixer and using the paddle attachment, cream butter until light and fluffy about 4 minutes. Add confectioner's sugar, a little at a time (about ½ cup), mixing on low until blended and then whipping on high for about 30 seconds each time. Add vanilla and pinch of salt and mix until blended. Add cream and mix on low until blended then whip on high until frosting reaches desired consistency.
  • For softer frosting, you can add a little more cream. If you get it too soft just add a little more confectioner's sugar.

Nutrition

Serving: 10servings, Calories: 640kcal, Carbohydrates: 67g, Protein: 4g, Saturated Fat: 24g, Cholesterol: 140mg, Sodium: 190mg, Sugar: 48g
Course: Cakes
Cuisine: American
Calories: 640
Keyword: funfetti cake, homemade funfetti cake, sprinkles cake
Love this recipe?Mention @southernfoodandfun or tag #southernfoodandfun!
Update Notes: This post was originally published November 12, 2015, and on May 11, 2019, was updated with one or more of the following: step-by-step photos, video, updated recipe, new tips.

You’ll love these easy dessert recipes:

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. I’ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

Read More About Me

Follow Lucy on social media:

Posted in:

, ,

You May Also Like:

Sign up with your email address to receive a 5-day series of Southern Cooking Secrets, followed by weekly emails with recipes and tips. We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




4.91 from 20 votes (6 ratings without comment)

14 Comments

  3. 5 stars
    Such a beautiful cake! I hesitate to buy boxed cakes so I really like your recipe so I can make it from scratch!

    Reply

  4. 5 stars
    Such a beautiful cake! I hesitate to buy boxed cakes so I really like your recipe so I can make it from scratch!

    Reply

  10. 5 stars
    Oh, how I love funfetti cake! It really is more fun than the other cakes, and I swear that the sprinkles make it taste better! This one looks like it turned out perfectly!

    Reply

  13. 5 stars
    Oh, how I love funfetti cake! It really is more fun than the other cakes, and I swear that the sprinkles make it taste better! This one looks like it turned out perfectly!

    Reply