The Most Delicious Confetti Cake Recipe (Funfetti Cake)

May 24, 2021

Confetti Cake – moist and fluffy vanilla cake layers, lots of sprinkles and a whipped vanilla buttercream.

Best Birthday Cake

I’m not sure there’s anything more classic or more nostalgic than a classic Confetti Cake. Since the day Pillsbury came out with their hugely popular Funfetti Cake back in the 1950’s, it’s been a favorite for generations! What’s not to love? Vanilla cake, vanilla buttercream and lots of sprinkles!

Like many of you, I grew up on the boxed version of this cake. I loved it back then, but a few years ago came up with my own recipe. I originally posted it as my Fourth of July Funfetti Cake, and grew to love it even more!

In this first version of my Confetti Cake, I used my Classic White Cake and Vanilla Buttercream as the base. It’s super light and fluffy, and reminds me of my childhood. However, I’ve always felt like it could be better. As I’ve remade this cake over the years, I just kept thinking, I need to try this one again.

Classic Confetti Cake - tender and fluffy vanilla cake layers, filled with sprinkles and covered with a whipped vanilla buttercream. #confetticake #birthdaycake #bestbirthdaycake #funfetticake #birthdaycakerecipe #vanillabuttercream #cakebycourtney

Confetti Cake

As I’ve been working on my cookbook (to be released later this year), I made a few changes to this recipe to make it even more memorable and delicious. In this updated Confetti Cake recipe, the cake is more of a vanilla cake than a white cake. It’s a little more moist, in my opinion, than my original version. And it also has a slightly stronger vanilla flavor to it as well.

The texture and flavor in this cake is so delicious and I’m so excited for you to try it!

Classic Confetti Cake - tender and fluffy vanilla cake layers, filled with sprinkles and covered with a whipped vanilla buttercream. #confetticake #birthdaycake #bestbirthdaycake #funfetticake #birthdaycakerecipe #vanillabuttercream #cakebycourtney

CAKE MAKING TIPS

Don’t forget to follow my go-to tips for getting your cakes to rise and bake well:

  • Preheat your oven for 30 minutes prior to baking.
  • Use good quality pans like Fat Daddio.
  • Spray your pans with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper. 
  • Don’t overmix your cake batter once you add the dry ingredients.
  • Use room temperature wet ingredients.
  • Use fresh baking powder.
  • Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs on it.
Classic Confetti Cake - tender and fluffy vanilla cake layers, filled with sprinkles and covered with a whipped vanilla buttercream. #confetticake #birthdaycake #bestbirthdaycake #funfetticake #birthdaycakerecipe #vanillabuttercream #cakebycourtney

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST BUTTERCREAM

To get a light and fluffy, silky smooth buttercream, make sure you follow my tips: HOW TO MAKE THE BEST BUTTERCREAM

  • Sift your powdered sugar
  • Use slightly cold butter
  • Use heavy whipping cream
  • Beat for 5 minutes
  • Stir by hand

You’ll want to check out the post linked above for more details on each step.

More Birthday Cakes You’ll Love

Classic Confetti Cake - tender and fluffy vanilla cake layers, filled with sprinkles and covered with a whipped vanilla buttercream. #confetticake #birthdaycake #bestbirthdaycake #funfetticake #birthdaycakerecipe #vanillabuttercream #cakebycourtney

Confetti Birthday Cake

4.95 from 312 votes
Moist and fluffy vanilla cake layers, lots of sprinkles and a whipped vanilla buttercream.
Servings 20
Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes

Ingredients
  

FOR THE CAKE

  • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 3/4 cups (350 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup (72.6 g) vegetable oil
  • 3 large whole eggs room temperature
  • 3 large egg whites room temperature
  • 1/4 cup (60 g) sour cream room temperature
  • 3 cups (345 g) cake flour
  • 1 tablespoon (14 g) baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon (6 g) salt
  • 1 cup (240 g) buttermilk room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon (12 g) vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup (40g) rainbow sprinkles

FOR THE BUTTERCREAM

  • 2 cups (452 g) unsalted butter chilled (I take the butter out of the fridge 30 minutes before I make my frosting)
  • 6 cups (750 g) powdered sugar measured then sifted
  • 4 tablespoons (57.75 g) heavy whipping cream
  • 2 teaspoons (8.4 g) clear vanilla extract
  • *This buttercream recipe makes enough to fill and cover your cake. If you want to add additional piping, you’ll want to make an extra ½ batch.

Instructions
 

FOR THE CAKE

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare three 8-inch or four 6-inch round cake pans with non-stick spray, parchment paper on the bottom of the pan, and another coat of spray. Set aside.
  • In a medium size bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, oil, and sugar on high until fluffy and smooth, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the eggs and the egg whites, one at a time to the bowl and beat on medium until well incorporated. Add the sour cream and beat on medium speed for a minute or so. It may look curdled, don't stress.
  • Turn the mixer on low and add ⅓ of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until fully incorporated. Then add half of the buttermilk and blend well, followed by another ⅓ of the flour mixture, the second half of the buttermilk and lastly, add the remaining flour mixture and mix until incorporated.
  • Add the vanilla extract and beat on low until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix on low for another 30 seconds. Fold in the sprinkles.
  • Evenly distribute the cake batter among the three 8-inch or four 6-inch pans and bake for 23 to 28 minutes, until toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs on it.
  • Remove cakes from the oven and let cool in pans for 10 minutes before inverting onto cooling racks.
  • When cakes are completely cooled, I like to wrap each cake layer individually with plastic wrap and stick it in the refrigerator or freezer until I’m ready to frost. The cake will be easier to work with if it’s cooled a bit. If I’m making the cake a day or two before I actually need to frost it, I put it in the freezer to ensure freshness. If I’m frosting same-day, I’ll just put it in the refrigerator to chill until needed.

FOR THE BUTTERCREAM:

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter for about 2 minutes. This will soften the butter without it having to be warm.
  • With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing a little in between each addition.
  • With mixer on medium speed, add whipping cream, vanilla and salt.
  • Turn the mixer to medium-high speed and beat for an additional 5 to 7 minutes. The frosting will become lighter in color and texture.
  • Before spreading on your cake, spend a couple minutes mixing the buttercream by hand with a wooden spoon to push out the air pockets.

ASSEMBLY

  • Place the first cake layer, top side up. Add about ¾ to 1 cup of frosting. Spread over the cake layer as evenly as possible. Make sure to get eye level with the cake to ensure the frosting is spread evenly over the cake.
  • Repeat this step until you get to the final cake layer, which you will lay top side down.
  • Apply a thin coat of buttercream around the entire cake to lock in the crumbs. Freeze for about 10 minutes.
  • After the crumb coat is set, continue frosting and decorating the cake.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Cake
Keyword: Confetti Cake, Funfetti Birthday Cake, Funfetti Cake

Join the Conversation

  1. 5 stars
    How much confetti did you put in the buttercream?

    1. 1/2 cup of sprinkles.

  2. Danielle Free says:

    5 stars
    I feel like my cakes are a bit flat! Any idea what I’m doing wrong?

    1. Make sure your ingredients are fresh and you aren’t overtaking or overtaxing your batter!

    2. I don’t use a paddle attachment anymore. I’ve found that the whisk attachment produces a fluffier cake. Just be sure to just mix until combined and scrape the bowl often. And yes of course fresh ingredients is always best.

  3. Can you use this recipe for rainbow cake?

  4. Is it just a pinch of salt in the frosting? like 1/4 tsp?

  5. Hi. Can I exchange vegetable oil for a different type of oil?

  6. Your buttercream calls for salt in the instruction part but there’s no measurement for salt in the ingredients list. how much salt are you supposed to use? Thanks.

  7. 5 stars
    Hi Courtney,
    Regarding the oven temperature of 325°, is that if you’re baking with a convection oven? If I’m baking with a standard oven, should I bake at 350°?

    Thanks!
    – Matt

    1. I always bake with standard oven. 325 is my new norm 🙂

  8. Hi! I’m making this beautiful cake today. Can I use 3 – 9” ?

    1. I would 1.5 the recipe if you are.

  9. Hi Courtney,
    I am loving your book!
    In the book you fold in the sour cream at the end, and in the blog you mix it in earlier. Just wondering why you changed it and if it matters either way?
    Thanks so much!
    Cindy

    1. I was just going to ask this same thing… I’ve done it both ways now as I realized it last time I made this cake. For what ever reason though, when I add earlier they come out of the oven better. When I have folded it in per her book, the edges are really flaky and not sharp. May not have anything to do with it though. I would be interested to see what Courtney says about the change.

  10. Lily Smith says:

    4 stars
    I thought it was very yummy, but the frosting was a little sweet.

  11. Love this cake! Do you just add sprinkles into buttercream before you do the final layer? I love the look of it mixed in like in the picture.

    1. Yes just fold them in softly!

  12. 5 stars
    Hi Courtney!

    Love this cake and all your cakes! I have one question, when my cakes are on the cooling rack they tend to stick and make it difficult to get them off. Any suggestions on how to prevent that? Thanks!

    1. You can spray the cooling rack with a little cooking spray!

  13. 5 stars
    This is a delicious cake. Ive made several of your recipes now and this one hands down is my fav. Although the chocolate chip cookie one is a very close second

  14. Carlin Pickett says:

    3 stars
    I love all your recipes!! I have made this cake a few times and I keep getting feedback that the cake is a bit dry. Any tips on how I can fix that?

    1. You might be over baking!

  15. 5 stars
    I followed the recipe exactly, but made cupcakes instead of cake. They were so delicious. They were well loved at my son’s birthday party! Definitely saving this recipe.

    1. Isabelle says:

      How many cupcakes did this recipe make? I want to do it for my daughters bday. It I need about 24 cupcakes

      1. It should make about that many

  16. I am about to bake this cake for Easter. Can it be made without the sprinkles in the batter? The sprinkles I bought smell a little stale (maybe that’s how they always smell), so I think I will just make it plain and frost with rainbow stripes. Fingers crossed!

    1. Yes it totally can!

  17. 5 stars
    This cake was so nostalgic and delicious. Recipe was super easy which I love about your beginner recipes. I used a swiss meringue buttercream instead of the American but used the same decorating technique. Wonderful recipe and turned out beautiful and delicious!

    1. So happy to hear you love it. Sounds dreamy with the SMB! What a great idea!

  18. Shannon says:

    Hi Courtney,
    I am really interested in making this cake for my son’s first birthday party. Is it possible to make this recipe and bake it in a quarter, or half sheet cake pan instead? I don’t want to stress myself out too bad since it will be my first time baking for a crowd.
    Thanks!

    1. Half sheet is fine! Just half the recipe!

  19. Hi, Deena. I’ve not made this recipe, yet. I am considering making cupcakes with this recipe as you mentioned that you did. Do you recall what temperature you baked the cupcakes at and for approximately how long you baked them?

  20. This cake looks amazing…and I would like to make it next week for my Nephew’s Up Coming Baby Shower…iam looking online for Rainbow Jimmies/Confetti Sprinkles…. That ACTUALLY TASTE GOOD and that DOESN’T BLEED when baking…
    Have you got any suggestions 😁❤️🙏

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