June 26, 2019
Funfetti Cake!
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A three-layer funfetti cake with all the colourful sprinkles, and a vanilla buttercream frosting!
Funfetti!
It’s been a while since my blog had a little bit of colour on it, and a Funfetti Cake is 100% the best way to get that going. I love a funfetti cake, but in the UK they are much harder to come by. That’s not because people don’t want them, but because most of the sprinkles in the UK are awful!
For those of you who don’t know, a funfetti cake is essentially a basic or vanilla sponge, but with LOADS of sprinkles inside to give a confetti type of effect – but it’s all edible. Funfetti cakes are very popular in America, and they always look amazing!
Sprinkles
The problem we have over here in the UK, is that a lot of sprinkles just don’t have the same colourings or additives to make the sprinkles bright enough to bake with – a lot of the colours used in the sprinkles in America are in fact banned over here, because there are just TOO many additives!
Therefore, it makes it very difficult to get the effect you want. You can buy cake mixes in the uk, such as the Pillsbury funfetti cake mix online, which is probably the easiest way to get where you want – but its a box cake mix, and I know a lot of you aren’t a massive fan of those.
The sprinkles I use…
So, the sprinkles that I use for these recipes? These glorious funfetti sprinkles! These are the only ones I have tried so far… that work! You can try any supermarket ones, and they will either just disappear completely into the sponge, or just turn green.
I realise that buying some sprinkles online just for a cake seems a bit OTT, but if you want a good funfetti cake, and you’re in the UK like me and don’t have access to be best sprinkles ever, then it is SO worth it!
The next catch, is having enough sprinkles. To get lots and lots of colour and fun in the funfetti cake you do need to use lots of sprinkles I am afraid. The sponge itself is just a classic sponge, so it’s hard to get wrong!
Supermarket sprinkles
You can of course try supermarket sprinkles, or even branded ones that you can buy in shops, but be warned that they may not work. The really tiny sprinkle balls, and the sugar strands you can buy at supermarkets tend to be the worst as they’re already so small – so they just vanish!
Quantities
The amount you put into the cake will depend on how big you want the cake to be – as I made a three layer cake as usual, I found the two pots (120g) of sprinkles perfect for the sponges – if you were going to make a smaller version of the cake, you can easily use less sprinkles though!
As I didn’t want to take the mickey with the sprinkles, I didn’t use sprinkles in the frosting – I knew I would need a lot, and you don’t even see most of the frosting as it’s on the inside of the cake, so I just sprinkled some on top!
There are notes in the recipe on how to make a smaller two layer cake, but I hope you enjoy the recipe either way! x
Funfetti Cake!
Ingredients
Sponges
- 400 g unsalted butter (room temp)
- 400 g caster sugar
- 400 g self raising flour
- 8 medium eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 120 g funfetti sprinkles
Decoration
- 300 g unsalted butter (room temp)
- 600 g icing sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- funfetti sprinkles
Instructions
For the Cakes!
- Preheat your oven to 180ºc/160ºfan and line three 8"/20cm cake tins with parchment paper!
- Beat the unsalted butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add in the self raising flour, eggs and vanilla extract to the mix, and beat again until smooth.
- Pour in the Funfetti Sprinkles, and fold through with a spatula!
- Split the mixture evenly between the three tins - bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until baked through! Check with a skewer (it should be clean!)
- Leave your sponges to cool in the tin for 10-15 minutes, and then on a wire rack to cool fully!
For the Decoration!
- Beat your room temperature unsalted butter for a couple of minutes to loosen it and make it lighter!
- Add in the icing sugar a bit at a time and mix in fully!
- Add in the vanilla extract, and beat again. If your mixture is really stiff (and I mean, you will not be able to pipe with it - add in 1-2tbsp of boiling water to make it easier to pipe)
- Using your favourite piping tip, pipe buttercream onto your sponges, and add each layer of cake as you go!
- Once you have piped all of the buttercream on, sprinkle the cake with some more Funfetti Sprinkles and enjoy!
Notes
- I used these funfetti sprinkles!
- I would not recommend using cheap and basic sprinkles from the supermarket (if you are in the UK at least) as they don't work!
- If you are lucky enough to live elsewhere in the world with much better sprinkles - try others!
- This cake will last for 3-4 days in a cake box!
- To make a smaller version use:
- 250g butter/sugar/flour and 5 medium eggs
- 1/2tsp vanilla, and 60g sprinkles
- Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or so!
- Use 200g butter/400g sugar for the frosting!
ENJOY!
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J x
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I want to bake this cake for my little girl’s first birthday. I’ll be using a number 1 shaped cake tin – how would I adapt baking times for this? Thank you! 🎈
Hi Jane, love your stuff! I made this cake last night and used same sized tins etc but they took around about an hour to cook through but by that time the outside was really crispy and the inside seems a bit dry? I’ve a new oven so don’t think it’ll be that? Is it possible to bake these at a lower temp for longer so the outside doesn’t get crispy again?
Thanks!
Ovens really can vary so it could be the new oven, as it may need to be on a different setting. They sound very over baked as well as they definitely don’t need an hour to bake!
Hello😀planning to make this cake for my daughter birthday. If I divide batter in two 9inch tin would it be enough to bake it for 35-40mins? Thank you
Would this work with Gluten free flour?
Perfect recipe! So yummy and looked great (just like the picture yay)
I used the Rulop sprinkles from Amazon and they worked brilliantly, so bright and colourful.
How would I make this in number tins? Please, thankyou
Hi Jane, I’m going to try your recipe on Friday for my daughter’s birthday. I have three 9 inch tins (instead of 8 inch). How would you recommend I adapt the ingredients and baking time please? Thank you so much!
Hi, I want to make a funfetti cake in a bundt tin, would it be okay to just use this recipe or is it better to use a bundt tin recipe and just put the sprinkles in? Thanks for the help!
Hi I wanted to make this for my boyfriend what frosting would you say is better vanilla byttercram or creame cheese?
If I was to make this in 5” cake tins how long would you bake it for? I’m thinking of making them for teacher gifts.
I have a 9inch tin and want to do two layers but as I only have one tin, I thought I could cut it in half afterwards. I was going to use 300g flour and 6 eggs.
How long should would you recommend I bake it for?
Would you recommend a sugar syrup in between layers as want it to be moist day or so after for party?
Hiya! Yes, this should be fine! Hope this helps! x
My 11 year old daughter has chosen this cake for her birthday this year after getting your celebration recipe book for Christmas. I’m hoping to make it in number shaped cake tins which are fairly large. Would you alter the recipe at all to do this or would you keep everything the same? Thanks xxx
Hi Jane
I love your cakes but I was just wondering as I prefer can I do a creme cheese frosting on this cake ?
Absolutely you can, sounds yummy! Enjoy! x
Hi Jane, I’m having trouble getting height on my cake, I’m using an 8” cake tin but just can never get thick layers of cake in any of your recipes I use. I’m hoping to make cakes for decorating but just can’t get nice thick cake layers for height.
Hi, I am wanting to half this recipe and bake in a loaf tin, would this recipe still work?
Hiya! Check out my Rainbow Loaf Cake recipe on her instagram page! Hope this helps! x
Hi,
I was hoping to use your recipe to make cupcakes instead – do you know how many cupcakes the main recipe would make? Thanks a lot.
Hiya! Take a look at my Funfetti Cupcake recipe. Hope this helps! x
Hi Jane I would like to make this in a 4 layer 6 inch how long would I adjust the time to please. Thanks
Great recipe, it turned out really well! I did 4 6” layers with the 8 egg recipe and used Lieber sprinkles from Amazon. Just need to get better at piping now! Thanks Jane.
Hi I’m going to make this cake for my grandson I usually put baking powder in even when I use SR flour I’m just worried the sponge won’t ris?
Hiya! Follow the recipe for the best results – hope this helps! x
Hi, wanting to do this recipe for my sons 1st birthday! But I was going to cover the whole cake in icing, and then do rainbow swirls on the top – like your rainbow explosion cake. Would I be able to keep the buttercream measurements the same, or do more? I would do the cream inside the layers a bit thinner as there is icing on the outside too?
Hi Jane
Can you advise on how to make this recipe vegan?
Can’t wait for your next book
Hiya! The best option is to follow my Vegan Vanilla Sponge recipe – however the sprinkles may sink slightly as I have not tested this! Hope this helps! x
Hi, can this be baked as one or does it need to be slipt (doing the smaller version)
My oven won’t take two cakes as it’s tempermental.
Or can the second cake be left out until the first one is baked? Little worried what’s best to do in the heat.
Thank you
Hiya! It should be fine to leave one out whilst the first one bakes – as long as you bake the other asap afterwards! Hope this helps! x
Hi Jane! My icing came out yellow ( I think because of the butter ) is there any way to make it white?
Hiya! Try beating the butter for longer on it’s own before adding the icing sugar! Alternatively, take a look at my Rainbow Cake recipe for white food colouring! Hope this helps! x
If I use this recipe in a 7inch cake pan would it work?
Just made this cake to practise for my daughters birthday next week, I didn’t have a jumbo nozzle but I used a swirl jumbo one I have, still looks great. Daughter also wanted pink icing so did that also. Cake was so simple to make and looks fantastic. Thank you for your great recipes xxx
Hello, how would I convert this recipe to make 24 cupcakes please?
Going to make them for my daughters party bags 🧁
How much batter would you put in each tin?
Split it equally!
Hi, can I make this a chocolate version? I really love the texture of this one.
Hi am I able to make cupcakes with this recipe?
Hi Jane 🙂 what size tins did you use for this?
Naomi x
Always says on the method! Step one!
Hello, how much vanilla would you add to the buttercream if you were making a 2 layer cake? Thank you x
Roughly how many grams of cake mix goes in each tin?
I put 900g in each pan
Love this recipe! Also my book is on the way!
I want to make this as bundt cake…any advice or adjustments?
Catherine I’m interested in a funfetti Bundt cake too. Jane please help us as your cakes are lovely. Made the rocky road Bundt cake last week and really want to try the funfetti Bundt for my daughters birthday.
Hi,
To make this dairy free……do I just change to dairy free butter block? Everything else the same?
Thank you 😊
Hi,
Do you tend to use Stork or Butter in your bakes?
Also is it best to store all cakes in the fridge over night? & then crumb coat?
Thank you
For the cakes themselves is stork, for the buttercream is unsalted block butter! x
Hi are you able to make this cake vegan and how would you do that
Hi Jane,
What piping nozzle do you use to pipe the buttercream?
Thanks
Hiya – its mentioned on the post, a jumbo round piping tip.
Hi, I’ve tried this recipe before and it came out perfect. This time I want to make it in 2x 10″ cake tins. Would it be best to double the recipe or do you know better measurements for 10″ cake tins? Thanks.
Hiya! http://www.cakebaker1.co.uk/apps-for-bakers/baking-tin-size-conversion-calculator/ This may help you!x
hiya, i’m going to make this for my nephews birthday, i was wondering how much more of the ingredients i would need to have to be able to cover the entire cake instead?
I would double the buttercream!
Hi im wanting to make this cake for my friends daughter for her birthday, how long would I have to bake it for if I used a dome shaped cake tin? She’s wanting a princess cake.
Hello! Unfortunately thats hard to advise as I would need to know the dimensions of the tin!x
Hi, the tin is 7.2 inches at the top, 2 inches at the bottom and 5.9 inches tall. It’s the PME doll cake pan if thats any help. Thank you x
Hi when it says in your notes:
‘ To make a smaller version use:
250g Butter/Sugar/Flour and 5 medium eggs
1/2tsp vanilla, and 60g sprinkles
Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or so!
Use 200g Butter/400g sugar for the frosting!’
Would this be for 3x 6inch tins?
Thanks
Hii! Thats for two, 8inch tins!x
Hi Jane this recipe is great and has been brilliant the past times I have used it! I was just wondering if I was to bake it into 6 inch tins and wanted 4 layers how would I change the quantities. Thank you
Hello! I would use the recipe as it is, but baking times will change!x
Hi Jane,
I love your recipes! This is my first time trying the funfetti cake. I want to make a 9″ two layer version of it. Do you think it would be ok to keep all the ingredients the same or would the layers be too thick? If so, what would you recommend instead?
Thanks!
For a 2x 9″ cake I would use the same! Baking time will increase but not sure how long x
I’m excited to try this recipe. My daughter absolutely loves jam in her cakes though could I spread a layer of jam between each layer of sponge and buttercream please? Or would you advise not to? Xxxx
Hiya, yes of course!xx
Hi Jane,
I am going to make this cake for my daughters first birthday. Would the sponges be ok to freeze for a couple of days before decorating? (I’m trying to get myself organised).
Thank you. X
Yes they can be!! xx
Hi Jane do you think dr oetker sugar strands would work in this cake? Thank you, Lizzie
It depends.. the pale sugar strand things probably not!
Hi Jane,
Could I make cupcakes using this recipe?
Thanks xx
I would also like to know this as I expected yor like to make cupcake ones
Hi
Could I simply leave the funfetti out, or would I need to adjust the other ingredients?
Have make the caramel drip cake and totally loved it!! Thank you.
Yes you can x
Hi, i want to make this sponge but in 9inch tins how would i adapt the ingredients and also can you use springbottom tins xx
For a 9″ tin I usually use 1/3 more of the recipe – and yes loose bottomed, springform, or solid base tins work well for sponges.
Made this for a friends 40th Birthday for a surprise (He was told he was getting a Colin the Caterpillar cake, not that there’s anything wrong with that) as requested by his wife. I decorated differently, covered in buttercream so it was also a surprise when cut into and did a chocolate drip on top. They were mega chuffed and the feedback I received was highly positive. Thank you Jane.
Hi jane i want to make this cake for someones birthday . I want to make a spider man theme cake and want to colour the sponge blue and red and than want to cover under foundant so its ok if i add colour to sponge?and can i skip sprinkles in it?
Yes and yes! I would recommend good quality colours though, not ones from the supermarket x
I am in the process of making this cake for my boy’s 6th birthday. How much buttercream would I need to cover the sides of the cake as well as using some inside. I was hoping to do a multi coloured effect to reflect the sprinkles!!
I would double it at least! x
Hi Jane,
I’m trying to make a frozen inspired funfetti cake, do you know if the blue only confetti from iced jems is bake stable? I have used your recipe loads of times and it turns out amazingly well but I have only ever used the mixed colour funfetti you recommend.
I’m afraid I haven’t tried it myself but if its the same style it should be – you can message her on her pages and she will be able to let you know x
Hi Jane,
Can’t wait to try this!
If I want to make it as a traybake, what adjustments do I need to make?
Also at what temperature and how long for?
Thanks
The measurements and timings for my Gin & Tonic traybake are best – and add the sprinkles to that! (Leave out the G&T obviously!) x
Hi Jane,
I would really love to make this for my sisters birthday in early November and have just gone to order the same sprinkles you used but they’re sold out! Do you know of any alternatives that work? I would really love you use your recipe as I’ve used a fair few and have never gone wrong with them so I have full faith in this one too!
Thank you!!
Anushka x
I’m really sorry I don’t!! It may be worth a google, but I only use the ones I’ve linked! xx
Hi Jane!
I only have large eggs! How many would I need to use? Less or the same?
Thanks 🙂
You want 400g worth, but they need to be weighed in shells – so it could be 6 or 7 large! x
Hi Jane
I have made the cakes but was wondering if I added strawberrys on top would it topple down?
Do you mean for decoration? No they’d be absolutely fine!! x
Hi, I don’t have self rising Flour, how can I use so flour instead?
For using plain flour with no raising agent you need to add baking powder – usually it’s two level teaspoons per 150g of flour, whisked in before using!
Hi Jane!.
I’m a huge huge fan and your recipes have never failed me. I would so love to make a funfetti cake for my soon to be 6 year Old’s birthday in 2 weeks. But he has dairy allergies . Do you think this would work with substituting regular butter with something like Stork baking block ( it has no milk in it) or the flora plant butter block? Hope to hear from you soon! Thank you and a very happy new year!
Hiya, yes either would be fine for the sponge – use flora plant block for the buttercream! Hope this helps! x
Hi Jane i am intending to follow your recipe to bake for my daughters 6th bday but i have been struggling to find kosher/halal funfetti sprinkles as the ones you have advised are unfortunately unsuitable for our diet. Please could you advise an alternative kosher/halal sprinkle if possible. Thank you
I’m afraid I only use the ones recommended on the post so I can’t help, sorry!! x
Hi Jane!
I’m going to use this for my daughters 5th birthday next weekend, but as a Unicorn cake (not sure if you’ve seen them) and I was wondering if I could cover it in fondant icing, then pipe pastel colours of buttercream on top. Would this taste okay? Mixing the two types of icing?
Thanks!!!! 🙂
Hey! Yeah I think it would work well! Unicorn cakes are amazing!
Made this for my nieces 6th birthday cake it went down a storm thank you! 🎉
Hello! I was wondering whether French supermarket sprinkles would be ok? Thank you so much!
I’m afraid I have no idea!
Used this recipe for my daughter’s birthday cake but covered it in rainbow buttercream. It came out perfectly and I’ve had so many comments on how amazing it tasted! Thank you so much for the recipe Jane! xx
Hi Jane! How can I make this recipe in 6 inch tins? X
Use about 2/3 of the recipe! Baking time is less, probably 20-22 minutes?! X
Hi Jane, could I make this gluten free just by swapping the flour out and adding some Xantham Gum? Thank you x
Yes!! Obviously make sure the sprinkles you use are gluten safe and all the other ingredients, but otherwise flour switch and xantham gum is good! x
Can you use stork for the frosting or is unsalted butter best?
No, I would never use a spread for frosting – block unsalted butter only! x
Hi Jane,
I’m in the process of making this for my daughters 13th birthday. I purchased the same sprinkles from Iced Jems 🙂
Very excited to see how it turns out!
Your recipes are my go to every time I bake (and that’s ALOT) They are truly amazing!
Ahh yay!! I really hope you love it!! x
Hi Jane
Do you bake all three tins at the same time in the oven? Is is ok if two are on the top and one on the bottom shelf? Thanks
Hiya – yes I do. I have a fan oven, so using different shelves is fine – and with most other ovens it is too! x
Hi Jane, I was looking to bake this cake for my nephews birthday but I was looking to cover the whole cake with buttercream. It would be made in 9 inch cake tin so would I need to double the Ingredients for the buttercream please and would I need to stick to 400 g of ingredients for the cake in a 9 inch cake tin? Thank you xx
How many layers would you be doing in the 9″ tin? x
Hi Jane,
I plan to make this cake for my daughters 4th birthday but was going to cover the cake in buttercream and roll in sprinkles like I’ve seen on many cakes/videos online. Do you think these sprinkles and the traditional buttercream recipe would work just as well for that?
Thanks so much in advance!
Hey! Yes they would, but you will need lots and lots of sprinkles to do it!
Hi Jane
Just wondering if you could put sprinkles within the buttercream before piping? or would this just turn out looking super messy? 🙂
xxx
Hey! You certainly could do, but that will block quite a few piping tips!
This is one of the best cakes I have ever made I am making 3 of these cakes for my family for their birthday’s and I absolutely LOVE this recipe!!
Hey Jane. I’m going to make this next week but I just wanted to ask how do you get your sponges to bake flat for stacking? I seen on you tube someone making foil/cardboard things for round the tin sides.
Thanks
Hey! So my cakes just naturally bake flatter – domed, or lopsided cakes can come from oven temperature distributions not being even, or a number of other reasons! x
Hi Jane, do you still put vanilla in the buttercream if you are making the two layer cake?
Yes you can do! x
Hi jane i wanted to make this cake as a 4 layer, what measurements would i use? Thank you in advance x
Hey! I would use a 500g/10 medium egg mix (compared to the 400g/8) and split between four 8″ tins! And then I would add on probably another 1/3 of sprinkles! x
Hi! In the notes you said smaller version of the cake? Is that a 2 layer version or a smaller inch? Thank you!
That’s two layer!
Made this for my daughters 1st birthday and it turned out amazing, not just the way in which it looked but the taste also!
Would I be able to make this a lemon funfetti cake? Adding zest and juice to the recipe and a lemon drizzle for the sponges? TIA x
Yes of course! Sounds delicious, enjoy! x
Hi Jane. Would these still come out ok in PME tins that are 8 inch by 3 inch deep? Or are they too deep?
Hey! No they’d be fine!! x
Hi Jane could I add a layer of jam into this aswell.with the sponge?
Yeah for sure!
Hello 👋 I’m planning to make this cake for hubby’s bday but I’m planning on covering it in buttercream on outside too will the quantity here stretch to cover it or would I be best to double it?
Thank you ☺️
Yes it’s best to double it!
Made this for my sons’ 15th birthday last week after he didn’t want a supermarket special, and it tasted amazing! Looked awesome even though it was only my second attempt with an icing bag 😂
hi Jane. just wanted to ask how to separate the batter equally between the tins before baking? thanks x
Hi Jane!! Could this be made into a 2 layer cane? What are the ingredient measurements, of you don’t mind? Xxx
Oops never mind, notes in the recipe notes xxx
Hi Jane, what quantity of ingredients would I need to do for using Swiss meringue buttercream for filling and covering the cake? Thank you xx
I’ve made this before and was soooo delicious!! I’m wanting to add another cake layer and food jel instead of sprinkles to create a rainbow cake. I’m just wondering what ingredient adjustments I need to make to add another layer? Thank you xx
The sponge recipe would be the same – just without sprinkles!
Hi this looks great. If I wanted to make a green buttercream frosting (Christmas tree) , will it work by just adding food colouring into the existing recipe?
Many thanks in advance.
Yes, for the frosting just add in colouring! I only recommend good quality colours though otherwise it could look/taste weird if you use supermarket own.
Hi Jane, what butter or stork do you use? If stork, is it the block or the spread? Thanks
You can use unsalted butter or stock tub for the cake, but only actual unsalted butter for the buttercream! x
Hi Jane, firstly can I say thank you for this fab recipe, baked it for the office and it went down a treat!. I wanted to make a large version of this cake for my daughters birthday. I wanted to use a 12″ tin, and only bake 2 tiers, could you assist with advising what quantities I should use and how long I should bake the sponges for and on what gas mark please
Hi Jane I’ve used this recipe several times each time it’s turned out great. Could you tell me if I used 6inch tin how long would I cook it for and the oven temperature please. I’m attempting birthday cakes for my grandchildren this month
Hiya! I’m afraid I rarely bake 6″ sponges so I’m not 100% sure on time – it will depend if you are reducing the quantities as well!
Wow i love the look of this cake ive ordered my sprinkles from iced jems cant wait to make it, your recipes are the best ive ever, do you have a recipe for a rainbow cake please ? Xx
I made this for work this week. It looked and tasted fantastic, thank you for another great recipe 🙂
Hi Jane,
Is there any supermarket brand of sprinkles you can recommend? as I don’t have time to order any 🙁 Alternatively, as I’m making this with short notice, I was also thinking of an option of using colouring to colour the sponge layers and sprinkles on top , which supermarket brand to colour do you recommend? Or Would any food colouring work? or would you recommend the extra strong gels? and would i need to alter the recipe at all when adding these? Thank you so much for all your help I love working my way through your recipes and you’re so helpful 🙂
Hiya – I really don’t recommend any sprinkles or colourings from supermarkets. They’re just not good enough at all. You can buy decent colourings from a hobby craft store – sugarflair or Progel are great!
I made confetti muffins a while back and that is what happened to them all the sprinkles seemed to disappear at least I now know why.
Yes! It really is down to having the correct sprinkles!