Birthday Cake Funfetti Cupcakes topped with delicious vanilla buttercream frosting and lots of sprinkles!
Funfetti cupcakes, or how we usually call them Birthday Cake Cupcakes, are made with lots of sprinkles that are used in the batter and as decoration. Famous for its fun look, these mini cakes are becoming more popular on the internet.
How to make Birthday Cake Funfetti Cupcakes
The base for the cupcakes is very similar to my Cupcakes with Caramel and Red Velvet Cupcakes.
I like to use buttermilk for its moist and soft texture.
The recipe for these Funfetti Cupcakes is really easy!
One important thing to note, it’s always better to use room temperature butter, eggs, and buttermilk. I like to keep them on a kitchen counter for about an hour before starting baking.
Preheat your oven to 350°F, line a muffin pan with muffin paper cups and set it aside.
In a mixing bowl, mix all your dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix it and set aside.
To mix the wet ingredients, I like to use a stand mixer or a hand mixer. Though, you can always use a whisk and a spatula and get the same results.
If you are using a stand mixer, use a paddle attachment and beat butter and granulated sugar for about 5 minutes. It should be very light in color and fluffy.
Then add eggs, vanilla extract, and buttermilk and mix it again until it’s all well incorporated and a smooth consistency.
To mix the dry ingredients, I like to use a spatula. That way you won’t overmix the batter while keeping it airy. So, add the dry ingredients to the mixture, and using a spatula, fold it in.
Add the sprinkles to the batter and fold them in just until evenly combined.
Divide the mixture between 12 muffin cups and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes. The edges of the cupcakes should be slightly golden in color.
When done, take them out of the oven and let them seat in the muffin tin for 5-10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool off completely.
How to make Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
This is the best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting ever! It is very light and airy and creamy!
All you need is to beat butter and powdered sugar really well.
If you are using a stand mixture, use a paddle attachment.
Start on a slow speed just to incorporate the sugar with the butter. Then increase the speed to high and beat for about 5-7 minutes. It should become very light and airy.
Then add vanilla extract and heavy cream. Beat it again for about 3-5 minutes until you get the right consistency.
To decorate the cupcakes, scoop the buttercream frosting into a piping bag with 1 mm open star piping tip and pipe it over the cupcakes.
Decorate with additional sprinkles.
Did you make this recipe?!? I’d love to know how it turned out! leave a comment and a rating below👇 thank you!
Birthday Cake Funfetti Cupcakes
Ingredients
Ingredients for Birthday Cake Funfetti Cupcakes:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk room temperature
- ⅓ cup sprinkles
Ingredients for Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 ½ cups unslated butter room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- ¼ cup sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
How to make Birthday Cake Funfetti Cupcakes:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F, line a muffin pan with paper muffin cups and set aside.
- Mix your dry ingredients (all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt) in a mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a standing mixer, using a paddle attachment, beat together butter and granulated sugar for about 5 minutes until pale and fluffy.
- When ready, add eggs, vanilla extract, and buttermilk. Mix well until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
- Add dry ingredients, and using a spatula, fold it in.
- Add sprinkles and fold it in until evenly distributed.
- Divide the mixture between 12 muffin cups and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes.
How to make Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- In a standing mixer, using a paddle attachment, beat together unsalted butter and powdered sugar on high speed for 5-7 minutes until light and airy.
- Add vanilla extract and heavy cream and beat again for 3-5 minutes until the right consistency.
- To decorate the cupcakes, scoop the buttercream frosting into a piping bag with 1 mm open star piping tip and pipe it over the cupcakes.
- Decorate with additional sprinkles.
Video
Nutrition
Made these for my daughter’s birthday. Overall, they turned out good and I will reuse this recipe in the future but with a few tweaks next time. They were moist and beautiful. A few points/tweaks I would make:
1) This batter is good for more than 12 cupcakes. I followed the recipe exactly rather than trusting my gut when I thought there was too much batter for 12 cupcakes, and mine ended up being overfilled. No biggie, I just cut the tops off — but next time I’ll keep in mind that this makes something like 14-16 cupcakes, not 12.
2) I think a tiny bit (1/8 tsp) almond extract would go great in this batter along with the vanilla.
3) I don’t think 1/8 tsp salt is enough — not unique to this recipe, I find it’s pretty common for cake recipes to put too little salt. In the future I will try 1/4 and 1/2 tsp to see how those end up, but based on my first batch, I bet 1/2 tsp salt would be good.
4) To make the wonderful buttermilk flavor of these cupcakes shine, I think next time I’d pair this with a whipped cream frosting or maybe meringue; something much lighter than a buttercream. And if I were wanting something other than a vanilla flavor to compliment these, something with just a hint of orange would be absolutely delightful I think.
I think the buttermilk really adds a wonderful flavor to these cupcakes. I’m the kind of person that finds your standard vanilla cupcakes to be bland and too in-your-face sweet, but the buttermilk gives these a more complex flavor that both children and adults can appreciate. I’d recommend people try these if you’re looking for a way to give your standard birthday cake/vanilla cake a more mature flavor without changing things up too much. In the same way buttermilk makes pancakes better, it’s only natural it can improve cupcakes as well!
Thank you for the recipe.
Just made these. Cupcakes are bland and not very moist.
Will this work with the round small sprinkles? Non pareils
Hi Carissa! Yes, I believe it will work with smaller sprinkles as well 😉
Funfetti cupcakes are my girl’s favorites! Yours look sooo pretty. No more picking up a box for me!
I don’t care how old I get, I will ALWAYS ask for funfetti for my birthday! Maybe this year I’ll have to try making them from scratch…
My oldest daughter’s birthday is coming up and she is getting so excited to bring treats to school. I hate using boxed mixes if I can avoid it, and funfetti is just so darn festive. I’m totally using this recipe!
These are so fun! Anything with funfetti is so good for a celebration!
What fun cupcakes! They’re perfect for a birthday party or picnic! I love the colorful sprinkles and your frosting looks absolutely delicious!! I’m licking my lips just thinking of it. I’m searching for my decorating tips!!
Such pretty cupcakes! I am feeling like eating all of them.Beautiful.
These funfetti cupcakes are so pretty!! I love that you sprinkled the frosting too…looks irresistible!
It is a fantastic alternative to a Birthday cake. You don’t have to cut it, it is easier to hold in a hand and is great for getting-away types of Birthdays. Great job!
Boy, what a very good looking cupcake. Somebody’s going to freak out receiving this for their bday. I will make some of this soon.
Awesome recipe Veronica! I love the photos, and you definitely inspired me by using buttermilk. I will have to try that next time. And that buttercream just looks fabulous. I tell ya what, I would be stoked if these were made for my birthday. Keep up the awesome work you’re doing (:
This recipe came to me at the perfect time! My brother loves funfetti cupcakes and his birthday is next week! I can’t wait to make these for him. 🙂
These cupcakes are so pretty. I love how simple they are to make. Your video was very helpful too. Saving for later.
These are cutest cupcakes ever! My kids love all things funfetti cakes, cupcakes and cookies. We end up making this a lot and i’m blown away with your photos. Gorgeous!
These certainly are fun! And not just for birthdays….maybe a random Wednesday 😉 ? Extra sprinkles for me please!
These cupcakes are beautiful. I will keep these in mind for our next birthday celebration!
These will be perfect for my daughters up coming birthday! They look so great!