Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes Recipe (2024)

Sep 1, 2022 · 23 Comments

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Bright rainbow sprinkles and a soft, buttery cupcake make these the BEST homemade Funfetti Cupcakes. Fluffy homemade vanilla rainbow speckled cupcakes that are worlds better than anything you will find in a box!

Funfetti Cupcakes

Now, I know there have to be like a million recipes for funfetti cupcakes out there. They're a classic! Plus, they're so pretty and fun, as is anything with sprinkles. But I just wanted to share my favorite go-to recipe for the best homemade funfetti cupcakes.

Look no further for that perfect, childhood favorite, funfetti cupcakes recipe. These are soft, fluffy, buttery cupcakes filled with fun rainbow sprinkles that make your mouth water. You will absolutely make these again and again!

Cutting Together the Butter and Dry Ingredients

Making these funfetti cupcakes is really easy. There is one part that might cause a little hiccup if you're unfamiliar with the procedure, and that is the cutting in of the dry ingredients and the butter. I use a pastry cutter for this, and just keep pushing it into the mixture until it's nice and crumbly.

If you don't have a pastry cutter, I highly recommend one. I use mine quite often for pie crusts, these cupcakes, my favorite muffins, dumplings, and biscuits.

You can also use a fork or two butter knives the same way with similar results. Either mash with the fork or criss-cross the butter knives to chop the butter into smaller pieces and combine it with the flour. No need to try to make the crumbles super small. Pea-sized or a little bigger is good.

Best Sprinkles for Funfetti Cupcakes

The absolute best sprinkles for funfetti cupcakes are rainbow jimmies. These are the best because they're soft so they dissolve while baking. They also do not bleed into the batter like other sprinkles, such as rainbow sanding sugar or nonpareils.

I have these rainbow jimmies, but FYI it's a massive quantity because I use them so often. You can also order a smaller quantity on Amazon or pick them up at basically any grocery store.

Best Frosting for Funfetti Cupcakes

These cupcakes are great because they're so versatile. You can top them with basically any flavor frosting, and they'll be amazing.

My favorite frosting for funfetti cupcakes is a classic vanilla buttercream topped with lots of pretty sprinkles. Buttercream is a classic that is so easy to make.

Here are some other ideas:

Strawberry Buttercream
Raspberry Buttercream
Blackberry Buttercream
Marshmallow Frosting
Caramel Frosting
Marshmallow Fluff

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Tres Leches Cupcakes - vanilla cupcakes infused with a 3-milk mixture and topped with a whipped mascarpone frosting.
Berries and Cream Cupcakes - vanilla cupcakes with fresh berries folded right into the batter and topped with cream cheese frosting and more fresh berries.
Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes - strawberry cupcakes made with real strawberries and topped with cream cheese frosting.
Ginger Brown Sugar Cupcakes - spiced carrot cupcakes topped with cinnamon spiced cream cheese frosting.

Best Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes Video

Best Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes

Bright rainbow sprinkles and a soft, buttery cupcake make these the BEST homemade Funfetti Cupcakes. Fluffy homemade vanilla rainbow speckled cupcakes that are worlds better than anything you will find in a box!

5 from 23 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Funfetti Cupcakes, Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes, Vanilla Funfetti Cupcakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Calories: 217kcal

Author: Michelle

Ingredients

▢ 1.5 cups cake flour
▢ 1 cup sugar
▢ 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
▢ ¼ teaspoon salt
▢ 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
▢ 2 large eggs room temperature
▢ ½ cup milk room temperature
▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla
▢ ¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
▢ ½ cup rainbow sprinkles

For the Buttercream Frosting

▢ 1 batch buttercream frosting

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, add dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine.
Add butter to dry mixture and cut in until mixture is crumbly. Set aside.
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, and almond extract. Add to the dry mixture in two additions, stirring until just combined.
Fold rainbow sprinkles into batter.
Scoop about ⅓ cup of batter into lined cupcake tins.
Bake at 375-degrees for about 16-18 minutes, or until cooked through.
Remove the cupcakes from the oven. Leave them in the tin for about 5 minutes to set before removing to a cooling rack.
When cupcakes are done baking, prepare thebuttercream with this recipe. (or your favorite frosting! See notes below.) Frost the cupcakes. Top with more sprinkles.

Notes

Nutrition facts are for 1 cupcake without frosting

Try frosting your cupcakes with a classic vanilla buttercream.
If you don't have any buttermilk on hand, you can use this easy buttermilk substitution.
For a quick and easy cake flour substitute, use this guide.
Make these for different holidays by customizing them with different colored jimmies. Try red/green for Christmas, red/white/blue for fourth of July, red/pink for Valentine's Day, or orange/black/purple for Halloween.
Make Ahead Directions: Cupcakes can be made ahead 1 day in advance, covered, and stored at room temperature. Frosting can also be made 1 day in advance, covered, and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use. Beat frosting before frosting cupcakes to make it fluffy again.
Storage: Leftover cupcakes keep well covered tightly in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Freezer Directions: Frosted or unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Did you make this recipe?I love seeing your creations. Snap a quick photo and mention @TheGraciousWife or tag #thegraciouswife on Instagram! Leave a STAR rating below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Jen says
April 01, 2021 at 9:02 am

Love that I don't need to use a box mix to make these now! I had everything already in my kitchen so they were easily made. My kids loved them!
Reply
Beth says
April 01, 2021 at 9:16 am

Oh wow! These are so fun and definitely going to be a hit here! Perfect for a little get together! So excited to try these cupcakes!
Reply
Toni says
April 01, 2021 at 9:23 am

These are really fun cupcakes!! MY kids enjoyed it!
Reply
Traci says
April 01, 2021 at 9:36 am

I'm crazy for funfetti cupcakes and absolutely love these!! Easy recipe and totally FUN 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Reply
Shashi says
April 01, 2021 at 9:39 am

YUM! I could do some serious damage to a batch of these pretty AND delish cupcakes! And you have the perfect ratio of frosting to cupcake in these!
Reply
Angela says
April 01, 2021 at 9:53 am

I love homemade cake recipes. I never have a boxed mix when I need one. I think the homemade versions taste better anyway. I think the cake flour really makes the texture great.
Reply
Michelle says
April 01, 2021 at 9:56 am

These cupcakes were absolutely so much fun to make with my kids! We're gonna make another batch for this Easter weekend. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Reply
Kristina Tipps says
April 01, 2021 at 10:01 am

Such a fun and easy recipe! These cupcakes are so much better than using the packaged mix. And the buttercream frosting was much loved by my kiddos!
Reply
Sunena says
April 01, 2021 at 10:12 am

This must be a sign. I have been craving funfetti for DAYS and I stumbled upon this perfect recipe. I love how simple this recipe is!
Reply
Claudia Lamascolo says
April 01, 2021 at 10:33 am

I love fun surprises inside a cupcake I can see why these are the best they look super moist and so pretty
Reply
Gina Abernathy says
October 08, 2022 at 9:25 am

These were so much fun to make and delicious to eat! The kids had as much fun making these as I did!
Reply
Mama G says
October 08, 2022 at 9:38 am

These were a huge hit with my grandkids! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Reply
Lyn says
October 08, 2022 at 9:40 am

I love homemade over a box mix any time! Even better, the recipe was so easy to follow and the cupcakes looked so fun and festive!
Reply
Janessa says
October 08, 2022 at 9:52 am

These cupcakes are delicious! So fluffy and buttery.
Reply
Dannii says
November 03, 2022 at 1:06 pm

These cupcakes look so much fun. My kids are going to love making these.
Reply
Mirlene says
November 03, 2022 at 1:26 pm

These cupcakes are definitely a fun one to bake with the kids. The kids loved the colorful sprinkles and tasted sweet and delicious.
Reply
Nancy says
November 03, 2022 at 1:27 pm

Delicious vanilla cupcake that looks super adorable. Thanks for the easy recipe
Reply
Anjali says
November 03, 2022 at 1:32 pm

Made these for a birthday party recently and they were a hit!! All the kids gobbled them up!
Reply
Kathleen says
November 03, 2022 at 1:33 pm

These cupcakes are so fun! Love that they are so easy to make and turn out so light and fluffy.
Reply
Carrie Robinson says
July 21, 2023 at 8:28 am

These are so much fun! I say the more rainbow sprinkles the better. 🙂
Reply
Kechi says
July 21, 2023 at 8:29 am

I made these Funfetti cupcakes with my daughter last weekend and she loved it. We opted for Strawberry buttercream frosting instead! Thanks so much for sharing.
Reply
Traci says
July 21, 2023 at 8:45 am

These really are the best homemade funfetti cupcakes! Love how fluffy and simple this recipe is. These are going to disappear fast!
Reply
Ava M says
July 21, 2023 at 8:52 am

Oh those cupcakes looks super cute and fun to make! My kids will love them!
Reply

Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to moist cupcakes? ›

"Baking fluffy, moist cupcakes is all about creating air bubbles in your batter that expand in the oven," she says. "If you overmix your batter, you collapse those bubbles and end up with a brick-like cake." Always mix at a low speed to avoid this, stopping just as all ingredients blend.

View Details ›

What are the ingredients in Pillsbury Funfetti cupcake mix? ›

Enriched Bleached Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Candy Bits (Sugar, Corn Starch, Vegetable Oil [Palm and Palm Kernel], Soy Lecithin, Confectioner's Glaze, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Blue 1 Lake, Carnauba Wax, Yellow 6 Lake), ...

Get More Info ›

Should I use milk instead of water for cupcakes? ›

Use milk instead of water

Most box cake recipes will tell you to add water to the mix. Instead, try adding milk using the same proportions. This will make the cake richer and creamier because it ups the fat content. You can even use buttermilk here for a pleasant tang.

Find Out More ›

How do bakeries get their cakes so moist? ›

Jump to:

Use Buttermilk Instead of Milk.
Add Vegetable Oil.
Use Instant Clearjel or Instant Pudding Mix.
Use the Right Recipe.
Don't Overbake.
Bake in Sheet Pans Instead of individual Cake Pans.
Use a Simple Syrup or Glaze.

Apr 23, 2021

Know More ›

What is the flavor of funfetti? ›

Just Like Box Funfetti Cake

This thick, plush confetti birthday cake is filled with the flavors of childhood party nostalgia: butter, vanilla, sugar, and rainbow sprinkles.

How to make Pillsbury cake mix taste better? ›

8 Ways To Make Boxed Cake Mix Taste Homemade

Swap Oil for Melted Butter.
Exchange Water for Dairy.
Enhance With Extracts.
Incorporate Sour Cream or Mayo.
Add Nuts.
Make Homemade Frosting.
Layer With Fillings.
Turn it into a Poke Cake.

Apr 12, 2024

Get More Info ›

What does Funfetti cake mix need? ›

To Make This Homemade Funfetti Cake Mix You Will Need:

cake flour (see notes for substituting with all-purpose flour)
baking powder.
fine salt (sea salt or Himalayan)
granulated sugar.
unsalted butter.
sprinkles.

Aug 17, 2018

What not to do when making cupcakes? ›

Don't Over-mix, Don't Under-mix. Not too much, not too little. Make sure you're mixing the cupcake batter together *just until* the wet and dry are combined.

Explore More ›

What's the most important ingredient in a cupcake? ›

Flour is the main ingredient of the batter and provides the base for the cupcake. Butter or oil provides flavor, tenderizes the batter and helps provide volume.

Tell Me More ›

Can I use milk instead of water in Funfetti cake mix? ›

Baking tip #2: adding milk to your box cake mix in place of water adds a dense texture to your dessert leaving it moist and flavorful like a homemade cake. Or, if you prefer, you can add buttermilk, giving your cake a tangy flavor to balance out the sweetness.

See Details ›

How to make cupcakes taste better? ›

Adding a handful of sprinkles, chocolate/peanut butter/toffee chips, candy, fresh fruit, or coconut to the cake mix will not only make your cupcakes look better, but they will also taste better. Ditch canned icing. You will be surprised by how much better your cupcakes taste.