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This is my go-to Funfetti Frosting when I want instant party vibes. It’s creamy, fluffy, and packed with colorful sprinkles that make every cake, cupcake, or cookie look celebration ready. If you love a classic vanilla buttercream with a playful twist, this one’s for you. The perfect topper to our homemade funfetti cake.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“THIS IS SOOO FUN! We made funfetti cake using this frosting and it turned out great and festive. Sooo yummy!” – Sha
“This frosting was literally everything that I wanted it to be and more! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe.” – Jess
“It is so cute, a perfect recipe for cake for special events! It was easy and fun to make. The recipe is easy to follow!” – Natasha
Why I Love this Frosting
I’m convinced every birthday cake deserves a generous swirl of Funfetti Frosting. It’s a classic vanilla buttercream that beats anything from a can, and it only takes a few pantry staples to make. I first whipped this up for our Homemade Funfetti Cake and instantly fell in love with how the rainbow jimmies keep their color and pop against the white frosting. It’s perfect for birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, or any time a sweet tooth strikes. I also love it on chocolate cake for that creamy vanilla contrast and it pipes beautifully with a large tip.
What to pair it with:
- Cookies: Soft sugar cookies, sandwich cookies, or funfetti cookies.
- Cakes: Homemade Funfetti Cake, classic chocolate cake, or yellow cake.
- Cupcakes: Vanilla, chocolate, or lemon.
🩷 Heidi
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Butter: Unsalted, softened to room temp for the creamiest texture and best control over salt
- Powdered sugar: Confectioners’ sugar for ultra smooth, fluffy frosting; sift for extra airy results
- Heavy cream: Adds richness and helps you dial in spreadable or pipeable consistency
- Vanilla extract: Real or clear vanilla; clear keeps the frosting bright white so sprinkles shine
- Sprinkles: Use rainbow jimmies that hold shape and don’t bleed into the frosting
- Pinch of salt: Optional but helpful to balance sweetness
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
- Cream cheese version: Swap part of the butter for softened cream cheese for tang and extra stability with our simple cream cheese frosting recipe.
- Chocolate funfetti: Start with our chocolate buttercream frosting and fold in jimmies for a birthday look.
- Citrus twist: Add 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice or lemon extract for a bright, tangy note. Ice it over a regular funfetti cake or a lemon cake.
- Colors and themes: Choose sprinkles by occasion like pink and blue for baby showers or red and green for Christmas, or black and orange for Halloween.
- Food coloring: Tint the frosting with a drop or two of gel color, then whip to evenly distribute.
- Salted butter: Works in a pinch; skip added salt and adjust to taste.
How to Make Funfetti Frosting
- Whip the butter: Beat softened butter on high for 2 to 3 minutes until pale and fluffy.
- Add sugar gradually: Mix on low, adding powdered sugar a little at a time, scraping the bowl as needed.
- Mix in vanilla and cream: Add vanilla and 2 tablespoons cream, then whip on high for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Fold in sprinkles: Gently fold in jimmies with a spatula so they don’t sink or streak.
- Adjust consistency if needed: Add a splash more cream for softer spreading or a spoon of sugar for thicker piping.
- Frost and enjoy: Use right away on cooled cakes, cupcakes, or cookies, or cover until ready to use.
Recipe Tips
- Use the right sprinkles: Jimmies resist bleeding better than nonpareils or sanding sugar.
- Temperature matters: Butter should be soft to the touch, not melty, for the best structure.
- Whip long enough: Extra whipping adds air for cloud-like texture without making it runny.
- Crumb coat for clean sides: Spread a thin coat, chill briefly, then finish for a smooth final layer.
- Piping tip size: Use a large tip since smaller tips can clog with sprinkles.
- Cake size: 9×13 cake pan or two 8-inch or 9-inch cake pans. Always use a toothpick to check to see if the cakes are done before taking them out of the oven.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Start with a tablespoon at a time since milk is thinner than cream.
Small round nonpareils tend to bleed. Stick with jimmies and fold them in gently at the end.
About 5 cups. Enough for a 9 by 13 cake or two 8 or 9 inch layers, or 24 cupcakes with generous swirls.
Add a pinch more salt and 1 to 2 tablespoons cream cheese to cut sweetness while keeping structure.
Yes. Keep it on the thicker side by reducing cream slightly and whip just to medium fluff.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Revive texture: Bring to room temp and re-whip for 30 to 60 seconds until fluffy again.
- Room temp or fridge on cakes: Frosted cakes keep up to 5 days covered at room temp or refrigerated.
- Store frosting: Refrigerate up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 2 months in an airtight container.
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If you make this Funfetti Frosting, leave a rating and a quick review. I’d love to hear any fun twists you tried and your favorite cakes to pair it with. Your tips help other readers and they absolutely make my day. 💛🩷💙
Funfetti Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 Tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sprinkles
Instructions
- Using a stand mixer or electric mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the butter for 2-3 minutes on high speed.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl. On low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar and mix until it is all combined scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the vanilla extract and heavy cream. If the frosting is too thick, add a little more cream until it reaches the right consistency. Whip on high speed for 2-3 minutes.
- Fold in the rainbow sprinkles until they are evenly mixed.
- Cover the frosting or store in an airtight container until ready to use on your favorite cakes, cupcakes or cookies. Makes 5 cups of frosting.
Equipment
- Electric Mixer
Notes
- Butter softened, not melted.
- Sift powdered sugar for extra fluffy texture.
- Start with 2 tablespoons cream, adjust as needed.
- Use jimmies to avoid color bleed and fold them in at the end.
- Clear vanilla keeps the frosting bright.
- Large piping tips work best with sprinkles.
- Makes enough for a 9 by 13 cake or two 8 or 9 inch layers.
- For a crumb coat, thin a small portion with milk, chill, then finish frosting.
- Store up to 2 weeks in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer. Let it come to room temp and re-whip before using.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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It is so cute, a perfect recipe for cake for special events! It was easy and fun to make. The recipe is easy to follow!
This frosting was literally everything that I wanted it to be and more! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe.
THIS IS SOOO FUN! We made funfetti cake using this frosting and it turned out great and festive. Sooo yummy!