As a kid, I always crossed my fingers that there would be Funfetti cupcakes served at any birthday party I attended. It's something about the moist, white, fluffiness of boxed cake mix, speckled with rainbow colors and topped with sugary frosting that makes me go wild. In fact, I'm getting excited just talking about it! As an adult, I still love the flavor of boxed white cake but to be honest the thought that anything from a mix can trump a homemade recipe just down right bothers me. So when I found this recipe claiming to be the closest thing to the box, I jumped to make it. I added a generous portion of rainbow sprinkles, waved my magic sugar wand and, ding...homemade Funfetti cupcakes! I'm telling you friends, this recipe is so good, the kid in you will never know the difference! Scratch that...you WILL be able to tell the difference because this cake is better than the box. Frosting, sprinkles, fluffy white cake, full blow sugar rush on a Saturday afternoon, and I was feeling like a little girl again. Now who's throwing the party?
{photos by freutcake}
Funfetti Cupcakes
Yield: 24 Standard cupcakes
Fluffy Vanilla Cake- adapted from Sweetapolita white cake
5 large egg whites at room temperature
¾ cup whole milk, at room temperature
2 ¼ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 ½ cups sifted cake flour
1 ¾ cups sugar
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into cubes
⅓ cup rainbow sprinkles (jimmies)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cupcake tins with paper liners
2. In a medium bowl or measuring cup, combine and stir the egg whites, ¼ cup of milk, and the vanilla. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the dry ingredients together on low speed (I use the “stir” setting on my mixer) for 30 seconds.
4. Add the butter and remaining ½ cup of milk, and mix on low speed until just moistened. Increase to medium speed and mix for 90 seconds.
5. Scrape the sides of the bowl and begin to add the egg mixture in 3 separate batches; beat on medium speed for 20 seconds after each addition.
6. Divide the batter between cupcake tins filling cups ¾ of the way full. I use an ice cream scoop for this.
7. Bake 15-18 minutes, rotating tins half way through baking.
8. Cupcakes are done when a cake tester comes out clean when inserted into the center and the cakes are lightly golden. Be careful to not over bake. Check cake at 15 minutes. Let cupcakes cool entirely in tins on cooling racks.
8. Frost only when cupcakes are completely cooled.
Whipped Vanilla Frosting
3 sticks + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and cut into cubes
3 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar (icing, powdered)
3 tablespoons milk
1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
generous pinch of salt
Directions
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter for 8 minutes on medium speed. Butter will become very pale & creamy.
2. Add remaining ingredients and mix on low speed for 1 minute, then on medium speed for 6 minutes. Frosting will be very light, creamy, and fluffy.
3. Fit a piping bag with large round tip, fill and pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes.
Decoration
1. Pour rainbow sprinkles out onto a small plate.
2. Dip the tops of each cupcake into the sprinkles
3. Enjoy!
Gaby [The Vault Files] says
Oh no, these look so yummy and fun!! I could just stare at them the whole day! They look so incredibly fluffy, makes me want to bite the screen! What happens if I replace cake flour with regular one? Would it make much a difference?
freutcake says
Gaby- cake flour makes cakes tender and light. According to Martha , you can substitute 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour for every 1 cup of cake flour. Also, sift the AP flour well!
Gaby [The Vault Files] says
Got it, thanks!! Is just that there's no way I could find cake flour in this town! 😉
marissa @ the boot says
i LOVED little kid birthday parties just because i knew that funfetti was going to be involved. these are so cute and i should totally make them for my italian friends - they'd get such a kick out of them! great job piping!
Jen @ Pretty Plate says
I'll throw the party if you bring the cupcakes! ; )
They look awesome!
: ))
Jen
rachael adele // for the love of design says
funfetti is my absolute fave! my roommate used to make funfetti cookies from the box and let me tell you, they are equally as dangerous as the cupcakes.
katie [the bright life] says
Oooh these look so cute and tasty!! And I agree 100% with your statement, "the thought that anything from a mix can trump a homemade recipe just down right bothers me." Glad you found a homemade version!! My mom teaches cooking classes for kids in Portland, and I'm going to pass this recipe on to her...I think the kids would love it! Xo, Katie
Katie says
These look amazing!!!! I am defiantly going to try this recipe 🙂
Ana Maria / Anamu says
Yay funfetti! Always brings out the five-year old in me.
Paola@love+cupcakes says
We are on the same wavelength girl! I'm making funfetti cake (by request!) this week for my good friends birthday. I was going to start researching tasty homemade recipes but guess you did all the work for me. Can't wait! Thanks for sharing.
freutcake says
This is a delicious white cake recipe! You will love it. If you are making a whole cake vs cupcakes for the party then it will yield: One 2-layer, 8-inch round cake or 9-inch round cake.
And the bake time should be changed to: Bake 25-35 minutes or until a cake tester comes clean when inserted into the center.
jacquelyn |lark+linen says
ohmigosh these look unbelievable!
Two Chums says
I am not much of a cupcake girl but you made these look soooooo good I just have to try them 🙂
Nic@diningwithastud says
I life is unlived without sprinkles 🙂 love it!
Melissa // thefauxmartha says
Love these fun little gems! So cute and festive!
Lane Culpepper says
I love funfetti! These are great. Can't wait to bake some
Adrienne says
Great idea. Thanks for this! I don't buy cake mixes in boxes, so this is a welcome recipe.
Allison Page says
Even though I will definitely try this recipe in the next 30 days, I have to admit a very small part of me deflated when the mystique of Funfetti unraveled to be plain white cake with sprinkles in the batter... Sniff.
Paige Ashby says
Yummm
Dana Gastelum says
These are seriously my favorite cupcakes ever! I always have boxes of funfetti cake mix on hand, in case of emergency craving 😉 Your look amazing! And if they are even better than the box, I MUST give them a try! 🙂
kat @ dot dot dash says
Ooo, lovely post! I could definitely use a holiday!
I've been enjoying your blog lately and so I've nominated you for a versatile blogger award.
You can see the post here if you'd like to play along:
http://dotdot-dash.com/2012/02/21/smiles-all-around/
x kat
freutcake says
Thanks Kat- so glad to hear you've been enjoying my blog!
Lo says
Beautiful! What tip did you use to pipe your frosting?