These Funfetti cupcakes are a celebration in every bite! Dotted with colourful sprinkles throughout a light vanilla sponge and topped with the smoothest vanilla buttercream, they're perfect for birthdays, parties, or anytime you need a sweet treat. The sprinkles add both visual appeal and a delightful texture contrast to the soft, fluffy cupcakes.

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Recipe Ingredients:
Optional Add-Ins
How To Make Funfetti Cupcakes?
How To Make Ahead and Store Leftovers?
Expert Tips:
Serving Suggestions:
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Recipe Ingredients:

This Funfetti cupcake recipe uses simple ingredients that come together to create a delightfully pretty treat. The colourful sprinkles mixed into the vanilla cake batter create that iconic confetti effect that makes these cupcakes special. Here's what you'll need:

Unsalted butter: This creates a rich, moist texture and buttery flavour in both the cupcakes and frosting.
Caster sugar: Provides sweetness while dissolving easily into the batter for a smooth texture.
Eggs: Add structure and moisture and help bind the ingredients together.
Vanilla extract: Provides that classic, sweet flavour that pairs perfectly with the sprinkles.
Self-raising flour: This flour contains raising agents for the perfect lift, saving you from having to add baking powder.
Milk: Adds moisture and creates a tender crumb.
Rainbow sprinkles: The star ingredient! "Jimmies" work best as they hold their colour and shape during baking.
Icing sugar: Creates a smooth, sweet frosting when combined with the butter.
Salt: A small pinch enhances all the flavours and balances the sweetness in the frosting.

Optional Add-Ins

While the classic Funfetti cupcake is perfect as is, here are some delicious variations you might want to try:

Almond extract: Add ¼ teaspoon along with the vanilla for a subtle nutty flavor.
Lemon or orange zest: Mix 1 teaspoon into the batter for a citrus twist.
White chocolate chips: Fold in 50g of mini white chocolate chips with the sprinkles for extra sweetness.
Food colouring: Add a few drops to the batter or frosting to match your party theme.
Flavoured frosting: Try strawberry, chocolate, or lemon buttercream instead of vanilla.
Cake filling: Core the centre and add jam (much like my PB&J cupcakes), chocolate ganache, or custard before frosting.

How To Make Funfetti Cupcakes?

Making these colourful cupcakes is surprisingly simple, and the results are amazing. The process involves creating a light vanilla batter, folding in sprinkles, and topping with a smooth, creamy buttercream.

Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) / 350°F. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cupcake cases.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. This usually takes 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer and is an important step for creating light cupcakes.

Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Add the vanilla extract and mix well.

Gently fold in the self-raising flour using a metal spoon or spatula. Once nearly combined, add the milk and continue folding until you have a smooth batter.

Carefully fold in the rainbow sprinkles, being gentle to avoid the colours bleeding too much into the batter.

Divide the batter evenly between the cupcake cases, filling each about ⅔ full.

Bake for 18 minutes or until the cupcakes are golden and spring back when lightly pressed. A skewer inserted into the centre should come out clean.

Allow to cool completely on a wire rack. While the cupcakes are cooling, make the buttercream.

In a large bowl, beat the butter until very soft and pale. This can take 3-5 minutes with an electric mixer. Gradually add the sifted icing sugar, vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and enough milk to create a smooth, pipeable consistency.

Beat well between each addition. Once the cupcakes are completely cool, pipe or spread the buttercream on top. Finish with a generous sprinkle of extra rainbow sprinkles for that perfect festive look.

How To Make Ahead and Store Leftovers?

Make ahead:

Unfrosted cupcakes can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
The buttercream can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Bring it to room temperature and whip it briefly before using.
Fully decorated cupcakes can be made up to 24 hours ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Storing leftovers:

Store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 5 days, but allow them to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture and flavour.
To freeze: Wrap unfrosted cupcakes individually and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before frosting.
Freeze the buttercream separately in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bring to room temperature and rewhip before using.

Expert Tips:

Room temperature ingredients are essential for the smoothest batter and fluffiest cupcakes. Take butter and eggs out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking.

Don't overmix the batter after adding the flour, as this can develop too much gluten and make the cupcakes tough.

Use "jimmies" style sprinkles rather than nonpareils (the tiny round ones) as they're less likely to bleed into the batter.

Fold the sprinkles in very gently and minimally to prevent the colours from bleeding too much.

For extra sprinkle presence, reserve a small portion to sprinkle on top of the batter just before baking.

When making buttercream, beat the butter alone until very pale before adding sugar for the smoothest, fluffiest result.

Sift the icing sugar to avoid lumps in your buttercream.

If the buttercream is too thick, add a little more milk. If it's too thin, add more icing sugar.

For a professional finish, use a piping bag with a large star tip to pipe swirls of buttercream.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at room temperature for the best flavour and texture.
For a special occasion, add a birthday candle to each cupcake.
Create a cupcake display with varying heights using cake stands for an impressive presentation.
Pair with a glass of cold milk, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a cup of tea or coffee.
For dessert tables, arrange alongside other sweet treats in coordinating colours.
Use different coloured sprinkles to match party themes or holidays.

If you make this recipe for Funfetti Cupcakes, I would appreciate it if you could take a minute to leave a rating and a comment below. Happy baking!

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