Save to Pinterest Spring Funfetti Cake with Pastel Buttercream is a light and joyful vanilla cake flecked with colorful sprinkles and topped with whimsical pastel buttercream—perfect for bringing a burst of cheerful color to your spring celebrations. This medium-difficulty American dessert yields 12 servings and combines familiar flavors with a festive twist that is delightful to both the eyes and the palate.
Save to Pinterest What's for Dinner Tonight? 🤔
Stop stressing. Get 10 fast recipes that actually work on busy nights.
Free. No spam. Just easy meals.
This cake combines classic baking elements with simple techniques that yield a festive and elegant dessert. The balance of creamy butter and sour cream in the batter keeps the crumb tender and moist, while the pastel tinted buttercream frosting invites creativity in decorating. The use of high-quality sprinkles helps avoid color bleeding, ensuring your cake looks as good as it tastes.
Ingredients
Tired of Takeout? 🥡
Get 10 meals you can make faster than delivery arrives. Seriously.
One email. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
- For the Cake
- 2 1/2 cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120 g) sour cream, room temperature
- 2/3 cup (100 g) rainbow sprinkles (jimmies, not nonpareils)
- For the Pastel Buttercream
- 1 1/2 cups (340 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 5 cups (600 g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) whole milk
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Food coloring gels: pastel pink, blue, yellow, and purple
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch (23 cm) round cake pans with parchment paper.
- 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- 3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
- 4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
- 5. In a separate bowl, whisk milk and sour cream until combined.
- 6. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
- 7. Gently fold in the rainbow sprinkles with a spatula.
- 8. Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans. Smooth tops.
- 9. Bake for 28–32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- 10. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Pastel Buttercream
- 11. Beat butter until smooth and creamy (about 2 minutes).
- 12. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low until incorporated.
- 13. Add milk, vanilla, and salt. Beat on high until fluffy (2–3 minutes).
- 14. Divide buttercream into 4 bowls. Tint each with a different pastel color using food gel.
- 15. To decorate, dollop or pipe colored buttercream onto cooled cake layers as desired. Swirl colors together for a marbled pastel effect.
Zusatztipps für die Zubereitung
Ensure all refrigerated ingredients like eggs, butter, milk, and sour cream reach room temperature before beginning for a smooth batter. Fold the sprinkles gently so they don’t bleed color or sink to the bottom, preserving their bright appearance throughout the cake layers.
Still Scrolling? You'll Love This 👇
Our best 20-minute dinners in one free pack — tried and tested by thousands.
Trusted by 10,000+ home cooks.
Varianten und Anpassungen
You can substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream if preferred without affecting texture. For a fun alternative, try baking the batter as cupcakes and reduce baking time to 22–24 minutes. Adjust frosting colors for seasonal or holiday themes by swapping pastel gels for other shades.
Serviervorschläge
Serve slices of this cake with a chilled glass of sparkling Moscato or fresh lemonade to complement its light sweetness and festive vibe. Perfect for birthday parties, baby showers, or any joyous springtime gathering.
Save to Pinterest With this Spring Funfetti Cake and Pastel Buttercream, you’ll delight guests not only with its joyful flavors but with its playful and beautiful appearance. Whether for a casual teatime or a festive occasion, this cake embodies the fresh spirit of spring in every colorful bite.
Recipe FAQs
- → How do I prevent sprinkles from bleeding colors?
Use high-quality jimmie sprinkles instead of nonpareils and fold them in gently at the end of mixing to maintain their color integrity.
- → Can I substitute sour cream in the batter?
Yes, Greek yogurt can be used as a substitute for sour cream to add similar moisture and tang.
- → What is the best way to achieve the pastel buttercream colors?
Divide the buttercream into separate bowls and tint each with a small amount of gel food coloring in pastel shades, then swirl or pipe them onto the cake.
- → How can I tell when the cake is fully baked?
Insert a toothpick into the center; when it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, the cake is done baking.
- → What tools are essential for making this cake?
You'll need two 9-inch round pans, an electric mixer, mixing bowls, spatulas, parchment paper, and a cooling rack for best results.
