Gluten-Free Funfetti Cake Makes a Perfect Birthday Cake! This delicate yellow cake recipe–that’s bursting with sprinkles–only requires one bowl to make. It’s perfect for beginner bakers. Finish the cake with vanilla buttercream frosting–and more sprinkles, of course!
It’s no surprise that I love funfetti cake. I mean, it has sprinkles. And I LOVE sprinkles. Honestly, if you don’t love sprinkles, we can’t be friends. (Kidding. Mostly.)
When a reader left a comment asking for a funfetti birthday cake, I could not wait to make it. For some reason, I’ve made easy gluten-free funfetti cupcakes. They’re really easy and only make 12 cupcakes. And I’ve made a “just like the box” gluten-free funfetti cake. That recipe is a Saturday baking project. It uses individual gluten-free flours and requires you to cut in shortening–not a hard task but one that takes some time.
This recipe is quick. It makes a perfect two-layer cake —which is what you want for birthday parties or any other time you want SPRINKLES!
What is Funfetti?
If you aren’t familiar with funfetti, I’m about to make your day! Funfetti is white cake with sprinkles. Lots of sprinkles. Pillsbury is the creator of the funfetti phenomenon. They introduced it in 1989. And the rest, as they say, is history.
What’s the Best Gluten-Free Flour to Use for Funfetti Cake?
For this recipe, use a gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum. Without it, the cake turns out flat and dense.
I tested the recipe with Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour. If your flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum, add 1 teaspoon to the recipe.
What Flavor is Funfetti?
There’s a lot of debate around this. I believe that the unique funfetti flavors comes from a combination of clear vanilla extract and a dash of almond extract. It’s funny that I call for clear vanilla extract. If you’re familiar with vanilla, you know that clear vanilla is artificial vanilla. And that’s the point. Boxed funfetti cake mix, the type you probably grew up eating, includes artificial vanilla. If that’s the flavor you crave, grab a bottle. It makes a difference! I’d use clear vanilla extract in my frosting too, for the full effect.
As for the almond extract, it adds an almost maraschino cherry flavor. (If you’re just realizing that maraschino cherries taste like almonds, raise your hand, girlfriend.) The almond extract isn’t required. Feel free to skip it if you don’t want to buy a bottle.
Why Make Funfetti Cake from Scratch? Can’t I Use a Mix?
You sure can! The reason I prefer to make it from scratch is a simple one: taste. I think that homemade cake tastes better. Plus, when you make it from scratch, you can tailor the ingredients to suit any other food allergies you or your loved ones deal with.
How to Make Gluten-Free Funfetti Cake
- Prepare the Batter. This is an easy one-bowl recipe. Whisk together the dry ingredients, add the eggs, oil, and flavors. Stir. Done!
- Add the sprinkles.
- Pour batter into greased cake pans.
- Bake.
- Cool. <–this is key. If you frost a warm cake, the frosting melts and drips down the cake.
- Frost.
Are Sprinkles Gluten-Free?
It depends. Most sprinkles (also called Jimmies) are gluten-free. However, you should always read labels.
What Kind of Sprinkles Should I Use for Funfetti Cake?
Good question! There’s lots of sprinkles on the market. For funfetti cake, I use “sprinkles”, they are also labeled jimmies. Don’t confuse these with nonpareils. “Sprinkles” are long and soft. Nonpareils are tiny, hard sugar balls. In batter, nonpareils tend to melt and bleed color, while sprinkles don’t–giving you nice bursts of color throughout the finished cake.
What Frosting Should I Use?
You can finish funfetti cake with any frosting that you love! Classic vanilla buttercream frosting is traditional. But I think chocolate and cream cheese also make nice frostings for funfetti cake.
Shop the Recipe
The links below are affiliate links. GlutenFreeBaking.com earns a commission when you use the links to shop.
Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Baking Flour
Clear Vanilla Extract
Almond Extract
Sprinkles
Handheld Mixer
Mixing Bowls
Cake Pans
Cooling Rack
Cake Stand
Gluten-Free Funfetti Birthday Cake
Ingredients
Gluten-Free Funfetti Cake
- 2 1/2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour (see note) 11.5 ounces/326 grams
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 10.5 ounces/ 298 grams
- 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cup milk traditional or dairy-free
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil (4.75 ounces/134 grams)
- 4 large eggs (about 8 ounces/226 grams)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract pure vanilla or clear (imitation)
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract optional
- 1/3 cup colored sprinkles, plus additional for topping cake
Gluten-Free Vanilla Buttercream
- 2 sticks butter, softened (8 ounces; 226 grams)
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted (16 ounces; 454 grams)
- 4 tablespoons milk, more as needed
- 2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, optional
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray.
-
Whisk together gluten-free flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add milk, oil, eggs, and extracts. Whisk until a smooth batter forms. Add 1/3 cup sprinkles. Stir to combine.
-
Divide batter evenly between the two prepared pans.
-
Bake until cake is golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
-
Remove cakes from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for five minutes. Then turn cakes onto the wire rack to cool completely.
-
Once cool, frost with vanilla buttercream and sprinkle additional sprinkles onto cake.
Gluten-Free Vanilla Buttercream
-
Cream butter until smooth in a medium mixing bowl. Add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and almond extract. Mix, on low speed, until smooth. If buttercream seems thick, add a teaspoon or so additional milk. Use as directed.
Recipe Notes
Gluten-Free Flour
Use a gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum. Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour recommended. If your blend doesn't include xanthan gum, add 1 teaspoon along with the flour. Whisk together.
Carol Ann Rickard says
I made this cake to and really loved the flavour and for the most part the texture was great. It did have a little thicker, gummie area near the middle, bottom. I used Presidents Choice GF All Purpose flour that does not contain any rice flour. It has Xanthan Gum in it. Perhaps I beat it to much, I used my stand mixer, not a whisk. Any tips would be appreciated to avoid the settling, gummie result.
Elizabeth says
Hi Carol Ann,
I don’t think it’s you. I think it’s the flour. I tested it with Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free flour. If you’re able to find that flour, I think you’d get a better result. I hope this helps!
Carol Ann Rickard says
Thanks Elizabeth, I made the cake again yesterday. Used Robin Hood GF all purpose flour which has rice flour in it. I mixed it in one bowl by hand with a whisk. It turned out perfectly. Not sure which change made the difference perhaps both. Thanks again for your reply!
ANNABELLE LOOS says
Could I use namaste gluten free flour? Thanks much
Elizabeth says
I haven’t tried it with Namaste but I know people really like it! I think it should work
Glenys Lowes says
The sprinkles in my cake seemed to disappear in the cake and not show the colour. the cake itself was delicious but disappointed when I cut into it and didn’t see colour of sprinkles.
Wondered if you could help with this.
Elizabeth says
The color of the sprinkles really depends on the brand. The ones that are naturally colored tend to fade when baking. The easiest thing to do would be to try a different brand.
Brooke Z. says
This cake was absolutely delicious! It had an amazing texture and great flavor! I used King Arthur 1 for 1 cup which worked perfectly. You couldn’t even tell it was gluten free! The sprinkles were evenly distributed throughout the cake as well! The only change I may make would be to include slightly less almond extract in the frosting (but I would still include it) and do 3/4 of the frosting recipe since I had left over! Amazing flavor!
Alemat Senoj says
My daughter has a gluten allergy and so I made this cake for her. I looked at all of the comments for the best outcomes. I made only one substitution because of what was on hand, which was I subbed shortening and butter for the amount of oil. I made cupcakes instead of a whole cake and my daughter stated that the cake was fluffy and tasty. Delicious. When I make this again, I will use quality sprinkles. The ones that I got from Dollar tree melted, so we will call them multicolor sunbeam! The frosting is, great too! I give you A+.
Gena says
Thank you for the recipe. I followed it exactly with the Bob’s 1:1 flour. The cake tester came out clean, but there was a considerable “gummy” area on the top of the cakes. I am worried it was gummy throughout. Any suggestions? I used almond milk and real Mexican clear vanilla.
Elizabeth says
Hmm…the cake shouldn’t have been gummy. If you see that again, I’d try baking it for a few more minutes.
Darlene Guidry says
Really good! I used butter in place of oil, beat eggs in one at a time, and GV gluten free flour.
Spencer says
I made this with Trader Joe’s GF flour, and used 1:1 replacement of butter for the oil. It turned out great!!! Will definitely be remaking this for GF birthday celebrations.
Sam Wade says
Lovely easy sounding recipe…made it for a birthday cake unfortunately ours came out solid and like glue all through like someone had sat on it!! 😂
Not sure what we did wrong….
The guests very kindly ate it- fluffy it wasn’t 😏
Elizabeth says
That’s so disappointing. I’m sorry. What flour blend did you use?
SR says
I was a professional baker (many moons ago). My daughter has a gluten intolerance that has required us to shift everything to GF. Since I don’t have a baking background inGF, it’s been HARD trying to create something from scratch for her. Then I found your website *cue angelic music*! I have used many of your recipes (and they’re all great). But THIS ONE I have used each and every year for my daughter’s birthday! It is her all time favorite cake — tender crumb, delicious almond tones, and beautiful when it’s cut! What’s not to like? Thank you for sharing your recipes with those of us who so desperately need them. You’ll never know how many people you’ve helped! 🙂