8-Minute Funfetti Buttercream Frosting

This Funfetti Buttercream Frosting is perfect for adding a pop of color and fun to your baked goods. It’s creamy, sweet, and made from scratch in just 8 minutes using 5 simple ingredients.

There’s nothing quite like a delicious and creamy buttercream to top off your favorite cake or cupcakes. And when it comes to frostings, Funfetti Buttercream Frosting is one of the most festive varieties.

As a busy mom, I love quick and easy desserts that are fun for the kids, like no churn sprinkle ice cream, confetti snack cake, and funfetti loaf cake! And this creamy, American-style vanilla buttercream gets a similar nostalgic twist with the addition of colorful sprinkles. With just 5 simple steps, you’ll have this buttercream ready in less than 10 minutes.

This funfetti buttercream frosting is a go-to topping for all my kids' birthday parties. Whether it’s to top a vanilla birthday cake or add a fun and festive touch to mini cupcakes so little ones can help themselves during a party, it's always a hit with all our guests (kids and adults!).

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Easy to make: This funfetti buttercream recipe is incredibly easy to make in less than 10 minutes. All you need is a mixer and five basic ingredients.
• Customizable: Depending on your preferences, you can add more or less sprinkles or even use different colors to complement any celebration.
• Make ahead: Prepare this confetti frosting up to a week in advance, or store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. You’ll be prepared for any celebration!

Ingredients You'll Need

You’ll need pantry staples and colorful sprinkles to make this dreamy buttercream frosting. Here’s your shopping list:

• Butter. Adds a delicious flavor to the frosting. Use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt. Allow your butter to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour. It should be malleable without being greasy or melted.
• Powdered sugar. Sweetens the frosting and creates a smooth and creamy consistency. Sift your sugar to remove any lumps.
• Vanilla. Splurge on a good quality pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
• Heavy cream. You’ll need cream to thin out the frosting for the perfect spreadable and pipeable consistency. Feel free to use any milk.
• Rainbow sprinkles. The star of the show, these colorful sprinkles add a fun, festive appearance and a bit of texture to each bite.

Helpful Tools for Making Fun, Sprinkle Buttercream

• Digital kitchen scale or measuring cups. Using a scale will give you the most accurate measurements.
• Measuring spoons.
• Mixer. A handheld or stand mixer will work.
• Large bowl. A stand mixer bowl or a large mixing bowl will work.
• Rubber spatula.

Step-By-Step Instructions

How Much Frosting Will This Recipe Yield?

This funfetti buttercream frosting will yield 2.5-3 cups, enough to cover 18-24 cupcakes, a 9x13-inch cake, or a two-layer 8-inch or 9-inch cake.

Note: The longer you whip the buttercream, the more air is incorporated, giving you a greater volume of frosting (closer to 3 cups). Be careful not to over whip, otherwise, you will have a lot of air bubbles.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Buttercream frosting is straightforward to make, but as a trained pastry chef, I love sharing a few tips that I find are always helpful for creating a perfectly smooth and creamy frosting!

• Use the paddle attachment. The paddle attachment for a stand mixer incorporates less air into the frosting than the whisk attachment (which means fewer air bubbles!).
• Scrape down the bowl. During each process step, scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl several times to ensure all the ingredients are incorporated evenly.
• Slowly add the cream. You’ll want to add the cream a little at a time to prevent the consistency of the buttercream from becoming too loose (which won’t hold its shape for piping on cupcakes).
• Add the sprinkles at the end. Incorporating the sprinkles at the end of the mixing process will avoid over-mixing the batter (which can cause the sprinkles to blend into the frosting).
• Use a large piping tip. If you plan to frost cupcakes with a disposable piping bag, select a large piping tip to prevent the sprinkles from getting stuck.

Recipe Variations

• Cream Cheese Funfetti Buttercream. Add 224 g (8 ounces) of softened cream cheese to the basic funfetti buttercream recipe to create a tangy and creamy frosting. This frosting is perfect for carrot cake, chocolate cupcakes, and other rich and flavorful desserts.
• Chocolate Funfetti Buttercream. Add 40 g (½ cup) of cocoa powder to the basic funfetti buttercream recipe to create a rich and velvety chocolate frosting.
• Use gel food coloring. If you’d like to color your frosting, stick with gel food coloring. It’s more concentrated than liquid food coloring, so you’ll need less of it to achieve vibrant colors. Always start with a small amount and add more as needed.

Storage & Freezing Tips

When I’m on a time crunch or want frosting on hand for an easy, last-minute topping to desserts, here’s what I do to prep ahead:

• At room temperature.  Store funfetti buttercream in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature. If it’s too warm, transfer it to the fridge to prevent your buttercream from melting.
• Refrigerator. Store buttercream in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Before using, bring it to room temperature and re-whip it with the paddle attachment (or a handheld mixer).
• Freezer. Store the frosting in a resealable freezer-safe bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature and re-whip before using.

Recipe FAQ

More Sprinkle Dessert Recipes You'll Love

• Birthday Cake Blondies
• Fudgy Birthday Cake Brownies
• Funfetti Cookie Sandwiches
• Stuffed Birthday Cake Cookies

I hope you love this Funfetti Buttercream Frosting as much as we do and that it becomes a family favorite! Please leave a comment below, I love reading your feedback! And if you’d like to make this recipe later, don’t forget to pin it on Pinterest! Happy Baking!

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