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Birthday Cake Recipe: Classic Vanilla Funfetti Layer Cake

Classic Vanilla Funfetti Birthday Cake

A three-layer 9-inch vanilla birthday cake filled with rainbow jimmies and finished with smooth American buttercream. This festive cake serves approximately 12–16 people.
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Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 26 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cake
  • 2 1/2 cups (285 g) Cake flour
  • 2 teaspoons Baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon Fine salt
  • 3/4 cup (170 g) Unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups (350 g) Granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs Large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons Pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (120 g) Full-fat sour cream, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) Whole milk, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup (about 120 g) Rainbow jimmies or other oven-safe sprinkles
Buttercream
  • 1 1/2 cups (340 g) Unsalted butter, softened
  • 6 cups (about 720 g) Confectioners' sugar, sifted
  • 1/3 cup (80 ml) Heavy cream or whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon Pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon Fine salt
  • As needed for decoration Additional sprinkles

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and fine salt together in a medium bowl.
  3. Beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed for 3–4 minutes, until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then beat in the vanilla.
  4. Mix in the sour cream. Add the dry ingredients in two or three additions, alternating with the milk, and mix only until the batter is just combined.
  5. Fold in the rainbow jimmies gently by hand. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans.
  6. Bake for 24–28 minutes, until the tops spring back lightly and a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  7. Cool the cakes in their pans for 10–15 minutes, then turn them out onto wire racks. Cool completely before frosting.
  8. For the buttercream, beat the softened butter until smooth. Gradually add the sifted confectioners' sugar, then mix in the cream, vanilla, and salt; beat for 3–5 minutes until light and fluffy.
  9. Level the cake layers if needed. Spread buttercream between the layers, frost the top and sides, and decorate with additional sprinkles.

Notes

Use room-temperature dairy and eggs for a smooth batter. Choose rainbow jimmies rather than nonpareils because jimmies are less likely to dissolve or streak. Chill the filled cake for 20–30 minutes before the final frosting coat for cleaner sides.