Gluten-Free Funfetti Birthday Cake (Printable View)
Festive vanilla layer cake loaded with colorful sprinkles, perfect for birthdays and celebrations.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 ½ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend with xanthan gum
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ½ teaspoon fine salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - ½ cup vegetable oil
08 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
09 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
→ Add-ins
11 - ½ cup gluten-free rainbow sprinkles
→ Frosting
12 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
13 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
14 - 2-3 tablespoons whole milk or dairy-free milk
15 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
16 - Pinch of salt
17 - Extra gluten-free sprinkles for decorating
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together gluten-free flour blend, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat sugar, butter, and oil in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to wet ingredients, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
06 - Gently fold rainbow sprinkles into batter using a spatula.
07 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 28-32 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
08 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Mix in vanilla, salt, and 2 tablespoons milk. Adjust consistency with additional milk if needed.
10 - Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread frosting layer on top. Position second layer and frost top and sides evenly.
11 - Decorate with additional sprinkles as desired. Slice and serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The texture is so perfectly moist and tender that nobody believes its gluten-free until you tell them
- Its the cake that makes everyone feel included at birthday celebrations regardless of dietary restrictions
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients are not optional—cold eggs will cause the butter to seize and your batter will curdle
- The toothpick test is your friend—gluten-free cakes continue cooking as they cool so slightly underbaked is better than dry
03 -
- Weighing your flour is the difference between consistent success and wild experimentation—320 grams is the sweet spot for this recipe
- Let the frosted cake sit for 30 minutes before slicing to let the frosting set slightly—this gives you those clean picture-perfect cuts