Easy funfetti cupcakes recipe: putting the fun back in funfetti
As you may have read, this week was Peter’s and my seventh wedding anniversary. Aside from our vintage travel theme, one of the things that we both wanted was for our wedding to be fun. This funfetti cupcakes recipe is perfect for such occasions and goes wonderfully with our white chocolate frosting.
Our wedding cupcakes
After the ceremony and before the reception, we had numerous things happening at our wedding. The kids played on the playground and built sandcastles in the sand. The bigger kids went jetty jumping. We had photos taken with a parachute, which the kids loved playing with, and we played a game of cricket – team bride versus team groom, of course.
We also had some refreshments for our guests. Champagne and beer for the adults and various soft drinks for kids or those who didn’t want alcohol so early in the afternoon. We were going to have non-alcoholic lemonade in a big dispenser, but it just did not happen on the day (there were a few things like that).
We had a candy bar, primarily for the kids but the adults enjoyed it too. It was meant to come out just before the kids left, for them to make a little bag to take home, but somehow the adults discovered it early.
We had forgotten to take the pavlovas and mini trifles to our wedding location. Instead, we had doughnuts from the great local bakery and cupcakes from our wedding cake baker. Banana cupcakes. Vanilla cupcakes. We didn’t have funfetti cupcakes, though this funfetti cupcakes recipe would have been perfect for adding a little more fun to our wedding day.
Why this funfetti cupcakes recipe suits any occasion
Some people might say that funfetti cupcakes don’t suit a wedding. I say, this funfetti cupcakes recipe suits any time that you want to add a little fun.
Birthday parties come to mind. Any time your little one needs a pick-me-up. Anytime your Mum friend needs a smile in a frazzling week.
I made these funfetti cupcakes with white chocolate frosting for afternoon tea when our trip to the local carnival parade was cancelled due to dangerous weather. Think six adults and five kids dressed up in costume.
They are perfect any time you want some more fun or someone needs a little cheering up.
A basic vanilla cupcake with extras
Funfetti cupcakes are basically vanilla cupcakes with coloured sprinkles added. I base my funfetti cupcakes recipe on my simple vanilla cupcakes recipe, which is the basis for the vanilla fairy cakes with crushed vanilla cream.
However, funfetti cupcakes are more than just throwing coloured sprinkles (confetti) into vanilla cupcakes. The sprinkles will weigh down the cupcakes if there is not an additional rising agent in the batter. If the batter is too thick, it will also be difficult to evenly distribute the sprinkles throughout the batter.
We kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. To help the cupcakes rise, despite the additional weight, you’ll find bi-carbonate of soda in this funfetti cupcakes recipe. To activate, however, the baking soda needs some acid. This comes in the form of half a cup of plain yoghurt. The liquid in the yoghurt also helps thin the batter without making it runny.
Choose your sprinkles carefully
I found some sprinkles (some might call them hundreds and thousands or jimmies) on sale at one of our discount supermarkets. I didn’t know the brand or the product and perhaps stupidly assumed that the sprinkles would not make any difference to the cupcakes. I was wrong.
While these sprinkles are normally the best for funfetti cupcakes and cakes, this brand really did not work. Apart from the blue ones, the sprinkles lost their colour when added to the batter – and they didn’t put that colour into the batter either. Instead of a lovely, almost watercolour effect in the batter, we had some blue and minute amounts of pink. That was it. Very disappointing.
It did not affect the taste. There were no lumps in the cupcakes and it wasn’t overly sweet. It did still have little tiny pockets of sweet musk.
Long story short: use good quality sprinkles. And good quality vanilla, not imitation vanilla.
For some reason, I cannot find the photos I took of the inside of the funfetti cupcakes. This means you can’t see what I mean by the sprinkles did not work. However, just because the discount brand sprinkles didn’t have the required effect, does not mean that all of the baking goods that the discounter sells are not good. The little rainbows and unicorns also came from the discounter, too.
Perfect with white chocolate frosting
Originally I was planning on complementing this funfetti cupcakes recipe with vanilla buttercream. That would have been fine, but not so inspiring.
Instead, I decided to use my white chocolate frosting (the one I use on my Oreo cupcakes). It elevates these cupcakes and makes them absolutely delicious. It also proves just how versatile this frosting is!
Make this funfetti cupcakes recipe for your next celebration
Simple, delicious and a whole lot of fun! These funfetti cupcakes with white chocolate frosting are great for a wedding or any other celebration. The fun element of this funfetti cupcakes recipe means they are great for anyone needing a pick-me-up.
When are you going to make some funfetti cupcakes?
These simple and super fun cupcakes are guaranteed to be a hit with kids both young and old.
Ingredients
- 125g butter, softened
- 2/3 cup caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
- 1 1/2 cups of plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 level tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup plain yoghurt
- 1/2 cup of sprinkles
- 125 g butter
- 2 cups of icing sugar
- 200g white chocolate, melted and cooled
- 1/4 cup of double cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°c and line a muffin tin with patty pans.
- Place the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat on high until a pale and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla paste and mix well.
- Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a separate bowl.
- Mix the milk and the yoghurt.
- Add the dry ingredients and the milk alternately, bit-by-bit, ending with the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Fold in the sprinkles, being careful not to mix too much.
- Spoon the mixture into the patty pans until 2/3 full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
- Place the butter in a mixing bowl and beat on medium for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add 1 cup of the icing sugar and mix well.
- Take care to ensure that the chocolate has cooled. Add the chocolate, cream, vanilla and salt to the whipped butter and sugar and mix well.
- Add the remaining icing sugar a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- Frost the cooled cupcakes and top with more sprinkles or unicorn and rainbow decorations.
Notes
Use good quality sprinkles!
Be careful when adding your sprinkles. If you stir too much, the colour will bleed into your batter. You’ll have badly tie-died cupcakes rather than pops of colour.
Use real vanilla paste, sugar or essence, not imitation vanilla.
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