Funfetti Cookies are a colorful dessert to make year-round! These made-from-scratch sprinkle cookies mix up easily and bake beautifully from a sugar cookie base. Inspired by the favorite childhood boxed birthday cake, these Funfetti Cookies are slightly chewy, soft and chock full of rainbow sprinkles. Perfect for birthday parties, graduations, baby showers, tailgates and more, Funfetti Cookies are a delicious treat to serve for any occasion!
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In college, one of my co-workers made me a tail because I was referred to as Eeyore around the newsroom. (In my defense, it was a hard semester. In their defense, I was an emotional mess and 100% deserved the chirps they sent my way.)
Family members have pointed out that I’m too negative.
As much as I try to have a sunny disposition, my years in journalism proved time and again that looking on the bright side sometimes leads to a bigger disappointment than expecting the worst and being surprised when things aren’t the worst.
2018 hasn’t been the year I thought it would be. While it has shown our little family so much happiness, it’s also been riddled with heartbreak and unforeseen challenges.
And though it feels against my nature, I’m looking for silver linings everywhere.
No one wants to see our house? We have more time to house hunt and will know that we’re making the right decision if/when the time comes. And we have more time to speculate on projects we’d like to undertake if we stay here.
This pregnancy has been rougher than my last one? At least Baby Speckle is active, happy and healthy, constantly kicking and wiggling throughout the days.
The blog isn’t where I imagined it would be this year? Hey, it just turned SEVEN, and that’s something to celebrate.
That’s right, folks. The Speckled Palate is SEVEN. We’ve come a long way since I kicked off this personal project with my Yogurt French Toast years ago, and we’re celebrating today with Funfetti Cookies.
Also known as Confetti Cookies or Sprinkle Cookies, these beauties are one of our favorites. They’re a good pick-me-up and are oh-so-colorful.
Also, they’re really good to gobble during stressful times. (Just sayin’.)
What are Funfetti Cookies?
You know the sprinkle cake you so loved as a kid? These made-from-scratch Funfetti Cookies are the cookie version of that sweet.
Why don’t we just use the cake mix to make these cookies?
Y’all should know by now that baking from scratch makes me exceedingly happy. You don’t really need that many more ingredients from your pantry to make these beauties at home. (Also, I don’t keep cake mix on hand because that has been known to lead to bad middle-of-the-night decisions, sooooo.)
Do the type of sprinkles I use matter?
Not really. I’ve found that if you use regular sprinkles (also known as “jimmies,” apparently), the cookies are a bit softer, while nonpareils make for a crunchier variety. I like to use nonpareils in the coating of the cookies to add a bit of texture for the final cookie.
Do I really have to refrigerate them for TWO hours?
Technically, you don’t have to, but you’ll end up with a flatter cookie. The chilling process allows the butter to solidify in the dough. Why does this matter? When the cookies bake, the chilled cookie dough takes longer to melt, leading to a fluffier cookie that spreads significantly less.
Do you ice these cookies? If not, can I ice them?
These cookies are delicious without any icing, and I chose not to ice them here. That said, if you want to ice ‘em, knock yourself out. I highly suggest using this Cream Cheese Icing because cream cheese and sprinkles is an incredible combination.
What tools/products do I need to make Funfetti Cookies?
- Glass bowls.
- Measuring spoons.
- Rainbow nonpareils.
- Rainbow sprinkles.
- Nonstick baking mat.
- 2 tablespoon cookie scoop.
What can I pair with these Funfetti Cookies?
- Sour Cream Funfetti Cupcakes
- Princess Violette Cocktail
- Small-Batch Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Cream Cheese Icing
- Funfettini Birthday Cake Martini
- Chocolate-Covered Raspberry Cupcakes with Raspberry Chocolate Cream Cheese Filling and Raspberry Buttercream Frosting
- Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars
Y’all ready to make these beauties?
Scroll on down to learn how simple they are to mix up in your own kitchen!
Homemade Funfetti Cookies
Funfetti Cookies are a colorful dessert to make year-round! These made-from-scratch sprinkle cookies mix up easily and bake beautifully from a sugar cookie base. Inspired by the favorite childhood boxed birthday cake, these Funfetti Cookies are slightly chewy, soft and chock full of rainbow sprinkles. Perfect for birthday parties, graduations, baby showers, tailgates and more, Funfetti Cookies are a delicious treat to serve for any occasion!
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup rainbow sprinkles
- ½ cup rainbow nonpareils, for rolling
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whip the softened butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with a hand (or stand) mixer until the butter is light yellow and the sugars are well incorporated.
- Add in the egg and vanilla extract, beating until combined.
- Combine the dry ingredients--flour, salt and soda--in a smaller bowl, and whisk.
- Pour in half of the dry ingredients, mixing until combined, then add the other half, blending until the batter has come together.
- Measure in ½ cup of the rainbow sprinkles. Stir them into the batter with a spoon.
- Chill the dough for at least 2 hours (or overnight.)
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.
- Combine the rest of the rainbow sprinkles with the nonpareils.
- Use a cookie scooper to out rounds of the cookie dough. Roll the cookie dough in your hands until rounded and smooth.
- Roll in the mixture of rainbow sprinkles and nonpareils until coated.
- Place the cookie dough on the baking sheet, leaving about 2” between each so the dough can spread as it bakes.
- Bake for 10-11 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Enjoy warm with a glass of your favorite kind of milk!
Notes
If the cookies are cooled and you'd like them warm to eat, heat up in the toaster oven OR microwave on a microwave-safe plate for 10-15 seconds, or until the centers of the cookie is just slightly gooey.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
30Serving Size:
1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 98Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 60mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 8gProtein: 1g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
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Amy Nash says
These are the cutest and I love how simple they are. I’ve got a bunch of partially used jars of sprinkles in the cupboard and this is the perfect way to use them up. Congrats on SEVEN years of blogging! That’s amazing!!!!
Erin says
Aww, thank you so much, Amy! You DEFINITELY should clear out your partially used sprinkle jars by making these cookies. We’ve loved ’em so much… but are currently out of sprinkles. For shame! 😉
Thank you, thank you! It’s hard to believe it’s been SEVEN years.
Susannah // Feast + West says
I made these for a Christmas party this year, only with red, white and green sprinkles instead of rainbow. They were such a big hit! The vanilla flavor is very present and I love how they are a mix of crunchy and soft. They were absolutely perfect and I cannot wait to make them again in more colors soon! So good!
Erin says
I love that you made these Christmas-y, Susannah! What a brilliant idea and a fun way to take these versatile cookies into a holiday treat! I’m so glad that you enjoyed the flavor and the texture of these. We’ve loved them all year, and I absolutely want to make them for Valentine’s Day in reds and pinks now!
Sara says
I made a surprise for my mom with these and she loved them (im now her favorite child)
Erin says
Haha. Well done, Sara! Nobody can turn down a Funfetti Cookie. 😉