It's important to have the oven preheated for at least 30 minutes before making the cake. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase speed to high and beat for 2 minutes. Once you have a smooth batter, fold in the 2/3 cup of sprinkles. This is a tip I picked up from Marian Bull, who learned at a Momofuku Milk Bar cake class that McCormick’s clear imitation vanilla is way closer than an all-natural vanilla extract to achieving that nostalgic flavor we get from boxed cakes. Funfetti is a complex being who has issues because when anyone tells him to just act natural, he fails. Gathering my ideas for a nephew's 1st bday party but there will be about 20 guests. The frosting is whipped with a little extra cream so it's light and soft. Unlike my white cake, though, this recipe doesn't call for whipping the egg whites to soft peaks first. To answer that, we need a bit of cake science, so bear with me. Spread frosting over the top. Pure hydrogenated vegetable shortening? Hence, only egg whites in the batter. See what other Food52 readers are saying. I've tasted a few and some have a very distinct flavor that can ruin the cake. Reading through the comments, I saw an identical concern that was not addressed by the writer. The holiday might look a little different this year—but we’ll be right by your side (as always!) Is there a gluten free flour you recommend for this recipe? Choose the rainbow sprinkles carefully. Are they still your in law's? Cake flour is ground from soft winter wheat, to all-purpose flour’s *hard* winter wheat. The batter needs to be thick enough to suspend the sprinkles so that they don’t all fall to the bottom when the cake is baking. I have yet to find a GF cake flour! Cake flour is also bleached with chlorine. Think of cake (*yum, cake*) and its ideal texture: soft, tender, moist, and crumbly almost. Place one layer on a serving platter. Very high and fluffy - but definitely needed more time in the oven than 25 min. . But, if you want to swipe a colored icing over your funfetti cake, go for a glossy white meringue-based icing, like Italian or Swiss buttercream, instead. Beat together the butter and sugar until creamy. Beat in the vanilla. Go have fun(fetti)! We can't all live close to a Cheesecake Factory, after all. You do not want to store the cake in the refrigerator. Add 5 cups powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla. My mom gave me Tastykakes for breakfast as a kid, and i'm SURE there was plenty of cancer-causing ingredients in it, but I wouldn't take it back for the world. Lightly grease and flour the parchment paper; set aside. Molly is 2 Tbsp of imitation vanilla correct? The secret to funfetti is that funfetti in his most natural element is, in fact, slightly artificial. I decided to go with a simple, quick American-style buttercream, for the sake of ease and time (and my sanity). In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl with a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed until creamy and pale in color, about 5 minutes. I did include some oil to help ensure an even crumb that stays tender and moist. And forget about using any type of sanding sugar. It seems like a lot of vanilla. Repeat with the second layer. See the full recipe (and save and print it) here. Turn the mixer up to medium-high and beat until the cream is well incorporated, about 3-5 minutes. How important is the cake flour, you ask? It was epic—enough for a wedding four times the size of my sister’s—and I was a very proud maid of honor. Attention Moms: Artificial vanilla and artificial colors are made with PETROLEUM!!!! Add the egg whites, one at a time, mixing well after each one. Does this make a difference in taste or just the color of the cake? I miss the 90's. More: A beautiful cake stand for your beautiful creation. That's one less step you have to worry with. Add the vanilla and salt. Also worth noting that I only put two teaspoons of white vanilla, as other recipes had similar amounts. Remove from pans and cool completely on a wire rack. Make sure to use a quality brand rainbow sprinkles. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). I went to two stores and could only find imitation vanilla at one of them and it has caramel color added. However, I found it strange that the egg whites are added straight in. Begin checking for doneness at around 25 minutes. This recipe is easy and a true crowd pleaser -- the adults liked it just as much as the kids. Once the cake has been assembled, it will stay fresh for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 5 days in the refrigerator. With an electric mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until the mixture is fluffy. Grease and lightly flour 3 8-inch round cake pans. Will do this if I find the time! Very good question. Did you try margarine? They came out beautifully! 5 more. Soft wheats have less gluten—and thus, less protein—than hard wheats. But the internet's currently abuzz with excitement about the Cheesecake Factory's funfetti-inspired cheesecake, so it's as good a time as any to remind you that there's a way to create a funfetti cake on your own, from scratch, in the comforts of your kitchen. You’re not going for the chewy texture you get from the  “strong* gluten networks in sourdough breads or pizza doughs. To her credit, I’m exaggerating when I say "demanded," but still, I couldn’t believe that it hadn’t occurred to either of us until then that her cake should have been funfetti. So much fun and as always, Molly's writing is just as entertaining. Maybe less depending on your oven. 100 percent oil-based cakes need not apply. I followed the recipe as written, but then added the whipped egg whites at the end, folding to keep the lightness. Photos of pans by Catherine Lamb; all others by Molly Yeh. Taste and add more sugar, if desired. any suggestions for dividing the recipe for a smaller cake? I got to 25 minutes and the cake was still jiggly. Grease two 8-inch cake pans. I have made a wide variety of birthday cakes for many, many parties (my three girls are 17, 16 and 10). This makes for a custardy, lovely, pale yellow frosting. Bake times may need to be adjusted. How to make Funfetti Cake (Confetti Cake) It's super easy to make a homemade funfetti cake. Keep it covered to prevent it from drying out. Mix in the vanilla and oil. Funfetti is not that simple. The frosted cake can be frozen for up to 2 months. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It's always more fun (and fulfilling!) With your mixer running on low speed, add this to the butter mixture in three additions, alternating with the milk. To her delight, as signified by the top-of-her-lungs shriek in the middle of a jam-packed Dressler, the top layer of her cake was funfetti and all was right in the world.