Funfetti Birthday Cake

Ingredients · 8 servings

• 280 gFlour, sifted
• 170 gButter, softened
• 300 gSugar
• 4Egg, room temperature
• 240 mlMilk, room temperature
• 12 gBaking powder
• 3 gSalt
• 2 tspVanilla extract
• 80 gRainbow sprinkle, divided (to serve)
• 500 gButtercream, softened

Equipment

oven, 20 cm cake pan, parchment paper, mixing bowl, stand mixer, paddle attachment, spatula, whisk, wire rack, serrated knife, offset spatula, pastry brush

Instructions

1. 1
   Gather Equipment

   Gather measured ingredients, 2 round 20 cm cake pans, parchment, bowls, mixer, spatula, whisk, rack, serrated knife, and offset spatula. · 10 min

   What to look for: All ingredients measured and tools within reach

2. 2
   Prepare Pans

   Heat oven to 204°C / 400°F, grease 2 round 20 cm pans with butter, line bases with parchment, and dust lightly with flour. · 8 min

   What to look for: Pans are evenly coated and parchment lies flat

3. 3
   Mix Dry Ingredients

   Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl until evenly combined and free of visible lumps. · 3 min

   What to look for: Dry mixture looks uniform and airy

4. 4
   Cream Butter Sugar

   Beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, scraping the bowl twice so the mixture looks light and aerated. · 5 min

   What to look for: Butter mixture is pale, fluffy, and increased in volume

5. 5
   Add Egg Vanilla

   Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then mix in vanilla extract until the batter looks smooth and glossy. · 5 min

   What to look for: Batter is glossy with no streaks of egg

6. 6
   Finish Batter

   Add dry mix and milk in 3 alternating additions, mixing gently until only a few flour streaks remain. · 5 min

   What to look for: Batter is thick, creamy, and barely streaked

7. 7
   Fold Sprinkles

   Fold in most rainbow sprinkles with a spatula just until scattered through the batter without bleeding color. · 2 min

   What to look for: Bright sprinkles are evenly dotted through the batter

8. 8
   Bake Layers

   Divide batter between pans, smooth the tops, and bake until golden and a tester comes out clean, about 22 minutes. · 22 min

   What to look for: Layers are lightly golden and spring back in the center

9. 9
   Cool Layers

   Cool layers in pans for 10 minutes, turn onto a rack, and let them cool completely before frosting. · 1 h

   What to look for: Cake layers are fully cool with no warmth on the surface

10. 10
    Frost Cake

    Spread buttercream between layers, cover top and sides with a smooth coat, and press reserved rainbow sprinkle onto the surface. · 20 min

    What to look for: Cake is evenly coated with buttercream and bright sprinkles

11. 11
    Serve Slices

    Slice the cake with a clean warm knife and serve at room temperature for the softest crumb and creamiest buttercream. · 2 min

    What to look for: Slices show colorful sprinkle flecks and neat buttercream layers