Sunday, August 8, 2010

Vanilla "Funfetti" Cupcakes


Smiling with the speckled frosting all over her face, a younger Jessie prances around the living room with her bouncy-blonde pig tails in her favorite white dress with  rainbow polka dots and tennis shoes with cherries on them. 
 A fashionista with a sugar high, there was nothing quite like birthdays to make this feisty six year old tick. Now I know I’m a major chocoholic now, but as a child my absolute favorite cake was mirrored by the polka dots on my dress—Funfetti.
 Back then were the days of boxed cakes. Funfetti was Pilsbury’s business and I never had intention to change it. It tasted like a sugar cookie and boy oh boy did I love it. 
 Ever since I got food-snobby I hardly ever touch a cake mix, so when my friend Dabba requested one for her birthday, I knew I had to come up with my own. 
The Birthday Girl with her Jersey Poof!
 Vanilla “Funfetti” with a vanilla buttercream icing. Blue buttercream, of course.Don't these little cuties just scream birthday? Check it out!

Vanilla Funfetti Cupcakes
What ya need (makes 16)
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk
3 tbsp sprinkles

What ya do:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin pan with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth, adding a little more if necessary. Fold in sprinkles. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan (I used a coffee scoop for uniform).
3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch. 

Vanilla Buttercream Icing

What ya need:
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream

What ya do:
1. In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
2. Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

Happy Birthday Dabba!


13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Adorable :) Funfetti cakes are still my favorite!

Jillyann said...

I have to chuckle. My kids used to BEG me to buy funfetti mixes but I was all food snobby even way back then (20 years ago when my oldest was in kindergarten). I was all freaked out about food coloring. If my daughters saw this post they'd probably want to lick the screen!

Evan @swEEts said...

I think the best thing about funfetti cake was the funfetti icing (the kind with the lil balls of goodness) which unfortunately I think is un-re-creatable? ha but these do look really good! I definitely wouldn't mind them for my birthday!

Lynn @ I'll Have What She's Having said...

These are very cute. I agree with Evan, that icing was amazing. I'd love to know how they do it.. actually maybe its best that I don't know.

Kim (Liv Life) said...

My daughter will love these!! She is on a cupcake kick, and started making her own, these will be high on her list!

Baking Barrister said...

I LOVE funfetti ice cream and frosting. Does the cake taste really similar?? I know it's awful, but there's just something about boxed cake batter that does me in.

Monet said...

What a wonderful birthday treat. I now stay away from all box mixes too, so this recipe is now going to satisfy my funfetti cravings!

Dana said...

Very cool!! Who know you could make homemade funfetti? Yum!

Cookbook Queen said...

Yummy!! For some reason, Funfetti always tastes so much better than plain white cake. I think sprinkles are magic.
Love the recipe, thanks!! :)

Roxan said...

How cute!!!! Funfetti is always a classic. I think i'll make these for my coworkers. i made an asian dessert last week and they seemed really freaked out by it. LOL.

Christina said...

funfetti was always my fave but i've become a boxed cake snob too. your recipe looks yummmmmy. :)

Unknown said...

Yahoo for home made funfetti! My daughter HAD to have the boxed kind for her birthday, but if I'd had this recipe I'd have made it instead. Everything's better (and better for you) when home made. Thanks for sharing!

Angie L said...

Wow! Those look amazing! I'll have to try out your recipe :)