Birthday Cupcakes
I have a confession. I love funfetti. Yes, funfetti, that blue box of Pillsbury cake mix with the little specks of color in it. I never grew out of that phase of loving that particular cake mix and I am not ashamed to admit it. It’s pretty awesome. I am not sure what it is about funfetti that makes me stop and contemplate buying a box every time I am in the baking aisle at the supermarket, but, I just cant help myself.
Here in Israel there are no ‘from the box’ cake mixes. Which is usually fine since nothing beats homemade,
but I had some birthday cupcakes to make and the urge for funfetti was taking over my baking core.
There was only one solution and it wasn’t having my mom overnight me a box of it from the states. I had to make my own. And, I did. And, they were amazing. Just call me Pillsbury Jr. I used a basic yellow cupcake recipe (yes, I know funfetti from the box uses a white cake mix, not yellow-but I had to add a little ‘me’ to it). To the batter I added round colored sprinkles and voila! my very own funfetti cupcakes.
I also made a wonderfully moist and decadent dark chocolate cupcake because, well, variety never hurt anyone, nor did dark chocolate cupcakes. For the icing on both cupcakes I used the white chocolate cream cheese frosting I had left over from the anniversary cake I made for me and my husband. I added a bit of orange extract to half the icing to put on the chocolate cupcakes. Divine.
These cupcakes were made to celebrate the birthday of a few friends all celebrating June birthdays including my amazing friend and fellow foodie blogger Katherine. Make sure to stop by her site and wish her a very, very happy birthday and check out her absolutely delicious creations.
Both the funfetti cupcakes and the dark chocolate cupcakes are truly perfect for any celebration and if you have nothing to celebrate, celebrate cupcakes and that will be reason enough to make them 
Ingredients
For Funfetti cupcakes (makes 12)
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup round colored sprinkles
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a medium sized mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a small bowl or measuring cup combine milk, oil and vanilla.
In a large bowl beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, to the the butter mixture, beating well after each addition.
In batches add the flour mixture and milk mixture, alternating between the two.
Mix in sprinkles.
Divide batter among the 12 cupcake liners.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden and toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool completely before frosting and decorating.
Ingredients
For Dark Chocolate Cupcakes (makes 12)
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
4 ounces dark chocolate chips
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven t 350F and line 12 cupcake tins with liners.
In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
In a large bowl beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy.
Add the eggs to the butter mixture, one at a time, beating after each addition.
Beat in the melted chocolate and vanilla.
Add the flour mixture and buttermilk in batches, alternating between the two.
Divide batter among cupcake liners.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool completely before icing and decorating.
Connect With Me
I love these funfetti (never heard of it before), especially the ones with dark chocolate!
Giulia, funfetti is a big American cake mix! Its so good!!
I am not afraid to admit that I love funfetti too. I still buy the box every now and then but do love making it from scratch, yours look awesome!
Thanks Cassie! I think there could be worse things in this world then admitting we love funfetti!!
These were the best birthday cupcakes ever! Thanks for making all of our birthdays so special, Pillsbury Jr.
Haha Thanks Katherine!! Happy Birthday
Super cute!
Thanks Tiffany!
Funfetti reminds me of every birthday cake I had as a child; such a classic. Your homemade versions are adorable and delicious I’m sure!
Thanks Bakerbynature! Funfetti is definitely a classic
Mmm, funfetti…My husband and I love funfetti. So much so, in fact, that that was our wedding cake. When we asked for that, our baker was actually giddy, as no one had asked for that before.
These cupcakes look delicious, and I love your photography! Nice work.
Thanks Karen! A funfetti wedding cake?!?! Genius. That is so amazing.
Ohhh they both look so tempting!!! Being a chocoholic I’d start with the chocolate one, please!!! hehehe They really look perfect, I am impressed!!! <3
Thanks Manu! The chocolate ones are great
They’re gorgeous! I love it with soo much colors, it’s joyful.
Thank you so much Valerie!
These cupcakes look beautiful!
such adorable sprinkles! lovely cupcakes as well
of course.
Thanks Lian! I love the sprinkles too! So cheerful and colorful
These funfetti cupcakes make me happy
Thanks Meghan! funfetti cupcakes will do that to you!
Oh my does this look fantastic! And your photography is gorgeous.
Thank you so much Daksha!
Beautiful and playful….who can resist the sprinkles?
Thank you Briarrose! No one can resist sprinkles!
These bring out the kid in all of us.
Sandra, they so do bring out the kid in us, maybe thats why I love them so much!!
All of your cupcakes look terrific! My sister used to be obsessed with funfetti. I need to find a gluten-free version to make her.
Thanks Lauren! Im sure you can find a way to make these gluten free for your sister!
Your cupcakes look phenomenal, and there is no shame of admitting your love
) Wonderful and so cute, and your pictures and just fantastic Beth!
Thank you so much Sandra!!
I love funfetti. I love your photos and recipe. Beth, job well done.
Thank you so much Christine! Who doesnt love a good funfetti cupcake?!
Hi Beth! Sorry I’m two posts behind… I have never heard of funfetti, which probably shows how much I don’t bake or don’t know anything about baking! >_< But yes, I've seen them on cupcakes and they are very very cute! My kids eat just the top and they obviously know the good part. Your cupcakes are so adorable. I love the colorful one – so much fun to just staring at it. haha.
Nami, now you know about funfetti and you will have to make it!! I know you can bake girl! You have skills in the kitchen, I follow your blog
Your kids would LOVE LOVE LOVE these!!!
absolutely gorgeous! LOVE the idea of funfetti cupcakes.
I love funfetti cupcakes! I haven’t had them in years, and now I’m craving one. Yours look divine and perfect to celebrate a birthday! I think my boys would appreciate these as a back-to-school treat next week…thanks for the inspiration!