Funfetti Cookies
Funfetti cookies are a type of rolled sugar cookies that are loaded with rainbow sprinkles! Everyone will love these sprinkle cookies. You don’t need to chill the dough so these birthday cookies are ready in 30 minutes!
Sprinkle Sugar Cookies are..
- chewy with soft insides
- have that classic sugar cookie flavor thanks to vanilla and almond extract
- ready to bake right away (no chilling needed!)
What Sprinkles to Use for Funfetti Cookies
Jimmie sprinkles are the best type of sprinkle to use when making birthday cookies. Jimmie sprinkles are the long, skinny “hot dog” shape sprinkle.
I do not recommend using nonpareils, the small round ball sprinkles, because their color tends to bleed during baking.
After much searching, I found that Walmart’s Great Value brand jimmie sprinkles are the best looking sprinkles because the colors are bright and the sprinkle mixture doesn’t contain brown sprinkles. I don’t want brown sprinkles because they don’t look appealing!
Ingredients
- all purpose flour: flour is necessary to build structure in cookies
- cornstarch: gives the cookies an ultra soft texture because it makes the crumb more delicate. Adding cornstarch also helps keep the cookies from browning.
- baking soda: helps to leaven and lift the dough, affects browning and flavor
- salt: enhances the other flavors in the cookies
- jimmie sprinkles: the star of these cookies! Use 1/2 cup or more if you want them loaded with sprinkles.
- unsalted butter: adds flavor and and tender texture
- granulated sugar: adds sweetness, flavor and encourages browning
- egg: binds the ingredients together
- vanilla and almond extract: adds good flavor, don’t skip the almond extract!
How To Make Funfetti Cookies
- In a small mixing bowl combine the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt and sprinkles. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar, with an electric mixer. Add in the egg and extracts, beat again to combine.
- Gradually add in the dry ingredients, mixing on low or by hand with a spatula.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF. Place 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl for rolling the cookies. Use a cookie scoop to form balls. Roll each ball in the sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on a silicone lined baking sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes.
Baking Time Suggestions
For the cookies in the photos, the dough balls were about 3 heaping tablespoons, so that’s a large cookie! I baked those for 12-14 minutes.
If you make smaller dough balls, you should reduce the baking time otherwise the cookies will be over done.
Total Time Required
- 7 minutes to make the cookie dough
- 12-14 minutes to bake the cookies
- 15 minutes to cool
How To Store Cookies
Store sprinkle sugar cookies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days.
How to Freeze Sugar Cookie Dough
- Form the dough balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with silicone mat. You can place the dough balls close together since you won’t be baking them.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer until the cookies are frozen solid, about 1 hour.
- Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the frozen cookie dough balls to a ziplock freezer bag. Label the bag with baking directions.
- Freeze the cookie dough for up to 3 months.
- To bake: remove the dough from the freezer. Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF. Roll the balls in sugar and bake for 12-14 minutes. Frozen cookies may need to bake for 2-4 minutes longer than non-frozen cookies.
How to Properly Measure Flour for Cookies
- Fluff the flour with a fork/spoon.
- Use a spoon to scoop the flour into your measuring cup.
- Use a butter knife to level the measuring cup.
Sticking the measuring cup straight into the bag of flour will result in too much flour to be packed into the cup, which can result in dry cookies.
Tips For Making Cookies
- Properly measure the all purpose flour using the spoon and sweep method.
- Use room temperature butter for easier creaming of the butter and sugar.
- Use a cookie scoop to form cookie dough balls.
- Bake cookies on a silicone baking mat.
In addition to funfetti cookies, to make a birthday celebration extra sweet, make birthday cake macarons!
More Cookies
Funfetti Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- ½ tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup jimmie sprinkles
- 2 sticks unsalted butter (1 cup), room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅛ tsp almond extract
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF. In a small mixing bowl combine the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt and sprinkles. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar, with an electric mixer for 1 minute. Add in the egg and extracts, beat again to combine, 30 seconds.
- Gradually add in the dry ingredients, mixing on low or by hand with a spatula.
- Place 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl for rolling the cookies. Use a cookie scoop to form balls. Roll each ball in the sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on a silicone lined baking sheet. Bake in batches as needed.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool for 15 minutes before eating.
Notes
- For the cookies in the photos, the dough balls were about 3 heaping tablespoons, so that’s a large cookie! I baked those for 12-14 minutes. If you make smaller dough balls, you should reduce the baking time otherwise the cookies will be over done.
- I’ve made this recipe with both regular and gluten free flour with awesome results on multiple occasions. I recommend King Arthur’s Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour. Use it as a one for one substitute for regular flour.
Hi! I have not made this recipe yet but it looks wonderful! I just wanted to say I so appreciate all the info about what each ingredient does as well as technique because it’s absolutely fascinating & useful and I feel as if this sort of information as you bake will be so helpful when it comes to improving baking skills beyond just following a recipe. so yeah thank you so much! I love it!
Hello I was just wondering how many sticks of butter? You said two but then said a 1/2 a cup beside it. So I wasn’t sure if you’d meant just 1 stick then?
Hi Ciara! It’s 2 sticks, which is 1 cup – I’ve updated that, thank you!
Can I use parchment paper?
Yes! I recommend parchment paper or silicone baking mat.