By Wendy Stoltz / Last Modified On January 15, 2023
A fluffy, tender gluten-free funfetti cake recipe that makes the best gluten-free birthday cake. I’ve included instructions for making a three-layer cake and tips on what sprinkles to use.
Looking for a smaller gluten-free birthday cake recipe for your little one? I’ve included gluten free smash cake instructions below.
If you love funfetti, you'll want to try this Funfetti Ice Cream.
Gluten-Free Funfetti Cake
This gluten-free birthday cake recipe is a spin off my gluten free vanilla cake. You guys have been asking for the best gluten-free birthday cake recipe and here it is!
It’s light, tender, and it’s simple to make. No need to ever buy a gluten-free funfetti cake mix at the store again.
Please read through this entire post. It’s chalked full of tips for making the best gluten-free funfetti cake.
Tips for making gluten-free funfetti cake
There are a couple of tips and tricks to getting the right texture with this gluten-free funfetti cake recipe. First, you have to follow the recipe. So many people comment on recipe posts saying that they made a ton of substitutions and the recipe didn’t turn out. If you make a substitution, you are doing so on your own.
Other than the dairy substitute, I haven’t tried other substitutes in this recipe.
Second, you want to mix at the right time and not over-mix. When you are beating the oil, sugar, and eggs you’ll want to beat it for the time listed. This adds air which in turn helps the cake rise. Beating any longer will cause the batter to stiffen.
Last but not least, you want to use the right kind of sprinkles and you want to fold the sprinkles in. This will prevent the coloring from the sprinkles bleeding into the batter and ruining your cake color.
How to make Gluten-Free Birthday Cake
- In a medium mixing bowl combine oil and sugar.
- Add eggs and beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for one minute.
- Add flour, salt, baking powder, dairy-free milk, and vanilla; beat at medium speed for one minute.
- Gently fold the sprinkles in. See the note in the recipe card about which sprinkles to use.
- Spoon batter evenly into cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the centers springs back when touched and cakes are lightly browned.
- Let cool in the pan on rack for five minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans onto rack and cool completely before frosting.
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes only. Please see the printable recipe card below.
How to make Gluten-Free Smash Cake
To make a gluten-free smash cake, cut the recipe in half. Pour the gluten-free funfetti cake batter into two six-inch cake pans, instead of two eight- or nine-inch cake pans. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the center is set.
Cool cakes completely before frosting. When you’re ready to frost your gluten-free smash cake, cut the frosting recipe in half and frost the tops of each layer, stack one layer on top of the other, then frost the sides.
What causes a cake to crack on top?
You might see cracks if your temperature is too high, or your gluten-free birthday cake is placed in the oven too high. The heat of baking activates the baking powder and causes it to release carbon dioxide, which forms bubbles and raises the cake. If your oven is too hot, that process is sped up. Make sure to place your cake in the center, and regularly check your oven’s temperature.
Another reason is if you are at a high altitude. If you are baking this gluten-free funfetti cake at a high altitude consider cutting the baking powder in half.
Why did my cake sink?
There are several reason why gluten-free cakes sink, one is from over beating the batter and adding too much air. Also, cakes often will sink when there is too much moisture.
It’s common in humid climates where added moisture can collect naturally in ingredients such as flour. When this occurs, the center of the gluten-free birthday cake rises rapidly and then falls during baking.
In higher elevations, the leavening agent works twice as hard and may cause the batter to rise rapidly and sink before it’s had a chance to set up. All these tips are relevant to most cake recipes, not just this gluten-free funfetti cake recipe.
Some of my favorite gluten-free cake recipes for birthdays:
- Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
- Gluten-Free Chocolate Bundt Cake
- Grain-Free Hummingbird Cake
- Gluten-Free Lemon Cake
If you are looking for cupcake recipes, just search cupcakes in the search bar on the right.
If you made this gluten-free birthday cake recipe I want to hear from you! Please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know what you thought.
Gluten Free Birthday Cake
A fluffy, tender gluten-free funfetti cake recipe that makes the best gluten-free birthday cake. I’ve included instructions for making a three-layer cake and tips on what sprinkles to use. Gluten-free smash cake instructions and dairy-free options included.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup (8 oz.) vegetable oil (or oil of choice)
- 1 ¼ cups (265g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs (220g.), room temperature
- 3 cups (425g.) all purpose gluten-free flour blend (I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour, NOT the Bob's All Purpose GF Flour)
- ½ teaspoon (3 g.) salt
- 3 teaspoons (12g.) baking powder
- 1 cup (8 oz.) milk (or dairy-free milk of choice)
- 1 teaspoon (2.5g.) gluten-free vanilla extract
- ½ cup colored sprinkles
For the frosting:
- ½ cup (115g) butter (or dairy-free butter)
- 1 ½ teaspoons (4g) gluten-free vanilla extract
- 4 ½ cups (450g) powdered sugar
- ¼ cup (40-60g) milk (or dairy-free milk)
Instructions
- For the cakes: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Position rack in center of oven. Grease two 8" or 9" pans with oil; set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl combine oil and sugar.
- Add eggs and beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for one minute. Add flour, salt, baking powder, milk, and vanilla; beat at medium speed for one minute.
- Gently fold the sprinkles into the batter.
- Spoon batter evenly into cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the centers springs back when touched and cakes are lightly browned.
- Let cool in the pan on rack for five minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans onto rack and cool completely before frosting.
- For the frosting: In a medium mixing bowl, beat butter and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Slowly beat in milk. Beat in additional milk if needed, to obtain desired consistency.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Notes
- Use sprinkles or round sequin sprinkles, do NOT use nonpareil sprinkles or they may bleed through the batter.
- This gluten-free birthday cake may also be made in three 9" pans. Decrease the baking time and start checking the cakes for doneness around 25 minutes.
- This recipe works best with Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour. It DOES NOT work with the Bob's Red Mill all-purpose gluten free flour.
- When working with or measuring gluten-free flour, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level. Do not scoop your measuring cup into the gluten-free flour. The best method really is to weight it but I don't have the ingredient weights for all my recipes yet.
- Dairy-Free Option: you can use dairy-free milk and dairy-free butter in this cake recipe.
- Let cakes cool completely before frosting.
- Gluten-Free Smash Cake: To make a gluten-free smash cake, cut the recipe in half. Pour the gluten-free funfetti cake batter into two six-inch cake pans, instead of two eight- or nine-inch cake pans. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the center is set. Cool cakes completely before frosting. When you’re ready to frost your gluten-free smash cake, cut the frosting recipe in half and frost the tops of each layer, stack one layer on top of the other, then frost the sides.
Annie Petsche
This cake was absolutely delicious! I halved the recipe to make one 8” cake, and it was perfectly baked at around 32 minutes. I used dairy free milk for the cake and dairy free milk & butter for the icing, and they both came out perfectly. As a side note, Earth Balance is my favorite DF butter to cook with. Highly recommend making this cake that is easy to make and joyful to eat!
chrystal
I'm so glad you liked it, Annie. Thank you for taking time to stop back by and let me know.
Best,
Chrystal
Ashley Estrada
Can you add maple syrup as the sweetener and if so would the amount stay the same? Also do you think we can use coconut oil or
olive oil?
chrystal
I haven't tried maple syrup as the sweetener in this recipe yet, so I'm not sure.
Best,
Chrystal
Blimey
Can Gel coloring Be added (to make different color cake batter? Are there even Gluten-free? ) & can this cake be stacked up to 4 cakes?
chrystal
Yes, you can add coloring. You can use this recipe for 4 thinner layer, or double for 4 regular layers.
Best,
Chrystal
Liz M
Thank you! Will try it for family reunion addressing egg-free, gf, dairy free conditions. Any ideas for egg-free eggs besides flax eggs?
Luz
Hi again,
Just answers to my egg-free question. Thank you.
Katie Nicholls
Hi! I’ve tried quite few of your recipes now and they have all come out brilliantly! Thank you 🙂 I want to make this birthday. Ale but I would like to use Butter instead of oil. Is that doable? Thank you!
chrystal
I am so glad you are loving my recipes. You can use butter, it will be a bit on the heavier side, but super tasty.
Best,
Chrystal
Janice
Hi there, I want to make dunkaroo cupcakes and your confetti cake looks awesome. Can I bake it in cupcake pan instead of cake pans? Thanks.
chrystal
Yes, you can do cupcakes. Start with a baking time of 16-18 minutes and watch for doneness from there.
Sar
I used Earth Balance for my non dairy as well. Unfortunately, this cake was super dry and disappointing. I followed the measurements and recipe exactly. The cake rose nicely in the oven, but it was so dry. My two year old son who rarely gets sweets was the only one who liked it; probably because it was sweet lol.
chrystal
Hi Sar,
This cake shouldn't have been dry. How did you measure your flour? What blend did you use? Did you accidently leave it in the oven too long?
Best,
Chrystal
Jasmine
I used the smash cake recipe to make a small 9"square cake. The only changes I made were to tint the cake pink and to add more vanilla. The recipe was perfect. The top of the cake was flat and the cake baked perfectly. I'm making another in two weeks and will tint it teal for my next GF birthday girl.
Thanks for creating our perfect birthday cake recipe!
chrystal
You are very welcome. I am so glad you loved it. I love the idea of adding a little pink coloring to the cake, it sounds lovely.
Best,
Chrystal
Tina M.
You prefer Bob’s flour for this over your AP blend? Your recipes (especially bread) have all been delicious & I love your flour blends!
chrystal
Hi Tina,
Yes, if I am using Bob's Red Mill, I prefer the 1-to-1 gluten free baking flour. I am glad you are loving my recipes. Thanks for letting me know.
Best,
Chrystal
Tina
Hi,
Is the oven temp fan force or regular oven temp?
I live in London, England and can't get your flour but in going it will work with Doves Farm freeee from flours...
chrystal
This is for regular oven temps. For convection/fan forced, you may need to adjust the baking time down.
Best,
Chrystal
Ally
Hi - have you tried any egg substitute? We have a member in our family that has PKU and we can do up to 2 eggs in a recipe but any more has too much protein content. Thanks!
chrystal
Hi Ally,
You can use a egg replacer, likes Bob's Red Mill egg replacer. The texture will be slightly different. You can also use half eggs, and half applesauce (I'd do 1/4 cup applesauce per egg, but only for 1-2 eggs total).
Best,
Chrystal
Jeena
Would this work work chocolate chips instead of sprinkles? Making a “canolli cake” and looking for a great gluten free white cake. Want to try this funfetti one as a trial before I need the chocolate one for the wedding it’s for.
chrystal
Hi Jeena,
You can use chocolate chips in this recipe, or in my vanilla cake recipe. I'd use mini chips to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the pan.
Best,
Chrystal
Jessica
Hi there!
If I make this cake into 3 9in pans, do I have to double the recipe or will it still be thick enough layers (obviously not as thick as 2 8in but you know what I mean).
Thanks!
Jessica
chrystal
You can either double it and increase the baking time, or you can leave it as a reduce the baking time for thinner layers.s
Best,
Chrystal
Jackie
What type of milk will work best with this recipe? Whole milk? Thank you!
chrystal
Regular 1%, 2%, or whole, or dairy-free.
Best,
Chrystal
Cassie
Can I use this recipe for cupcakes?
chrystal
Yes, this recipe will make 24 cupcakes. Bake at the same temperature for 18-20 minutes or until the centers springs back when touched and cupcakes are cooked through.
Best,
Chrystal
Kim
Me and my family love this recipe so much! One of my daughters has celiac disease and we wanted to make a homemade cake for my daughters 12th birthday and we happened to find this one. Within the past 2 almost 3 months we have made this recipe 3 times because we love it so much. It is super moist and full of flavor! We haven’t tried to make the icing in the recipe yet though, we used cream cheese and strawberry icing with it and it tasted delicious. Thank you so much for making this recipe!
chrystal
You are very welcome. I am so glad you like my recipes.
Best,
Chrystal
Marsha
Have you tried baking this funfetti cake in a 13x9 pan?
Thanks.
chrystal
Hi Marsha, you can bake it in a 13x9 pan. Start at 35 minutes and watch for doneness from there.
Marsha
Thanks so much Crystal.
Pam
Hi Chrystal.
Firstly, I'd like to tell you that i love your name. And secondly, this cake looks delicious. I reside in India and bob and mills flours here are way too expensive. My mom is a celiac and loves cakes and cookies. I want to try and make this cake or any cake on your site. But i wanted to know if this recipe will work with your "all purpose flour blend" instead of bobs and mills. Or is there any other blend that you think will work for this. Looking forward to your reply. Thank you
Stay safe.
Much love❤
Pam
chrystal
Hi Pam,
Yes, this recipe will work with my all purpose flour blend. All my recipes that call for a flour blend, and not almond flour, work with my blend.
I hope that helps.
Best,
Chrystal
Sue
Hi is the 8oz oil fluid ounces or lbs and ounces weight?...
chrystal
Liquid ounces.
Best,
Chrystal
Sue Etherington
I have made your chocolate cakes dozens of time but thought this would be lovely for a birthday cake for my niece. I live inmthe UK and struggled to find what sprinkles to use. Nothing told me if it was nonpariel or not. So I bought two different types. Baked exactly as you said even set a minute timer! But whilst the cake rose and looked fine, there was not a single sprinkle or mark of colour to be seen! I was so disappointed. I've tried web searches and sprinkles and nonpariel seem interchangeable. Am I fated to never rep,I ate this pretty cake?? It tasted good though.
chrystal
Hi Sue,
I am not sure what you mean by that there was not a single sprinkle or mark of colour? If you added colored sprinkles, you should have seen sprinkles. For the type of sprinkles, the first "note" in the recipe card says "Use sprinkles or round sequin sprinkles, do NOT use nonpareil sprinkles or they may bleed through the batter."
I hope that helps.
Best,
Chrystal
Sue Etherington
Chrystal I put the full amount of sprinkles in, bought here in UK, stirred gently through and there was nothing, no colour nothing. The bottom was pretty sweet! I had to make your chocolate cake at 4.30 in the morning ! Do we have different one perhaps. As for them being nonperil or not I have no idea as they don't say. I would love to get this to work. X
chrystal
Hi Sue,
Where I'm confused is how you added sprinkles but there was no color. If you added colored sprinkles, there should have been been colored sprinkles throughout the batter.
Best,
Chrystal
Sue Etherington
Hi Again. I promise you I did add the sprinkles but there was nothing in colour within the cooked cake. Can you tell me what non parpariel sprinkles are please.
chrystal
Hi Sue,
Maybe there was something wrong with the sprinkles? If you google non parpariel sprinkles you will see brands and photos.
Best,
Chrystal