This Easy Sprinkle Cake is so fast and easy to make that you can make it anytime, for any occasion! Feeds a crowd, and everyone will love it!
Today's recipe comes courtesy of my birthday, which is rapidly approaching. I almost always make my own birthday cake. Some people think it's crazy that I would want to go to all that work, when I could treat myself and get it from a bakery. But I love to bake, and since it's MY special day, it's the one time I get to make whatever kind of cake I want.
Admittedly, I won't be making this Easy Sprinkle Cake for my birthday this year, because I've made this one so much lately to perfect the recipe, that it's become a sort of all-purpose cake. And for good reason too - It's super simple to whip up on any old day of the week. Celebrating a random milestone? Sure! Just found out your friends are coming over for dinner? You've got time to make this cake!
How to make Super Easy Sprinkle Cake:
If you love vanilla, and lots of fun colors, then this cake is definitely for you. It's got lots of vanilla, and I like to use clear vanilla to give it that nostalgic "made from a box mix" flavor. Of course, you can use regular vanilla extract too and it will still taste great.
To keep the cake super simple, I wanted to avoid creaming butter and sugar together, so I opted for an oil-based cake (which helps keep the saturated fat down too). I also lean toward oil-based cakes because they are more moist and don't tend to dry out as fast.
What makes this cake extra special is the frosting. It's not your basic butter, icing sugar buttercream. It's also got some cream cheese for a little tang, corn syrup to keep it glossy, and even a little baking soda and lemon juice to make it nice and fluffy.
Frosting Tip 💡
Using this recipe to make a layer cake with a single batch of frosting (as written) will result in more of a "naked" style cake.
If you are using this recipe to make a layer cake, and you like your cakes to be generously frosted and filled, I recommend doubling the frosting recipe.
Alternatively, you could use something else to fill the cake (pudding or jam are easy options).
Easy Sprinkle Cake Ingredients:
Cake
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Milk
- Plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
- Canola oil or other neutral-flavored cooking oil, or use an equal amount of melted butter.
- Large eggs
- Vanilla extract - I like to use clear vanilla in this recipe so that the cake and frosting end up with a whiter color, and for a more nostalgic "cake mix" flavor. However, regular vanilla extract will work just fine too.
- "Jimmies" style sprinkles - these are the "long" sprinkles. The round "non-pareils" don't work as well in this recipe as they tend to bleed their color more.
Frosting
- Unsalted butter
- Vegetable shortening - or use additional butter
- Cream cheese - can use light cream cheese, neufchatel, or goat cheese instead.
- Light corn syrup
- Vanilla extract - I recommend clear vanilla extract for whiter frosting, but regular will work too.
- Powdered sugar
- Lemon juice
- Salt
- Baking soda - The baking soda reacts with the lemon juice to create a fluffier texture. You won't taste it.
Want more cake recipes?
Super Easy Sprinkle Cake Nutrition Notes:
The above nutrition information uses 1% milk, fat-free plain Greek yogurt, and light cream cheese (or neufchatel), which is what I use. The nutrition information includes one slice of cake with frosting and extra sprinkles on top.
The Best Easy Sprinkle Cake
Equipment
- 2 8" round cake pan or one 9x13" baking pan
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
Ingredients
Sprinkle Cake
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teapsoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
- ½ cup canola oil or other neutral-flavored cooking oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract (see note)
- 1 cup "Jimmies" style sprinkles (see note)
Vanilla Buttercream
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup vegetable shortening (or use additional butter)
- 2 ounces cream cheese (can use light cream cheese or fresh goat cheese instead)
- 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract (see note)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
Sprinkle Cake
- Prepare your cake pan(s). If making two round layers, grease two 8" round cake pans and line them with parchment paper (do this by tracing the bottom of the cake pan on parchment paper with pencil, then cutting the circles out and fitting them into the pan). If making a sheet cake, line one 9x13" rectangular pan with foil. Heat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups all purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 Tablespoon baking powder, ½ teapsoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup milk,½ cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt, ½ cup canola oil, 2 large eggs, and 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold together with a spatula. Very gently fold in 1 cup "Jimmies" style sprinkles (do this quickly, but don't over mix, as it may cause the color to bleed from the sprinkles).
- Pour the batter into prepared cake pan(s), and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 25-30 minutes (for round layers) or 30-40 minutes for sheet cake. Place on a wire rack and cool in pan for 10 minutes. For round layers: remove from cake pan and continue to cool completely on a wire rack. For a sheet cake: cool completely in plan; the cake can be frosted and served right in the pan for ease. (Note: If I'm in a rush, I will sometimes stick the cake in the fridge or freezer to cool more quickly. Just don't forget it in there.)
Vanilla Buttercream
- Add ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, ¼ cup vegetable shortening, and 2 ounces cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer that is fitted with a paddle mixer. Mix on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. With the mixer still on, slowly pour in 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup and 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract (try to avoid pouring on the paddle) and continue to mix until smooth and glossy, about 3 more minutes. Turn off the mixer and add 2 cups powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon baking soda and turn mixer on to low speed until sugar is incorporated. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until fluffy and white, about 3 more minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
*Vanilla Buttercream adapted from Milk Bar's Birthday Cake
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