Sprinkles Cupcakes with Funfetti Cake Mix

These might just be my favorite cupcakes! Sprinkles cupcakes with funfetti cake mix are flavorful, fluffy, and definitely fun! What’s not to love about vanilla cake, bright sprinkles and rich buttercream frosting; truly a match made in heaven.

This is a copycat recipe of my favorite Sprinkles cupcakes brand “sprinkle cupcake” which is a birthday cake flavor topped with vanilla buttercream and colorful nonpareil sprinkles!

These cupcakes are great for special occasions but I wouldn’t wait for one to make them, make them any time the mood hits. You won’t be disappointed. I keep a package of vanilla cake mix in my pantry just for this purpose. Just follow this recipe and you’ve got homemade funfetti cupcakes.

Looking for other cupcake recipes? You’ve come to the right place! Check out these 2 Ingredient Sunkist Orange Soda Cupcakes, Easy Wedding Cake Cupcakes With Buttercream Frosting, or these Easy Cinnamon Vanilla Bean Cupcakes.

This blog post contains affiliate links. The opinions are wholly my own from my own experience. I may earn a small commission from clicks through to the websites that end in a purchase.

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Sprinkles Cupcake Recipe

• They look absolutely amazing!
• Soft, fluffy cake batter.
• Super rich buttercream frosting.
• Bright and cheery appearance.
• Guaranteed to make you smile.

Equipment You’ll Need

• Mixing bowl or stand mixer
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Muffin tin
• Piping bag

Ingredients For Copycat Sprinkles Cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients:

• 1 yellow cake mix
• 1 cup water
• 2/3 cup milk, divided
• 1/3 cup pure canola or coconut oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1- 3.4 ounce box of French Vanilla Instant Pudding, divided
• cupcake liners 
• 1/2 cup Rainbow Sprinkles (Jimmies)

Frosting Ingredients

• 2 cups salted butter, softened 
• 1- 3.4 ounce box of French Vanilla Instant Pudding, divided
• 4 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup milk, divided
• 3 tablespoons half and half (if needed)
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 large piping bag, 1 large round frosting tip
• Rainbow Sprinkles (Jimmies)

How To Make Sprinkles Cupcakes

Directions for Cupcakes:

• Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray or line a standard 12-cavity muffin tin.
• Step 2:  In a large mixing bowl filled with the cake mix, add half of the French Vanilla pudding and 1/3 cup of the milk.

• Step 3: Add in the water, oil, and eggs. Using a hand or stand mixer, mix on medium until well incorporated. Gently mix in the sprinkles.

• Step 4: Add the batter into the muffin tin until each cavity is about 2/3 full.

• Step 5: Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Directions for Frosting:

• Step 6: Mix the remaining pudding and milk until smooth.
• Step 7:  In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream the butter, and cream cheese, and beat until light and fluffy. Mix in the pudding/milk mixture.

• Step 8: Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time until creamy and peaks form. Add 1-3 tablespoons of the half and half in between the powdered sugar as needed.

• Step 9: Add frosting into the large, prepared piping bag. Frost your cupcakes and garnish with Rainbow Sprinkles (Jimmies) if desired and enjoy!

Makes 12 cupcakes.

What is a Sprinkles Cupcake?

Sprinkles Cupcakes is one of my favorite commercial brands of cupcakes here in Texas! It is a chain of bakeries specializing in cupcakes founded in 2005 in Austin, Texas. Candace and Charles Nelson developed the chain after a trip to the Magnolia Bakery in New York City.

Fast forward to today and Sprinkles Cupcakes has 24 locations throughout the United States and ship nationwide. Baked fresh daily without preservatives, trans fats, or artificial colors, Sprinkles Cupcakes are considered more upscale or ‘sophisticated’ according to the owners.

Sprinkles Cupcakes has developed its own cupcake vending machine or ATM so to speak with cupcakes dispensed daily.

Now that’s my kind of ATM! 🙂 It’s so awesome and fun! It literally plays a jingle while you wait for your cupcake to come down the elevator to meet you waiting!

Variations of Sprinkles Cupcakes

• choose a different flavor cake mix; chocolate, marble, or devil’s food will all work well
• add chocolate chips, sprinkles, or other cake decorations to the batter and/or frosting
• pour in a drop of food coloring to either the batter or the frosting for a bright hit of color
• bake in an 8″ square cake pan
• bake in a 24-mini muffin tray for tiny treats

Tips and Tricks

• make sure your ingredients are at room temperature before you begin
• don’t fill the muffin tray more than 2/3 full or your cupcakes will rise and overflow
• let cupcakes cool completely or your frosting will run
• whisk away any lumps in the powdered sugar before mixing with the other ingredients

How To Store Sprinkles Cupcakes

Cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for a few days or if it is super hot and humid where you are I recommend you store them in the fridge.

If you like you can also make the cupcakes a few days before you want to serve them and freeze them unfrosted. Thaw completely before frosting.

FAQs

Do I have to use a cake mix for these cupcakes?

You can use a store-bought cake mix or make your own basic vanilla cake recipe.

What kind of milk should I use to make these funfetti cupcakes?

Any kind of milk will work. I usually have whole milk on hand so that’s what I use.

If I use coconut oil will the cupcakes have a coconut flavor?

If you use virgin coconut oil then your cupcakes may have a slight coconut flavor. If you do not want your cupcakes to have a coconut flavor it is best to buy refined coconut oil. Some brands will specify on the label that there is no coconut taste so if this is a concern of yours read the label carefully.

Can you add sprinkles to a cake mix?

Yes, you absolutely can add sprinkles to a cake mix. In fact, it really makes the batter more festive in my opinion. This is what I did in this recipe!

Will the sprinkles change the color of the cake batter?

I find Rainbow Jimmies will not bleed any color into the cake batter. Mixing gently is key as well.

So, what do you think of these Sprinkles Cupcakes with Funfetti Cake Mix? Let me know if you make them.

Be sure to PIN this one for later!

If you love these kinds of easy recipes and ideas, you need to be getting my emails, friend! Each week I send out a couple of emails that include recipes, crafts, shopping experiences, and decor inspiration. Be sure to get yourself signed up.  I can’t wait to meet you!