Irresistible Homemade Funfetti Sugar Cookies: Your Go-To Recipe for Every Celebration
Get ready to brighten any occasion with these incredibly vibrant and delicious Funfetti Sugar Cookies made from scratch! They are guaranteed to be the star attraction on your cookie platters, especially during the holidays, but their cheerful nature makes them perfect for any time of year.
If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to kick off your festive baking endeavors. These homemade Funfetti Sugar Cookies offer a truly delightful starting point. Just look at their charming appearance! One of the best aspects of this recipe is its incredible versatility. You can effortlessly switch up the sprinkle colors to match any holiday, special event, or even just your mood. Imagine pastel sprinkles for Easter, orange and black for Halloween, or school colors for a graduation party!
For those of us with a serious sprinkle addiction (you know who you are!), this recipe is a fantastic way to utilize those delightful random bits and bobs left at the bottom of various containers. Instead of letting them languish, mix them all up to create a truly unique and joyful blend. My own batch of these cookies, for instance, started with traditional red, green, and white Christmas sprinkles, but as you’ll see, they quickly evolved into a dazzling, multi-colored spectacle!
Speaking of sprinkles, do you happen to own one of those large Rubbermaid three-drawer storage units? I keep one in my pantry, and the largest bottom drawer is dedicated solely to my ever-growing sprinkle collection. It’s safe to say I have a slight obsession when it comes to buying sprinkles – every color, shape, and size seems to call my name!
I was incredibly grateful when I chose this specific Funfetti Sugar Cookie recipe for our annual Freaky Friday Cookie Exchange event. Not only did these cookies turn out absolutely delicious, but the sheer volume of sprinkles required gave me the perfect motivation to finally clean out and organize my overflowing sprinkle drawer. You truly should have seen the chaotic state it was in before – a vibrant but jumbled mess!
What Exactly is Freaky Friday?
If you’re new to my blog, Freaky Friday is a wonderfully engaging event that I host with a group of fellow blogger friends about five times a year. We typically organize one for each season, and then, as the year draws to a close, we celebrate with a special Virtual Cookie Exchange. It’s a fantastic way to connect with the blogging community and discover new culinary delights.
It’s structured like an old-fashioned blog hop, but with a fun twist. Each participant is secretly assigned another blogger’s name from whom they must choose and bake/cook a recipe. Then, on a designated “reveal day” (which was today for this cookie exchange!), all of us simultaneously post about the recipe we chose and recreated. It’s always exciting to see what everyone picked and how they put their own spin on it.
The main difference with this particular round was that the chosen recipe absolutely had to be something suitable for a cookie exchange. We needed recipes that were shareable, relatively sturdy for transport, and, of course, utterly delicious!
Discovering The Speckled Palate Blog
This delightful Funfetti Sugar Cookie recipe comes from the incredibly talented Erin, the mastermind behind The Speckled Palate blog. I was absolutely thrilled when I drew her name for the Freaky Friday exchange. Erin consistently shares amazing recipes and always has something delicious brewing. What’s more, she shares my passion for baking, making her blog a constant source of inspiration.
One of my absolute favorite things about many of Erin’s posts is the heartwarming sight of her daughter’s sweet little hands and fingers often appearing in the photos. It’s clear her daughter loves to be her helper in the kitchen, adding an extra layer of charm and authenticity to her content.
How truly precious is that, right? It just adds so much warmth to her recipes.
Erin is a busy mom to two wonderful little girls and lives in Texas with them, her husband, and her beloved “speckled palate” dog, Lucy. You might initially assume that a food blog named “The Speckled Palate” would be an obvious nod to diverse flavors or textures. However, that’s not the case here! Her blog is actually named after her adorable Border Collie mix, Lucy, who is just as precious as her little helpers.
Honestly, choosing what to bake from Erin’s extensive and delicious blog was the most challenging part of this entire experience. There were *so. many. amazing. choices!* I know, I know, what a wonderful “problem” to have, especially for a dedicated baker like myself!
After much deliberation, I managed to narrow it down to these five tempting options: her Toasted Pecan Shortbread Cookies, delightful Orange Cranberry Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies, festive Cranberry Pinwheels, or the ever-popular Peppermint Chocolate Crinkles. Ultimately, the vibrant Funfetti Sugar Cookies emerged as the clear winner. I mean, what truly is a holiday cookie platter without classic, cheerful sugar cookies? Am I right? They just bring a universal sense of joy and nostalgia that’s hard to beat.
So, a resounding YES to sugar cookies, and an even SUPER-ER YES to all of the glorious sprinkles! They truly make these cookies an experience.
Key Ingredients for Vibrant Funfetti Sugar Cookies:
To create these delightful, homemade Funfetti Sugar Cookies, you’ll need a few pantry staples and a generous amount of sprinkles. Here’s a quick overview of the essential ingredients that contribute to their incredible flavor and texture:
- Butter: Unsalted and softened, it provides richness and creates a tender crumb.
- Eggs: Act as a binder, adding moisture and structure.
- Brown Sugar & Granulated Sugar: A combination of both sugars ensures a perfect balance of sweetness and contributes to the chewy-crisp texture. Brown sugar adds a lovely depth of flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: The primary structural component of our cookies.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla is crucial for that classic, comforting sugar cookie flavor.
- Baking Soda: Our leavening agent, giving the cookies a slight lift and helping them spread just right.
- Salt: Essential for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other flavors.
- Assorted Sprinkles: The star of the show! A mix of nonpareils, jimmies, and sugar crystals will give you the best visual and textural variety both inside and outside the cookie.
Erin’s original recipe for these amazing cookies specifically called for nonpareils and jimmies. However, in my pursuit of extra sparkle and flair, I decided to take it up a notch and add beautiful sugar crystals to the outside coating mixture. That added shimmer truly makes these cookies pop!
As I mentioned earlier, I initially started with a classic red, green, and white Christmas sprinkle mix. But then, while rummaging through my beloved sprinkle collection, I rediscovered the remnants of some unique sprinkles I had received from Sweets & Treats last year. They were a game-changer!
I had used up most of those particular Sweets & Treats sprinkles when I created this festive Grinch Fudge. That fudge recipe is another holiday favorite, and those sprinkles were perfect for it.
However, I still had about half of a package left from another Christmas-themed mixture. What I absolutely adored about these specific sprinkles was that they weren’t the traditional “Christmas Sprinkles” you typically think of, limited to just red, green, and white. These had unexpected pops of pink, vibrant lime green, and even royal purple mixed in! My creative brain immediately started buzzing with possibilities, and things quickly began to get delightfully crazy in my kitchen.
That sudden burst of colorful inspiration led me to pull out my entire sprinkle drawer. I embarked on a much-needed organizing spree, meticulously sorting my collection by color and holiday theme, and consolidating any open containers that held the same sprinkles. Again, I truly have a sprinkle “problem” – you wouldn’t believe the number of duplicates I discovered! It was both a little embarrassing and incredibly satisfying to streamline my stash.
For this recipe, you’ll prepare two separate bowls of sprinkles: one for folding into the cookie batter itself, and another for coating the outside of each cookie. The original instructions suggested using nonpareils exclusively for the outer coating. However, once I committed to using my special mix of Sweets & Treats sprinkles, that specific rule happily went right out the window! I did, however, make sure to add the sparkling sugar to the outside bowl, ensuring that extra shimmer that I love so much.
This particular recipe is fantastic because it truly calls for a generous amount of sprinkles. It was absolutely perfect for using up some of my containers that were getting low, preventing them from going stale or being forgotten. I was utterly delighted with the way these cookies turned out – they were a true testament to the joy of creative baking and clever pantry management!
Here’s the beautifully prepared cookie dough, all perfectly portioned and ready for its final, dazzling coating of color!
To ensure consistency in size and baking, I always rely on my trusty cookie scoop. I make sure to level off each scoop, creating perfectly uniform dough balls before rolling them. This simple step helps all the cookies bake evenly and look fantastic on the platter.
These aren’t those flimsy, understated cookies you sometimes find! These Funfetti Sugar Cookies are substantial, satisfying, and bursting with personality.
Just look at that explosion of color! They are truly so much fun, aren’t they? The anticipation builds as we get ready to bake them to golden perfection!
Fresh out of the oven, still warm and incredibly tempting. There’s truly nothing quite like a warm, soft sugar cookie, especially one filled with joyful sprinkles!
You’ve undoubtedly heard of “funfetti cookies” that are often made using a boxed cake mix. While I appreciate the convenience of a cake mix as much as the next busy baker, I must confess that when it comes to cookies, baking from scratch almost always yields superior results. Using real, fresh ingredients like quality butter, rich eggs, and pure vanilla extract significantly elevates that comforting, homemade taste. The texture is often chewier, the flavor deeper, and the satisfaction of knowing you created them from basic ingredients is truly unparalleled. These scratch-made Funfetti Sugar Cookies are a prime example of that difference.
As you can see, these sugar cookies are bursting with sprinkles through and through, ensuring a delightful pop of color and sweetness in every single bite. This is the magic of Funfetti!
^Love Them? PIN Them!^
If you’re captivated by what you see – and we’re pretty sure you’re already envisioning these delicious cookies in your own kitchen – don’t forget to pin this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board! Pinning makes it super easy to find later, whether you’re planning for the next holiday, a birthday party, or just a Tuesday that needs a little extra joy.
My sincere thanks once again go out to Erin, the creative talent behind The Speckled Palate, for sharing this truly fantastic Funfetti Sugar Cookie recipe with the world! Her blog is a treasure trove of deliciousness. I highly recommend taking some time to explore her site and follow her on social media. You will undoubtedly be so happy that you did – prepare to be inspired!
Explore More Festive Flavors: Our 2019 Freaky Friday Holiday Cookie Exchange Recipes:
The Freaky Friday Holiday Cookie Exchange always brings forth an incredible array of delectable treats. Below is a complete list of all the amazing cookie recipes shared by my fellow bloggers during our 2019 event. Each one is perfect for your next cookie swap or festive gathering – go discover your new favorite!
- An Affair from the Heart – Funfetti Sugar Cookies (that’s this very recipe you’re enjoying now!)
- Bowl Me Over – Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons (a tropical delight!)
- Hostess at Heart – Pan Banging Homemade Sugar Cookie Recipe (for those who love a perfectly crinkled edge)
- House of Nash Eats – Lime Meltaways (a refreshing, melt-in-your-mouth experience)
- Life Currents – Peanut Butter Coffee Cake (a unique and comforting treat)
- Lisa’s Dinnertime Dish – Chocolate Cashew Candies (a rich, indulgent confection)
- Or Whatever You Do – Caramel Pecan Bites (small but mighty bursts of flavor)
- Take Two Tapas – Chocolate Fudge with Almonds and Coconut (a classic, crowd-pleasing fudge)
- The Fresh Cooky – Oatmeal Rolled Sugar Cookies (a hearty twist on a beloved cookie)
- The Speckled Palate – Shortbread Brown Butter Cookies (Erin’s own contribution, showcasing rich, nutty flavors)
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive into the kitchen and bake some truly spectacular Christmas (or any-occasion!) Funfetti Sugar Cookies that will bring smiles and deliciousness to everyone who tries them! Happy baking! 
LIKE THIS RECIPE?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and
leave a comment below the recipe!
Print Recipe
Funfetti Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened 1 stick
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup assorted sprinkles nonpareils, jimmies
- ½ cup assorted nonpareils jimmies and crystal sugar, for coating the outside
Instructions
-
In a mixing bowl, whip the softened butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with a mixer until the butter is light yellow and the sugars are well incorporated.
-
Add in the egg and vanilla extract, beat until combined.
-
Combine flour, salt, and soda in a small bowl, and whisk to combine. Pour in half of the dry ingredients, into the sugar mixture, mixing until combined, then add the other half, mixing to incorporate.
-
Measure in 1/2 cup of the assorted sprinkles. Fold into batter by hand.
-
Chill the dough for at least 3 hours, or overnight.
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookies sheets with parchment paper.
-
Roll each d=measured dough ball in the combined remaining sprinkles and coat the outside completely.
-
Bake for 10-11 minutes, or until golden brown.
-
Sneak one while they are warm. Place the rest on a cooling rack.
-
Store in an airtight container.