Confetti Cookies
This recipe for confetti cookies gives you buttery, chewy cookies with a gooey center that stay soft for days. Ready in just 15 minutes, it's the perfect substitute for a birthday sprinkle cake if you're pinched for time. Make a big batch of the dough and freeze it for those nights you need an emergency dessert!
These confetti cake cookies are a richer, more exquisite version of those grocery store sprinkle sugar cookies. Plus, you don't need a mixer or insane upper body strength since the dough comes together effortlessly.
Serve these homemade funfetti cookies warm with a scoop of funfetti ice cream or in a lineup alongside my other delicious cookie recipes for a dessert table that'll have your guests coming back for seconds (and thirds!)
Recipe Overview: Confetti Cookies
✅ Recipe Name: Confetti Cookies
🕒 Ready In: 15 minutes
👪 Serves: 10
🍽 Calories: 273 calories (estimated)
🥣 Main Ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, eggs & sprinkles
👌 Difficulty: Easy - mix, scoop & bake!
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Why You'll Love This Cookie Recipe
- No mixer needed! Unlike my thick chocolate chip cookies, all you need for these easy funfetti cookies is a spatula and mixing bowl!
- No chilling required! You can scoop the cookie dough and bake it right away!
- It's even better the next day! The flavor of these cookies only builds after they're baked. Day 2 confetti cookies hit the spot!
- They're more tender than other sprinkle sugar cookie recipes thanks to cake flour, a little cornstarch, and brown sugar.
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Key Ingredients
Flour. A mixture of all-purpose flour and cake flour provides enough structure for the confetti cookies while still keeping the cookie tender and chewy without being tough.
Butter. A huge contributor to flavor for this cookie and also helps to them to stay soft & chewy after cooling. Try using burnt butter for an even warmer flavor!
Sugar. A combination of granulated and brown sugar works similarly to the flours - to give a sturdy but soft & chewy texture in addition to the obvious sweetness. The brown sugar also adds depth to the flavor.
Cornstarch. Another measure to make sure the cookies stay soft.
Baking soda. Used as leavening for a chewy texture. Baking powder would give this confetti cookie recipe a more airy, cake-like bite when we want funfetti gooey butter cookies.
Sprinkles. Sprinkle jimmies give the best result since they don't dissolve or bleed readily when added to the dough, and once baked, don't leave behind a tough, unpleasant texture. Nonpareils are the next best option, but they can bleed quickly, so minimize mixing as much as possible once they're added if you have to use them
Vanilla extract. For simple recipes like these confetti cookies, quality ingredients really make a difference. So a good quality vanilla extract is the key to the best funfetti cookie recipe! My favorite to buy is Watkins baking vanilla - it has an intense flavor that doesn't bake out. If you're stuck with a cheaper extract, adding a teaspoon of dark rum can add some of the oomph you're missing
How to Make Confetti Cookies
- Step 1: Mix all the dry ingredients except the sugar together in a bowl.
- Step 2: Mix the melted butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract together until smooth.
- Step 3: Add the dry ingredients.
- Step 4: Scoop, bake, and enjoy your confetti cookies!
FAQs
Sprinkle jimmies are the best option for these funfetti cookies, and most baked goods, since the color doesn't bleed readily and they keep their shape during mixing. Nonpareils are next best, but you should incorporate them last and with minimal mixing since they bleed easily.
This sprinkle cookies recipe uses a high baking temperature to reduce spread. If your oven isn't hot enough, then the cookie dough will essentially melt before it cooks, resulting in a thinly spread cookie. To avoid this, be sure to use an oven thermometer to confirm accurate baking temperature since even newer ovens can be off.
Ovens also lose a lot of heat every time you open the door, so if you're making multiple batches, make sure to give your oven at least a few minutes to return to the needed temperature of 400°F before adding another batch.
Finally, use a cool cookie sheet. A baking tray that is already warm will make the cookies spread before they start baking.
Use a large biscuit cutter (it should be just slightly larger than the cookie), then rotate the cutter with the cookie in the center, dragging the edge of the cookie along the inside of the cutter. Do this until you have a perfect circle! It's best to do this when the cookies are fresh out of the oven since they will start to hold their shape as they cool.
You can also use an inverted bowl or tupperware container for this if you don't have biscuit cutters that are large enough.
Absolutely! This recipe doesn't require chilling for perfect funfetti cake cookies, but if you like a thicker cookie, you should refrigerate your cookie dough for about 15 minutes.
This will slow down the rate at which the cookies will spread, ultimately giving you thick confetti cookies!
Yes! I love to make double batches and portion out the scoops before freezing them. That way you can pull out a confetti cookie or 2 when you have a craving without the temptation of an entire batch!
Ainseanlea's Top Cookie Tips
- Don't over-mix! Once the dry ingredients are added, only mix until there are no more dry spots. Excessive mixing results in confetti cookies that feel dry and tough.
- Have fun with the sprinkles! Using red and green sprinkle jimmies will make festive Christmas sprinkle cookies! You can also use red, white, and blue or black/brown and orange for 4th of July and Halloween!
- Control the thickness of the confetti cookies with chilling. Baking without chilling the dough will give you a cookie that is average in thickness. If you prefer thicker cookies, chill for 10-15 minutes.
- Use an oven thermometer. These confetti cookies bake at a high temperature so that the cookies bake faster - ultimately resulting in less spread and a more tender cookie.
- Set a timer! An extra minute in the oven makes a big difference. For a softer, more chewy center, bake the confetti cookies for 8 minutes. If you prefer your cookies "well-done" like my sister-in-law, I find 10 minutes is the perfect time - don't worry, the cookies won't be hard!
More Sprinkle Desserts You'll Love
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15-Minute Funfetti Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 400°F
- Mix all the dry ingredients except for the granulated and brown sugar (all-purpose flour, cake flour, cornstarch, sprinkle jimmies, baking soda & salt) in a bowl and set aside.95 grams all-purpose flour, 95 grams cake flour, 65 grams sprinkle jimmies, ½ teaspoon cornstarch, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt
- In a separate mixing bowl add the melted butter along with the granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract then mix until combined.110 grams granulated sugar, 113 grams unsalted butter, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 115 grams brown sugar
- Add the egg to the butter/sugar mixture and mix again until evenly combined.1 large egg
- Add in all the dry ingredients from step 2 and combine until there are no dry spots or lumps of flour.
- Scoop the cookies on to a light-colored baking tray lined with parchment paper. Be sure to leave at least 2 inches of space between each ball of dough to allow space for it to spread during baking.
- Bake on the middle rack at 400°F for 8-10 minutes. If you enjoy a firmer cookie bake for the full 10 minutes; for a softer & chewier center bake for 8 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool until at least barely warm before serving. Store in an airtight container and enjoy within a week for optimal freshness.
Nutrition
Notes
- Have fun with the sprinkles! Using red and green sprinkle jimmies will make perfect Christmas sprinkle cookies! You can also use red, white and blue or black/brown and orange for 4th of July and Halloween.
- Use a cool baking sheet each time if making a double batch. An already warm pan will cause the cookies to spread excessively.
- Set a timer! An extra minute in the oven makes a big difference. For a softer more chewy center, bake the cookies for 8 minutes. If you prefer your cookies "well-done" like my sister-in-law, I find 10 minutes is the perfect time - don't worry the cookies won't be hard!
These were sweet and delicious !
Best sprinkle cookie I ever had. Literally!
This is one of the BEST cookie recipes I’ve ever tried. The cookies come out perfect and are delicious. This will be a staple in my house . Thanks for sharing this recipe