My easy double funfetti birthday cake donuts you'll want to eat for breakfast even when it's not your birthday. These are a party in your mouth! Originally published August 2017. Last updated December 2022.
I like to create something unique around my birthday each year, usually a cocktail or a cake. These funfetti donuts come from that annual creative spark and are an awesomely unique homemade birthday cake idea that kids and adults alike enjoy. Let's get into the delectable details.
If you like homemade cake donuts, you'll love these, too!
- Gingerbread Donuts for the Holidays
- Pumpkin Cake Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Strawberries Donuts with Champagne Glaze
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Making funfetti donuts is simple and so is the ingredient list. Here's what to add to your grocery cart.
- Baking Powder
- Butter
- Eggs
- Flour
- Funfetti Sprinkles
- Milk
- Sea Salt
- Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
Which kind of sprinkles to use for funfetti? For the proper funfetti look and texture, you'll need rainbow jimmy sprinkles, which are elongated. Not to be confused with nonpareils, which are round balls. I use these both in the donuts and on top!
Tips & Tools to Make Funfetti Baked Donuts
Grab a mixing bowl, whisk, and silicone spatula to mix up the funfetti birthday cake batter. Alternatively, you can use a stand mixer. Just be sure not to over mix! You'll also need a cake donut pan and wire cooling rack. Use a piping bag to transfer the batter to the pan or a zip-top bag with one corner snipped off. I use the same tools to make all kinds of baked donuts, including mimosa flavored ones.
What's the difference between cake donuts and regular donuts? Cake donuts are baked and have a more dense, cakey texture. Regular donuts are fried pastries that are made with yeast or puff pastry and thus, are more airy and light.

Making the Glaze
I adapted Sally's Baking Addiction glaze recipe and highly recommend it, along with double dipping the each donut in glaze before adding sprinkles. The second layer of glaze gives them the classic sprinkle donuts look you see on TV. Peep the recipe card below for full instructions. Here's what you'll need to make cake donut glaze:
- Milk
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
That's it! Finish off the cake donuts with double sprinkles and they're ready to eat. I add the sprinkles while they're still on the cooling rack for less mess.

How to Serve Donuts as a Cake
Birthday donuts aren't actually just for birthdays. They are the kind of festive dessert you can impress guests with or take to an office event and wow your coworkers. Want to be the envy of the school bake sale? Make these. If you do want to make a cake out of donuts for a birthday party, serve them on a cake stand. Stack the donuts on top of each other in a staggered fashion, add candles and a topper--and enjoy.

More Birthday Recipes
Browned Butter Cake with Praline Frosting
Spiced Pineapple Whiskey Cocktail
Sharing is caring so be sure to pin this homemade funfetti cake donuts recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

Birthday Cake Baked Donuts Recipe

Funfetti Birthday Cake Donuts
Ingredients
Donuts
- 3 cups flour
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup sugar
- ¾ cup butter melted
- ¾ cup milk I used unsweetened almond
- ½ cup funfetti sprinkles
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Glaze
- ¼ cup milk I used unsweetened almond
- 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix baking flour, baking powder, sprinkles, and sea salt in a large bowl.
- In another bowl, mix remaining donut ingredients then add to bowl of dry. Mix well then pipe into donut pan.
- Bake about 20 minutes. Tops will not brown.
- Meanwhile, mix up glaze in a smaller bowl. Dip one side of each warm donut in glaze then set aside. Once cool, dip the same sides in the glaze again and finish with more sprinkles.
kage2015 says
This would a fun take to the office when someone has a birthday. Thanks for the idea.
Jazz says
These are perfect for that!
fromnothingtonovel says
OH man. I love cake donuts. I need to get me a donut pan! Thanks for the recipe, I'll definitely pin and try it out! --Whitney
Jazz says
I linked the two pans I use! Hope you love them!
AmberLynn says
I always say that legends are born in August, so it's great to meet a fellow legend lol. I always love your recipes, and this one is no different.
Jazz says
Thanks, Amber and happy birth month to you!
Jesse Coulter says
Those are so fun and look delicious! I'm all about donuts and sprinkles!
http://www.jessecoulter.net/
Leighann says
These look so good! Who doesn't love funfetti?! Or donuts for that matter?!
Mariah Klee says
These are too fun! I always make a special birthday breakfast for my kids and this would be an absolutely perfect addition to our tradition!
Mariah
http://www.likehoneyblog.com
julruff says
OMG...these look amazing!!!!
Deryn | Running on Real Food says
Omg, a pile of donuts for my birthday? Yes, yes please!
Jayne Rain says
Excellent cake donuts!!!, I will make these on a family get-together since they sound so easy to achieve. I am sure my guests will love them very much.
Tanya says
Happy Birthday Month! That glaze on those donuts are everythang!!!! Can't wait to try this recipe.
Jazz says
Thanks, Tanya! The glaze is so easy and SO good!
Immaculate Ruému says
It’s all so exciting to read and look at. All that delicious glaze, yum!
Charla says
How pretty are those donuts. I made some oven baked donuts a few months ago and they came out great, so much healthier than deep fat frying them.
Marwin Brown says
cake, cake, cake, cake... You're killin it with these!
Shawntell says
These look so delicious. Cant wait to try it!
SHANIKA says
WOW! These Funfetti Cake Donuts look AMAZING! I would surely eat these for breakfast!
Brittany Loveall says
These donuts look absolutely delicious! Looking forward to making these at my next event!