Speckled with colorful rainbow bits, these funfetti cookies are a joyful treat. This easy recipe produces a buttery, sweet cookie similar in texture to a classic chocolate chip cookie, but instead of chips they’re dotted with vibrant sprinkles. The result is soft, chewy cookies with bright visual appeal and great flavor.
What are Funfetti Cookies?
If you know funfetti cake — a vanilla cake with sprinkles folded into the batter for a rainbow-speckled effect — funfetti cookies are the same idea in cookie form. This recipe uses a sugar-cookie style dough that borrows the technique and feel of a chocolate chip cookie but builds extra chew and depth of flavor. Light brown sugar lends a touch of caramel-like flavor and helps keep the cookies chewy, while an additional egg yolk increases tenderness and richness.
How to Make Funfetti Cookies
The process is straightforward if you’ve baked cookies before. Start by creaming together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Add the eggs, extra yolk, and vanilla, and beat again for around two minutes until well combined. Whisk together the dry ingredients — flour, baking soda, and salt — and add them to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. For consistent texture, weigh the flour if possible; small differences in flour amount affect the final chewiness. Fold in the sprinkles until evenly distributed, portion the dough onto a parchment-lined sheet, and chill for 30 minutes before baking.
Resting the Funfetti Cookies
Resist the urge to bake immediately. A 30-minute rest (chilling in the freezer or fridge) improves final texture and shape. Cooling the fats prevents excessive spreading, helping the cookies stay thick and chewy. Resting also allows the flour and sugars to absorb moisture from the dough, producing a more uniform texture and reducing runniness that leads to over-spread cookies. A brief chill can also concentrate flavors slightly by reducing free moisture.
What Type of Sprinkles?
Choose the sprinkles you prefer. Nonpareils (tiny round sprinkles) create a dotted look but can bleed color more easily. Jimmies (rod-shaped sprinkles) usually have a coating that reduces bleeding. A mix works well: for example, three-quarters rainbow jimmies complemented by a small amount of chocolate jimmies and nonpareils creates visual variety and flavor contrast. You can also add white chocolate chips if you want pockets of creamy sweetness.
Get the Recipe:
Easy Funfetti Cookies
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Ingredients
- 300 g All Purpose Flour, or about 2 cups measured volumetrically
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup Light Brown Sugar
- ½ cup White Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1 Egg Yolk
- 2 tsp Vanilla
- 2/3 cup Sprinkles
Equipment
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Stand mixer (or large bowl and hand mixer)
Instructions
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Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a medium to large bowl and set aside.
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In a large bowl or in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, light brown sugar, and white sugar for about 3 minutes until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
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Whisk the eggs, extra yolk, and vanilla in a separate bowl, then add to the creamed mixture and beat on high for about 2 minutes, scraping the bowl as needed. Add the flour mixture and mix on low until just combined. Fold in the sprinkles with a spatula until evenly distributed.
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Line a baking sheet with parchment. Portion the dough into roughly 2-tablespoon balls and place them on the sheet. Transfer the sheet to the freezer or refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill. Don’t skip this step; it helps control spread and improves texture.
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Arrange the chilled dough balls on parchment-lined baking sheets (about 8–9 per sheet) and bake for 11–13 minutes, until edges are set and centers still look slightly soft. Let cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
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Tip: If baking in multiple batches, keep remaining dough chilled in the refrigerator to prevent spreading.
Related Recipes
If you enjoy cookie baking, here are a few other recipes you might like:
HOW TO MAKE MACARONS: A STEP BY STEP GUIDE + TIPS/TRICKS: A detailed guide for making basic macarons with practical tips and techniques.
CHEWY BROWNED BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES: These cookies are ultra-flavorful thanks to brown butter, yielding tender, chewy results.
RED VELVET MACARONS: Macarons flavored like classic red velvet, filled with a cream cheese-style filling.
