Soft, buttery, colorful, and loaded with sprinkles, these Easy Funfetti Cookies with a Secret Ingredient are the perfect cookies for birthdays and celebrations. They have crisp edges, soft centers, and a rich vanilla flavor thanks to the secret ingredient: vanilla pudding mix.
The vanilla pudding not only gives these cookies an amazing flavor but also keeps them extra soft, with a bakery-style texture that stays tender even the next day. Combined with all the colorful sprinkles, they feel nostalgic, cheerful, and impossible not to love.
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how easy it is to make. No chilling time, no complicated steps, and no special techniques required. These cookies are perfect for birthday parties, bake sales, or simply for a fun baking day at home.
If you’re looking for other ideas for birthday cookies, you’ll love these Daisy Cookies filled with Lemon curd. Also don’t miss out these Dulce de Leche Alfajores!
Why you’ll love these Easy Funfetti Cookies
Soft bakery-style texture
The vanilla pudding mix keeps the cookies soft and chewy while giving them lightly crisp edges. It also creates the most delicate and nostalgic vanilla flavor!
Easy to make
This recipe comes together with simple ingredients and no chilling time required.
Perfect for birthdays
The colorful sprinkles make these cookies ideal for birthday parties, celebrations, and special occasions.
Fun to bake with kids
If there’s something my toddler loves, it’s to add sprinkles to everything. These cookies are simple, colorful, and perfect for baking together as a family activity.
How do we make Funfetti Cookies with Vanilla Pudding?
Cream the butter and sugar
Start by creaming the butter, sugar, and the vanilla pudding powder together until light and fluffy. You can use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, a hand mixer, or even mix by hand with a whisk or wooden spoon.
Add the wet ingredients
Once the mixture looks creamy, add the egg and egg yolk and mix until combined.
Add the dry ingredients
Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add them to the dough and mix just until combined. Gently fold in the sprinkles, being careful not to overmix so the colors stay vibrant.
Shape the cookies
Scoop the cookie dough and roll it into balls using your hands. I like to shape them with my hands to make them more round after baking. Since these cookies spread while baking, place them separated from each other on a parchment-lined baking tray. Top them with extra sprinkles before baking.
Bake until lightly golden
Bake in a preheated oven until the edges look lightly golden and the centers are just set.
Pro tips for baking the best Funfetti Cookies
Use room temperature ingredients
Room temperature butter and eggs combine more evenly and create a smoother cookie dough.
Customize the sprinkle mix
You can create your own sprinkle mix using your favorite colors. This is especially fun for themed birthday parties or holiday celebrations.
Scoop evenly sized cookies
I like using an ice cream scoop to portion the dough. Each cookie is usually around 40–50 grams, but you can make them smaller if you prefer. Just reduce the baking time slightly.
Add extra sprinkles on top
For extra cute cookies, press a few additional sprinkles on top before baking.
Don’t overbake the cookies
The cookies may still look slightly soft in the center when you remove them from the oven, but they will continue to set as they cool.
Store them properly
Keep the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their soft texture.
Easy Funfetti Cookies (with a Secret Ingredient)
Ingredients
- 120 g unsalted butter 1/2 cup or 1 stick
- 100 g white sugar 1/2 cup
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 50 g vanilla instant pudding mix 1 small package or about 1/2 cup
- 180 g all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 80 g sprinkles 1/2 cup
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, vanilla pudding powder, and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and egg yolk and mix until combined.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the mixture and mix on low speed just until combined.
- Fold in the sprinkles.
- Scoop the cookie dough and shape it into balls. Place them on a parchment-lined baking tray, leaving enough space between each cookie. Gently press each cookie slightly to help them spread evenly. Top with more sprinkles.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F(180°C) for 12–14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
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