Funfetti birthday cookies are loaded with sprinkles and white chocolate chips. They are like a party in chewy cookie form. Make a batch for a birthday, or just because.
If there is an ingredient that is guaranteed to make a baked good more fun, sprinkles has to be it. There is just something about those colorful little jimmies that is hard to resist.
These funfetti birthday cookies are super delicious and really fun. The vanilla pudding mix in the dough gives them a great chewy texture and even more vanilla flavor.
The sprinkles add a pop of color and make them super festive. The white chocolate chips add a bit of creamy texture, though you can use chocolate if you prefer.
Why birthday cookies?
It has come to my attention that not everyone wants a giant cake with loads of frosting for their birthday. My sister-in-law is one of those people.
Don’t get me wrong, she’s always up for trying whatever cake I’ve baked, but that’s not her “thing.” Her thing is cookies.
Last year when I asked her what she wanted for her birthday treat she requested something vanilla with sprinkles. Preferably made in cookie form.
I obliged and made her a sprinkle filled cookie cake. It had yellow buttercream piped on to because it’s her favorite color.
That was fun, but I thought this year I’d do individual cookies instead. They are more practical in a lot of applications.
She is an elementary school teacher, so I should bake her a batch to share with her students. I’m sure they’d love that!
Anyway I know she prefers soft cookies so I used an old recipe we love for chocolate chip cookies with pudding mix inside as the base. The flavor and texture of those cookies are always delicious.
Instead of chocolate chips I used vanilla chips. It adds big vanilla flavor which is what she loves.
Plus it is almost like having bits of frosting baked inside which you know I live! Toss in a ton of colorful sprinkles and they are ready for a birthday party.
Tips and Tricks
Make sure you use full sized sprinkles or jimmies and not the little balls or nonpareils. The nonpareils have a way of melting into the dough and aren’t as visually pleasing.
While you can bake the cookies immediately after making the dough, the final shape and texture of the cookies will be better if you chill the dough first. A half hour is sort of a minimum chill time, but you can chill the dough for up to a couple of days before you bake it.
I love using cookie scoops to keep my cookies a uniform size. A thick and chunky dough like this requires a sturdy scoop. I really like the OXO cookie scoops. They are the only ones that don’t break on me.
You could very easily adjust the colors of the sprinkles to coordinate with your party colors. The options of mixes and individual colors are just about endless.
Storing Cookies
Cookies can be stored at room temperature for several days. Put them in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
Adding a slice of sandwich bread to the container helps keep them softer for longer. The bread will help keep a higher level of moisture in the container.
These cookies freeze well. You freeze baked cookies for several months in a freezer bag.
You can also freeze balls of dough on a cookie sheet and then transfer the frozen dough balls into a freezer bag. You can bake the dough from frozen, just add a minute or two to the baking time.
Do you prefer cake or cookies for your birthday treat? Or do you request something altogether different? Tell me all about your favorite birthday treats in the comments or on social media.
Do I have to chill the dough before I bake it?
You can certainly bake the dough right after you make it, but the softer dough is more likely to spread. Plus chilling the dough gives the flavors a chance to develop, so it is highly encouraged.
More Fun Cookie Recipes
If you like cookies with a pop of color, try making Fruity Pebbles cookies. The cereal add not only fun flecks of color, but fruity flavor as well.
Funfetti sugar cookie bars are another fun way to have lots of sprinkles, but without the work of scooping out the dough. Just press it in a pan and bake it. We love ours with lots of sprinkle buttercream on top!
Another way to streamline the cookie baking process is to use a cake mix. Funfetti cake mix cookies only take 4 ingredients to make soft and colorful cookies.
Check out my full collection of cookie recipes for more inspiration!
White Chocolate Chip Funfetti Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 3.4 ounce box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 large eggs
- 2¼ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups vanilla baking chips
- ½ cup rainbow sprinkles jimmies
Instructions
- Cream together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs and vanilla, mixing until incorporated.
- In a small bowl, mix together flour, pudding mix and baking soda. Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture until just combined.
- Fold in the white chips and sprinkles. Cover and chill the dough for at least an hour, but up to two days.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Use a small cookie scoop to scoop dough onto parchment or silicone mat lined cookie sheet. Leave about 2 inches between each scoop. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are just starting to turn golden brown, the centers should still look a little soft.
- Cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition
Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies
Monday 10th of February 2020
I have to make these asap!
Carlee
Wednesday 12th of February 2020
You really should!
Andrea Nine
Friday 31st of January 2020
These cookies just make me smile! And I bet I’ll smile even more when eating these. Have the sweetest weekend! xo
Carlee
Wednesday 12th of February 2020
sprinkles have a way of spreading joy. Thanks, Andrea!