Funfetti Waffle Birthday Cake

Quick, Easy, and Colorful

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
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Updated on 05/20/21
Funfetti Waffle Birthday Cake

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 1 cake
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
933 Calories
38g Fat
145g Carbs
6g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 933
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g 49%
Saturated Fat 13g 66%
Cholesterol 89mg 30%
Sodium 881mg 38%
Total Carbohydrate 145g 53%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 100g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 204mg 16%
Iron 3mg 18%
Potassium 216mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This is fast, colorful, and easy-to-deliver birthday cake is sure to make someone's big day extra special. In fact, it can be made without cake pans or even an oven—you just need a waffle iron.

For this recipe, a white cake mix and vanilla frosting are used. However, you can try it with any flavor of boxed cake mix and with your favorite frosting. A square waffle maker was used, resulting in a square cake that can be sliced into flat pieces. A round waffle maker could also be used for a cake that can be cut into wedges. A thinner, classic waffle iron will yield thinner cake layers with smaller pockets for frosting, while a thicker, Belgian-style waffle maker will yield thicker cake layers with deeper pockets for frosting.

Each layer of the waffle cake is frosted with your choice of homemade or store-bought frosting. Just be sure to make an even layer each time to allow the frosting to fall into the waffle crevices. The cake can be refrigerated to help set the layers before slicing and serving. Top with candles and get ready to sing with delight!

1:51

The Easiest, Fastest Funfetti Birthday Cake

Ingredients

  • 1 15.52-ounce package vanilla cake mix

  • 1 cup water

  • 1/3 cup melted butter

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 1/4 cups multicolored sprinkles

  • 16 ounces prepared or homemade frosting

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Funfetti Waffle Birthday Cake ingredients

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, water, melted butter, and eggs. Whisk until thick, smooth, and glossy. This will take about 2 to 3 minutes.

    Cake ingredients in a mixing bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

  3. Stir in 1/4 cup of sprinkles.

    Sprinkles being stirred into the cake batter

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

  4. Preheat the waffle iron to low and brush with oil or coat with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Spoon a small amount of waffle cake batter into each well and cook through (consult your waffle maker manual). Repeat with the remaining batter as needed.

    Cake waffle cooked in the waffle iron

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

  5. Remove the waffles from the waffle iron, separate into individual squares, and let cool. Frost each square with an even amount of icing. Stack the layers as high as you like for the cake.

    Waffles being frosted with frosting on a cutting board

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

  6. Frost the outside of the waffle cake with additional frosting. Pour the remaining cup of sprinkles onto a rimmed plate.

    Funfetti waffle cake sitting on a plate of sprinkles

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

  7. Press the frosting into the remaining sprinkles, coating all sides. Refrigerate to set until ready to serve.

    Cake covered in sprinkles on a plate

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

  8. Top the cake with candles and slice to serve.

    Funfetti Waffle Birthday Cake with candles

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg

Tip

Set the waffle maker to low and watch the cake mix waffles carefully. You don't want the waffles to take on too much color and get too dark, you want the waffles to stay nice and cakey.

Recipe Variations

  • You can use a different flavor cake mix for this recipe, such as yellow cake or chocolate cake.
  • You can also mix up the frosting. Try using chocolate frosting or make homemade frosting for a real treat.