Easy to make and fun to serve, these funfetti shortbread cookies are rich, buttery and so colorful! These melt in your mouth cookies are perfect for birthdays and celebrations!
Funfetti Cookies
These vanilla shortbread cookies come alive with the addition of colorful funfetti! Perfect to make for birthdays, these cookies are wonderfully rich and buttery.
The traditional shortbread dough is livened up with colored sprinkles to make them that little bit more special, without altering that delicious taste of a classic shortbread cookie.
Be sure to try my Funfetti Donuts and Funfetti Pound Cake too!
Why You’ll Love this Shortbread Cookie Recipe:
- Easy: Simple to prep and bake, this is a great recipe that your kids can help you make. They’ll definitely enjoy eating them!
- Make ahead: Because of their high fat content, shortbread cookies have a great shelf life. They are also freezer friendly.
- Perfect for occasions: You can easily swap the funfetti sprinkles for other colors to suit different holidays!
- Simple ingredients: You only need 6 everyday ingredients to make these cookies, most of which you’ll likely already have in your pantry.
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How to Make Funfetti Shortbread Cookies
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- Beat the butter until creamy.
- Mix in the milk and vanilla.
- Add in the flour and powdered sugar to make a dough.
- Fold in the sprinkles.
- Wrap and chill the dough.
- Roll out and cut out the cookies.
- Bake and allow to cool.
Funfetti is the trademarked name for confetti cake coined by Pillsbury in 1989. Confetti cake is a vanilla cake with rainbow sprinkles. Now, funfetti has expanded to include any vanilla-flavored dessert with sprinkles.
Shortbread is named because of the traditional ratio of 1 part sugar to 2 parts butter, making it “short” or fatty. This high-fat dough yields a soft, buttery crumb that melts in your mouth, similar to shortcrust pastry.
I prefer to use powdered sugar because it gives these shortbread cookies a softer, melt-in-your-mouth texture. You can use granulated sugar, but your cookies will come out more crispy. If using granulated sugar, you can decrease the amount of sugar by about 25% if desired because it is much sweeter than powdered.
Yes! Chilling shortbread dough before baking helps prevent the cookies from spreading in the oven.
These homemade shortbread cookies come together so easily and they are so rich and buttery, they literally melt in your mouth! The funfetti sprinkles add a wonderful pop of color that make them just a little extra special!
I love that shortbread cookies have a pretty good shelf life, because of this they are great to give as homemade gifts. I mean, everyone loves to receive a cookie on their birthday! Be sure to make a double batch for the freezer!
Make Ahead Instructions
Funfetti shortbread cookie dough can be made up to 1 week ahead and stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake it. It can also be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. Allow the dough to soften at room temperature, then roll out, chill, and bake as directed.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover funfetti shortbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
Freezing Instructions
Freeze leftover funfetti shortbread cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Allow to thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Shortbread Variations
These funfetti shortbread cookies are great for any occasion. You can make them festive for the holidays by using holiday-colored sprinkles, such as red and green for Christmas; black, orange, and purple for Halloween; red and pink for Valentine’s Day; shades of green for Saint Patrick’s Day; or red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July!
These melt-in-your-mouth funfetti shortbread cookies are a real treat! Whether you give them as birthday gifts, or just enjoy them with an afternoon cup of coffee, you’ll be pleased you made these! Add some color to your day!
If you make this recipe be sure to leave us a comment or rating. Enjoy!
Funfetti Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter room temperature (2 sticks)
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup powdered sugar (see note)
- ¼ cup rainbow sprinkles
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Stand Mixer
- Baking Sheet
- Rolling Pin
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 30 seconds.1 cup salted butter
- Add the milk and vanilla and mix to combine.3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour and powdered sugar. Continue mixing just until a shaggy dough forms.2 cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup powdered sugar
- Gently fold the sprinkles into the cookie dough.¼ cup rainbow sprinkles
- Shape the dough into a disc and wrap it in plastic wrap.
- Place the dough in the fridge to chill for 15 minutes.
- While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Lightly flour your work surface and roll the cookie dough out to ¼-inch thick. Cut the dough out using your choice of cutter (I used a 2-inch round cutter) and place the dough on the prepared baking sheet. These cookies don’t spread much so you only need to place them about 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until the cookies are just starting to turn golden brown on the bottom.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely.
Notes
- Sugar: You can use granulated sugar, but your cookies will come out more crispy and less soft. If using granulated sugar, you can decrease the amount of sugar by about 25% if desired because it is much sweeter than powdered.
- Funfetti shortbread cookie dough can be made up to 1 week ahead and stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake it. It can also be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. Allow the dough to soften at room temperature, then roll out, chill, and bake as directed.
- These funfetti shortbread cookies are great for any occasion. You can make them festive for the holidays by using holiday-colored sprinkles, such as red and green for Christmas; black, orange, and purple for Halloween; red and pink for Valentine’s Day; shades of green for Saint Patrick’s Day; or red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July!
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