Birthday Cake Crumbs
Birthday cake crumbs are the easiest way to add nostalgic birthday cake flavor to just about any dessert. This simple recipe comes together in no time and creates sweet, buttery crumbs that taste just like real birthday cake. Sprinkle them over cakes, cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, and more for an instant festive touch.
Birthday Cake Crumbs
Birthday cake crumbs are about to make your desserts totally rad—because when something tastes this good, you just have to say, “I just can’t get enough.”
These sweet, crispy clusters taste just like classic birthday cake and come together faster than a DeLorean can hit 88. Sprinkle them over cakes, cupcakes, cookies, or ice cream and suddenly every dessert feels like it’s ready for the ultimate nostalgic celebration.
With colorful sprinkles and that classic birthday cake flavor, they’re the kind of topping that makes you want to crank up the mixtape and party like it’s 1989. One batch and you’ll be adding these totally tubular crumbs to everything.
If you want to keep the celebrating going, check out my easy confetti cake, funfetti cupcakes, and frosted funfetti cookies.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: This simple recipe comes together in just 15 minutes with minimal ingredients and effort.
- Tastes like birthday cake: Every bite is packed with sweet birthday cake flavor and colorful sprinkles.
- Crunchy texture: These crumbs bake up with a light, crisp crunch that adds the perfect texture to desserts.
- Fun and colorful: Rainbow sprinkles give the crumbs a bright, festive look that makes any dessert feel like a celebration.
- Versatile: Sprinkle them over cakes, cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, and more for an instant birthday cake twist.
Recipe Ingredients
- Cake flour – I don’t recommend using all-purpose flour in this recipe. Cake flour gives these crumbs their signature birthday cake flavor and light, crispy texture.
- Granulated sugar
- Light brown sugar
- Baking powder + salt
- Vegetable oil – Use your favorite neutral baking oil.
- Vanilla extract
- Rainbow nonpareil sprinkles
How to Make Birthday Cake Crumbs
Whisk together the dry ingredients (cake flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking powder, and salt).
Add in the wet ingredients (vegetable oil and vanilla extract) and mix until coarse crumbs form.
Stir in the rainbow nonpareil sprinkles and break up the larger crumbs.
Spread the crumbs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
Courtney’s Expert Baking Tips
- Use cake flour for the best taste and texture. Cake flour gives the crumbs their classic birthday cake flavor and light, crispy texture.
- Go with a good quality pure vanilla extract for the best birthday cake flavor.
- Use rainbow nonpareil sprinkles over rainbow jimmies for the best results. Jimmies will work, however, the nonpareils give the crumbs a better texture and a more colorful appearance.
- Break up larger clumps into smaller pieces for even baking and a more consistent texture.
- Cool the crumbs completely after baking before breaking up the crumbles and storing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sprinkle birthday cake crumbs over cakes, cupcakes, cookies, cheesecakes, or ice cream to add a sweet birthday cake flavor and a fun, crunchy texture. You can even sprinkle it over buttercream frosting when filling layer cakes.
Store the crumbs in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days. You could also store them in the refrigerator for 1 week or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Cake flour is recommended for this recipe because it gives the crumbs their light, tender texture and delicate crispness. It also helps create that classic birthday cake flavor, while all-purpose flour can make the crumbs denser and less crisp.
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Birthday Cake Crumbs
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (94 g) cake flour
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp (24 g) light brown sugar
- ½ tsp (0.5 tsp) baking powder
- ¼ tsp (0.25 tsp) salt
- ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
- 2 tsp (2 tsp) vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp (20 g) rainbow nonpareil sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ (177℃). Line a baking sheet pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the cake flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
- Add in the vegetable oil and vanilla extract and stir until the dry and wet ingredients are fully incorporated and large clusters form.
- Add in the rainbow nonpareil sprinkles and stir until they are well dispersed throughout the mixture. Break up any larger clusters with a spoon.
- Spread the birthday cake crumb mixture onto the prepared baking sheet pan. Bake the crumbs for 10 minutes. After baking, cool the birthday cake crumbs to room temperature and then break them up into small crumbs.
Notes
- Room temperature: Store the crumbs in an airtight container or resealable storage bag at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.
- Refrigerator: Store the crumbs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week.
- Freezer: Store the crumbs in an airtight container in the freezer for 2 months.
Nutrition
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About Courtney
Baker | 80s Lover | Cookbook Author
Courtney is a self-taught home baker and cookbook author of “Girls Just Wanna Bake Cupcakes”. She loves to create new and unique recipes while simultaneously listening to 80s music.
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