Vegan Funfetti Loaf Cake with Vanilla Frosting

Get ready for the most colorful, joyful, and tasty loaf you’ll ever make. This moist and fluffy gluten-free + vegan Funfetti Loaf Cake is frosted with vanilla buttercream for the ultimate sweet treat experience. There’s just something about rainbow sprinkles that makes everything better!

I’ve been a funfetti fan ever since childhood but quickly realized that as an adult, there are fewer opportunities for the tasty funfetti experience. I mean think about it, when was the last time you enjoyed a funfetti dessert? Thankfully this grown-up version of funfetti cake in loaf form is perfect for your next healthy dessert craving!

For more deliciousness, check out these Gluten-Free Funfetti Blondies. A soft and fudgy vanilla brownie/cookie with rainbow sprinkles in every bite + a creamy vanilla frosting. They’re fun, delicious, and healthy too!

Ingredients in Vegan Funfetti Loaf Cake

Coconut Sugar – My favorite refined sugar-free sweetener. Coconut sugar has a slight caramel flavor to it and is similar to brown sugar but all natural!

Applesauce – A staple in vegan baking, applesauce provides sweetness and extra moisture to baked goods. Keeping the texture extra fluffy and moist without the typical add-in of eggs.

Vegan Butter – The added fat will help with the overall texture and flavor of this funfetti loaf. My go-to brands for vegan butter are Earth Balance and Miyoko’s.

Almond milk – Any plant-based milk will work for this recipe, just be sure to let it warm up to room temperature before mixing. Otherwise, it could cause the butter and other ingredients to congeal.

Clear Vanilla Extract – For the traditional funfetti flavor we all know and love, I suggest using a clear vanilla extract. If needed, sub with regular vanilla extract, and this loaf will still be just as tasty!

Gluten-Free Flour – Using a 1-to-1 GF flour blend will give the best texture for gluten-free baking. My favorite blend is from Bob’s Red Mill, they have a Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour blend that works perfectly every time.

Almond Flour – Make sure to use super-fine, blanched almond flour for the best texture. Not to be confused with almond meal which is much more coarse and crumbly.

Rainbow Sprinkles – The most important ingredient for any funfetti creation, rainbow sprinkles are the ultimate color boost! AND … I know sprinkles don’t have much flavor but I swear, rainbow sprinkles have the best flavor!

How to Make a Funfetti Loaf

1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a 8×4 baking pan with parchment paper.
2. To a large mixing bowl add coconut sugar, applesauce, melted vegan butter, almond milk, lemon juice, and clear vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Whisk together until smooth and evenly combined. 
3. Add in your dry ingredients – GF flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt – and stir until just combined. Let the batter sit for at least 3-5 minutes so it has time to thicken. 
4. Stir in your rainbow sprinkles and stir until just combined.
5. Pour batter into the 8×4 baking pan and use a spatula to smooth the top. 
6. Move to the oven and bake at 350F for 45 – 50  minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool completely then frost.

Vegan Vanilla Buttercream

There’s nothing better than thick, creamy, and oh-so-luscious buttercream frosting … that’s also vegan with rainbow sprinkles. This dreamy frosting is the perfect pairing for any funfetti sweet treat and is so simple to make.

All you need is powdered sugar, vegan butter, vanilla extract, almond milk, and rainbow sprinkles. Then you simply add the powdered sugar, melted vegan butter, and almond milk to a medium bowl, whisking together until smooth. If needed, add additional almond milk to thin the frosting out.

Mix in the rainbow sprinkles, take a tester spoonful (or two), then frost your loaf cake and enjoy!

What is Clear Vanilla Extract?

We all know that vanilla extract is the secret ingredient to great baked goods. Similar to how salt amplifies savory cooking, vanilla extract enhances the natural flavors of sweet treats.

The only real difference in using clear vanilla extract over regular is for the color and funfetti flavor. Clear vanilla extract is best for light-colored, white creations as it won’t alter the color. It also has a slightly different flavor to it that has been used for funfetti desserts over time.

So if you can use clear vanilla extract, great! If you can’t find it, no worries at all. Simply substitute for regular vanilla extract and I promise it will still be delicious!

More Fun and Healthy Desserts

While the rainbow sprinkles of funfetti desserts are the ultimate fun recipe, these tasty desserts also have some color to them and taste just as delicious!

Healthy Monster Cookie Bars – Thick and chewy oatmeal cookie bars loaded with sweet & colorful chocolate candies plus extra chocolate chips.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting – Fluffy chocolate cupcakes with a luscious strawberry cream cheese frosting. The flavor combination of rich chocolate with sweet strawberry frosting is truly delicious.

If you try this recipe (or any of the above), please let me know by leaving a comment and rating in the boxes below! I always love to hear from you, and it also helps other people find this recipe when they search online for the BEST Vegan Funfetti Loaf Cake with Vanilla Frosting 🙂

Vegan Funfetti Loaf Cake with Vanilla Frosting

Author Casey Colodny

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 50 minutes minutes

Total: 1 hour hour

Servings: 8 slices

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This Funfetti Loaf Cake is gluten-free + vegan but you'd never guess by the soft and fluffy texture. With rainbow sprinkles in every bite and a luscious vanilla buttercream frosting, this funfetti loaf is as fun as it is delicious!

Ingredients

Funfetti Loaf:

• ⅔ cup coconut sugar
• ⅓ cup applesauce
• ¼ cup vegan butter melted & cooled
• ½ cup almond milk room temperature
• 1½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp clear vanilla extract for the traditional funfetti flavor – can substitute regular vanilla
• 1 cup 1:1 gluten free flour I used Bob’s red mill 1:1 GF flour replacement
• 1 cup super fine blanched almond flour
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ⅓ cup rainbow sprinkles

Vanilla Frosting:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp vegan butter melted
• 1-2 tsp almond milk to thin
• ¼ cup rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350F and line a 8×4 baking pan with parchment paper.
• To a large mixing bowl add coconut sugar, applesauce, melted vegan butter, almond milk, lemon juice, and clear vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Whisk together until smooth and evenly combined.
• Add in your dry ingredients – GF flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt – and stir until just combined. Let the batter sit for at least 3-5 minutes so it has time to thicken.
• Add rainbow sprinkles and stir until just combined.
  
• Pour batter into the 8×4 baking pan and use a spatula to smooth the top.
  
• Move to the oven and bake at 350F for 45 – 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool completely.
  
• While baking – prepare your frosting. To a medium bowl, add powdered sugar, melted vegan butter, and almond milk and whisk together until smooth. Add additional almond milk as needed to thin.
• Top the cooled loaf with frosting and spread in an even layer. Add extra sprinkles, and enjoy!
  

Notes

Allow the loaf to cool completely before frosting or cutting into it. This will make sure it holds shape and doesn’t crumble!

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