There’s something irresistibly joyful about sprinkles. They bring a kind of instant nostalgia, cheer, and celebration that only a handful of ingredients can achieve. Whether you’re making a birthday treat, a holiday cookie platter, or simply craving something sweet and whimsical on an ordinary afternoon, funfetti shortbread sandwich cookies are pure happiness baked into buttery rounds.

These Funfetti Shortbread Sandwich Cookies with Frosting are a delightful twist on classic shortbread. Instead of simple, plain buttery cookies, these beauties are speckled with rainbow sprinkles throughout—giving them a confetti-like appearance that feels festive and playful. But the real magic happens when two cookies get sandwiched around a silky-soft vanilla frosting filling. The result is a melt-in-your-mouth cookie with a creamy center, the perfect marriage of buttery richness and sugary sweetness.

Shortbread is one of those timeless cookie recipes that every baker should have in their repertoire. It’s humble, made with just a handful of pantry staples, yet the flavor and texture are unmatched when done right. The key is high-quality butter, minimal handling, and gentle baking. When you add sprinkles to the dough, you get that classic shortbread crumb with a fun, colorful lift. These cookies stay tender, crumbly, and soft—never hard or crunchy—which makes them perfect for sandwiching.

The frosting filling is intentionally simple: a soft vanilla buttercream made with powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, and a splash of cream to get it perfectly smooth. It’s the type of filling that spreads easily but firms up just enough once the cookies are assembled. If you want to take these cookies in a different flavor direction, you can add almond extract, lemon zest, or even cocoa powder, but the classic vanilla version truly lets the funfetti theme shine.

These cookies remind me of childhood birthday parties, fun baking days in the kitchen, and sweet treats that feel homemade and heartfelt. They’re also fantastic for gifting, as they look incredibly cute bundled up in little boxes or cellophane bags. The sprinkles give them just enough color to feel celebratory without needing any extra decorations.

Whether you’re making these for a birthday, baby shower, or just a cozy weekend baking session, they deliver every time. Let’s walk through everything you need to know—from the ingredients, to step-by-step instructions, variations, storage, and serving ideas—so you can make these cookies exactly the way you love them.

Ingredients

For the Shortbread Cookies:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles (jimmies preferred)

For the Frosting Filling:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
pinch of salt

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, powdered sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
Add flour and salt; mix until a soft dough forms.
Fold in rainbow sprinkles gently so they don’t bleed.
Shape dough into a disc, wrap, and refrigerate 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Line baking sheets with parchment.
Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into rounds using a small cookie cutter.
Place cookies on sheet 1 inch apart.
Bake 10–12 minutes or until edges are just set but not browned.
Cool completely on a wire rack.
For frosting, beat butter until creamy, add powdered sugar gradually, then vanilla, salt, and cream. Beat until fluffy.
Spread or pipe frosting onto the flat side of half the cookies.
Top with remaining cookies to form sandwiches.
Chill 10–15 minutes to help frosting set.
Serve and enjoy the buttery, sprinkle-speckled deliciousness.