If you’re the kind of person who loves soft, buttery cookies, frosting-filled treats, and anything with joyful rainbow sprinkles, then these Funfetti Shortbread Sandwich Cookies with Frosting are about to become your new obsession. They’re melt-in-your-mouth buttery, perfectly sweet, packed with sprinkles, and layered with a dreamy, fluffy frosting in the middle.

Shortbread is already one of the most beloved cookie bases — simple, tender, and rich. But when you add sprinkles and turn them into adorable little sandwich cookies? Absolute perfection. Each bite is soft, colorful, and nostalgic, like birthday cake in cookie form.

These cookies look bakery-level gorgeous but are incredibly simple to make. The dough comes together quickly, the bake time is short, and the frosting assembly is fun and customizable. You can make them pastel, bright, themed, or classic white — anything works with the rainbow funfetti theme.

Let’s break it all down.

⭐ Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Sandwich Cookies

• Soft shortbread texture that melts in your mouth
• Bright rainbow sprinkles baked inside
• A thick, creamy frosting center
• Perfect for parties, birthdays, holidays, and gifting
• Kid-friendly, teen-friendly, adult-approved
• No chilling required for the dough
• Beautiful and bakery-worthy

These cookies take the joy of funfetti cake and pack it into a buttery, rich cookie.

🎉 The Funfetti Magic

Sprinkles do more than add color — they create tiny pops of sweetness and make the cookies festive. Rainbow jimmies (the long sprinkles) work best because they don’t bleed as much as nonpareils.

The result?
Cookies that look like tiny confetti explosions — bright, happy, and totally irresistible.

🍪 Why Shortbread Is the Perfect Base

Shortbread has three key qualities:

1. Butter-rich flavor
2. Soft, crumbly bite
3. Minimal ingredients

This means the sprinkles shine and the frosting doesn’t overwhelm the cookie. Everything stays balanced — buttery, sweet, colorful, and satisfying.

🧁 The Frosting Filling

The frosting is a classic vanilla buttercream:

• Soft
• Sweet
• Whipped
• Spreadable
• Perfect for sandwich cookies

You can keep it white or tint it pastel pink, blue, yellow, or purple. Add sprinkles inside the frosting for bonus fun — no rules here.

🛒 Ingredients You Need

Shortbread Cookies

• Butter
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla
• Flour
• Salt
• Rainbow sprinkles

Frosting

• Butter
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla
• Milk or cream
• Optional food coloring

🔥 How to Make Funfetti Shortbread Sandwich Cookies

1. Cream butter & sugar

Beat butter and powdered sugar until soft and smooth.

2. Add vanilla

Stir in pure vanilla extract for classic bakery flavor.

3. Mix in flour & salt

Shortbread relies on flour for structure — the dough should be soft.

4. Fold in sprinkles

Use gentle mixing to keep colors from streaking.

5. Shape & bake

Roll dough into small balls or cut-out shapes. Bake until edges are pale golden.

6. Make the frosting

Beat butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and a splash of milk until fluffy.

7. Assemble sandwiches

Spread or pipe frosting on half the cookies, then top with the rest.

8. Decorate edges (optional)

Roll the frosting edges in extra sprinkles.

Funfetti Shortbread Sandwich Cookies with Frosting

Colorful buttery shortbread cookies packed with rainbow sprinkles and filled with fluffy vanilla frosting for the ultimate funfetti treat.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 27 minutes mins

Servings: 16 sandwich cookies

Course: Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 210

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Shortbread Cookies

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 0.5 cup powdered sugar
• 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.25 tsp salt
• 0.33 cup rainbow sprinkles jimmies

Frosting

• 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1.5 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-2 tbsp milk or cream

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Electric mixer
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Piping bag (optional)

Method

 

1. Beat butter and powdered sugar until creamy.
2. Mix in vanilla.
3. Add flour and salt; mix to form dough.
4. Fold in rainbow sprinkles.
5. Shape dough and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes.
6. Beat frosting ingredients until fluffy.
7. Assemble sandwich cookies with frosting.

Notes

Roll cookie edges in sprinkles for extra fun.

🍽️ Serving Ideas

• Birthday celebrations
• Baby showers
• School events
• Holiday cookie boxes
• Movie night dessert
• Gifts for friends or neighbors
• Bake sale treats

These cookies always disappear fast — they’re sweet, fun, and easy to love.

🔀 Variations

• Chocolate Funfetti: Use chocolate frosting.
• Pastel Party: Tint frosting in multiple colors.
• Extra Sprinkle Edges: Roll frosting sides in sprinkles.
• Confetti Lemon: Add lemon zest to the dough.
• Birthday Cake Flavor: Add almond extract.

💡 Expert Tips

• Use rainbow jimmies, not nonpareils.
• Don’t overbake — shortbread should stay pale.
• Let cookies cool fully before frosting.
• Use a piping bag for perfectly neat edges.
• If dough feels dry, add 1 tsp milk at a time.

Ingredients (List)

Shortbread Cookies

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup rainbow sprinkles (jimmies)

Frosting

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1–2 tbsp milk or cream
• Optional: sprinkles or food coloring

Instructions (Numbered)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Beat butter and powdered sugar until creamy.
3. Mix in vanilla.
4. Add flour and salt; mix until dough forms.
5. Fold in rainbow sprinkles gently.
6. Shape dough into small balls or use a cookie cutter.
7. Bake 10–12 minutes until edges are set but pale. Cool completely.
8. For frosting: beat butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until fluffy.
9. Spread or pipe frosting on half the cookies.
10. Top with remaining cookies to form sandwiches.
11. Roll edges in sprinkles if desired.