Description
These Unicorn Bars are a fun and colorful twist on classic funfetti cake bars, topped with creamy, swirled cream cheese frosting in vibrant purple and blue hues. Perfect for celebrations or a whimsical treat, these bars combine a moist funfetti cake base with a fluffy, lightly sweetened frosting that is both visually stunning and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Bars
- 15.25 ounces box funfetti cake mix
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup salted butter (1 stick), melted
- ½ cup heavy cream
Frosting
- 8 ounces package cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup salted butter (1 stick), room temperature
- 3½ cups powdered sugar
- 1-3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Purple food coloring
- Blue food coloring
- Sprinkles (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare baking pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease or line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Mix the bars batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the funfetti cake mix, egg, melted butter, and heavy cream until the batter is well blended.
- Bake the bars: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan before frosting.
- Make the frosting base: Using a hand or stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Add powdered sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar, about ½ cup at a time, beating continuously until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Incorporate cream and vanilla: Add the heavy cream and vanilla extract one tablespoon at a time while beating on high speed, until you achieve a spreadable, fluffy frosting consistency.
- Color the frosting: Divide the frosting into two bowls. Add purple food coloring to one bowl and blue to the other, folding gently until you get the desired shades.
- Frost the bars: Spread the colored frostings alternately over the cooled bars and swirl gently with a spoon or spatula to create a marbled unicorn effect.
- Garnish and serve: Optionally sprinkle with colorful sprinkles on top, then cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- Due to the dairy content in the frosting, store the Unicorn Bars chilled in the refrigerator where they will keep fresh for up to 5 days.
- For longer storage, wrap the bars well and freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
- You can customize the bars by using any cake mix flavor such as chocolate, lemon, strawberry, or yellow cake.
- Experiment with different extracts or liquids like orange juice or flavored milk in the frosting for varied tastes.
- Feel free to substitute the cream cheese frosting with chocolate frosting, buttermilk frosting, or whipped topping according to your preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approx. 1/16th of the recipe)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
