Unicorn Bars bring a touch of magic to any dessert table. Easy to make with a Funfetti cake mix base and a fluffy cream cheese frosting, you’ll wonder why you didn’t discover this whimsical rainbow recipe sooner!
Unicorn Funfetti Bars
You can’t beat the convenience of baking a Unicorn Bars recipe from a box of cake mix! It’s a fun way to make frosted funfetti bars from cake. They’re studded with bursts of sprinkles in the batter, and then all dressed up in swirled unicorn colors!
This unicorn funfetti cake bars recipe combines the satisfaction of snacking on chewy sugar cookie bars with the tender texture of a slice of cake. I like to refer to them as lazy cake mix bars because the base is already pre-mixed with flour, sugar, leavening agents, and sprinkles, so you don’t need to measure out dry ingredients separately.
Unicorn desserts are perfect for birthday parties, Pride month, or any special occasion. If you love a good shortcut, like I do, you can make more magic with my other Cake Mix Hacks and Cake Mix Cookies recipes.
Unicorn Bars Ingredients
- Funfetti cake mix: You can use any confetti or funfetti cake mix to bake the base of your bars. Unicorn baking can also begin with a white cake mix and ½ cup of sprinkles folded in instead.
- Egg: Acts as a binder and provides structure to these treats.
- Salted butter: Salted butter and a pinch or two of salt will work as well.
- Heavy cream: Adds moisture and a luxurious creaminess to the unicorn bar batter, resulting in a dense and chewy texture. You can also substitute whole milk or half and half, but keep in mind that it will affect the consistency of the frosting and the texture and flavor of the unicorn recipe slightly.
- Cream cheese: Ensure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature to ensure the frosting has a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla: You can substitute another extract, such as almond, maple, or coconut, if desired.
- Purple and blue food coloring: Substitute your favorite unicorn colors to customize your cake bars.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Unicorn Bars
- Bake The Base: Mix together the cake mix, egg, butter, and heavy cream. Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes.
- Form The Frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, until light and fluffy. Beat in the heavy cream and vanilla, 1 Tablespoon at a time, until light, fluffy, and spreadable.
- Cover The Cake: Divide the frosting into two bowls and fold in the food coloring. Spread and swirl the frosting over the cooled bars.
- Slice And Serve: Top with festive sprinkles, slice, and serve. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
There’s no doubt that unicorn-themed food is both fun and delicious! Planning a princess party or just want to make your day more colorful? Serve your slice with a scoop of Unicorn Ice Cream, a square of Unicorn Fudge, a sip of Unicorn Hot Chocolate, a piece of Unicorn Poop Bark or some Unicorn Whoopie Pies.
Unicorn cake mix cookie bars can be served chilled or warmed to room temperature.
Tips & Variations
- Bake The Base: You can make the bars themselves with any cake mix, chocolate, lemon, strawberry or yellow cake.
- Flavor The Frosting: You can use different extracts to flavor the frosting or use another liquid other than the heavy cream, such as orange juice, strawberry milk, or chocolate milk.
- Cover The Cake: Feel free to use a different frosting altogether and spread a chocolate frosting, buttermilk frosting, or even a whipped topping over the bars.
- Bake Other Bars: Easy fun desserts can come from a box! Check out my Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars and Cake Mix Brownies for more quick dessert bars.
- Dreamy Decorations: Decorate your unicorn desserts with your favorite nonpareils, Unicorn sparkle candy sprinkles, colored sanding sugar, rainbow jimmies, or edible glitter.
Proper Storage
- To Store: Due to the dairy in the frosting, it is best to keep the Unicorn Bars chilled when not being enjoyed. They will keep fresh for 5 days in the refrigerator.
- To Freeze: Wrap your bars well and place them in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months in the freezer.
More Fun recipes
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Unicorn Bars
Ingredients
- 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
- Purple and blue food coloring
- Sprinkles optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease or line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cake mix, egg, butter and heavy cream until combined.15.25 ounces box funfetti cake mix, 1 large egg, ½ cup salted butter, ½ cup heavy cream
- Spread into the prepared baking pan in an even layer and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting.
- To make the frosting, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy in a large bowl using a hand or stand mixer.8 ounces package cream cheese, ½ cup salted butter
- Slowly beat in the powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, until light and fluffy.3½ cups powdered sugar
- Add in the heavy cream and vanilla, continuing to beat on high, 1 Tablespoon at a time until a light, fluffy frosting of spreadable consistency is reached.1-3 tablespoons heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Separate into two bowls and fold in the food coloring until you get your desired colors.Purple and blue food coloring
- Spread the frosting alternately over the cooled bars and swirl with a spoon or flat spatula.
- Top with sprinkles, optional, cut and serve.Sprinkles
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Due to the dairy in the frosting, it is best to keep the Unicorn Bars chilled when not being enjoyed. They will keep fresh for 5 days in the refrigerator.
- To Freeze: Wrap your bars well and place them in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months in the freezer.
- You can make the bars themselves with any cake mix, chocolate, lemon, strawberry or yellow cake.
- You can use different extracts to flavor the frosting or use another liquid other than the heavy cream, such as orange juice, strawberry milk, or chocolate milk.
- Feel free to use a different frosting altogether and spread a chocolate frosting, buttermilk frosting, or even a whipped topping over the bars.
