Name: Funfetti Cake Mix Unicorn Bars Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 15.25 ounces funfetti cake mix; 1 large egg; ½ cup salted butter (1 stick), melted; ½ cup heavy cream; 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature; ½ cup salted butter (1 stick), room temperature; 3½ cups powdered sugar; 1 to 3 tablespoons heavy cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Purple food coloring; Blue food coloring; Sprinkles (optional, for garnish)

If you’re looking for a dessert that’s as joyful to make as it is to eat, then you’re going to adore this Funfetti Cake Mix Unicorn Bars Recipe. It’s basically a colorful celebration wrapped up in a sweet, moist bar—perfect for birthdays, parties, or anytime you want to add a bit of whimsy to your day. I love how this recipe uses funfetti cake mix for an easy base that brings bursts of rainbow sprinkles in every bite, making the whole process quick and foolproof.

What makes my Funfetti Cake Mix Unicorn Bars Recipe stand out is the rich cream cheese frosting tinted in gentle unicorn hues that layer perfectly on top. The combination of the buttery dense bars with that silky, pastel frosting just feels like a hug for your taste buds. Whenever I make these, they disappear fast, so trust me, these bars are worth the effort and will definitely impress your friends and family.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For these bars, you’ll lean on some trusty staples that blend together beautifully. Each ingredient plays a role—from creating that tender cake texture to whipping up the smooth, dreamy frosting that’s the real unicorn magic here. Don’t worry about hard-to-find items; these are all super accessible, which means less time shopping and more time baking.

Funfetti Cake Mix: This is the star that brings the sprinkles and fun flavor. Make sure it’s a good-quality mix for best results.
Egg: Helps bind everything together and add moisture.
Salted Butter: Using salted butter adds a slight savory balance to the sweetness—plus, melted butter keeps the bars extra moist.
Heavy Cream: Adds richness to the bars and the frosting, making them luscious and creamy.
Cream Cheese: Softened to room temp for smooth mixing; this gives the frosting its signature tangy creaminess.
Powdered Sugar: For sweetening and thickening the frosting to that perfect spreadable consistency.
Vanilla Extract: A small touch that enhances all flavors.
Purple and Blue Food Coloring: These colors create beautiful pastel unicorn hues that make the frosting truly magical.
Sprinkles (Optional): To sprinkle on top for extra fun and crunch—you can never go wrong with more sprinkles!

Variations

I like to play around with this Funfetti Cake Mix Unicorn Bars Recipe whenever I want to suit different occasions or dietary needs, and honestly, it’s so versatile you can’t go wrong. Feel free to tweak the colors or even swap out the frosting base to make the recipe feel uniquely yours.

Dairy-Free Version: I’ve swapped the butter and cream cheese for dairy-free alternatives and it still turned out creamy and delicious.
Chip Variations: Sometimes I add mini chocolate chips or white chocolate chips to the batter for extra texture—totally yum!
Ombre Frosting: To really amp up the unicorn vibe, try layering different shades of frosting by mixing varying amounts of the purple and blue colors.
Gluten-Free Adaptation: Using a gluten-free funfetti cake mix works well and keeps these bars just as delightful.

How to Make Funfetti Cake Mix Unicorn Bars Recipe

Step 1: Whisk Up the Batter with Love

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan—you want to make sure nothing sticks. In a large bowl, combine the funfetti cake mix, the egg, melted salted butter, and heavy cream. I like to whisk everything together until it’s just combined; overmixing can make the bars dense, and we’re going for light and fluffy here. Once mixed, pour your batter into the pan and gently spread it out so it’s even.

Step 2: Bake and Cool

Bake your bars for about 20-25 minutes. Start checking around the 20-minute mark by inserting a toothpick in the center—it should come out mostly clean but with a few moist crumbs for perfect texture. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely. Patience here is key because frosting warm bars will just melt the cream cheese topping and make a mess.

Step 3: Whip Up That Magical Frosting

While the bars are cooling, make your frosting. Beat the cream cheese and room temperature salted butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition to avoid a sugar cloud explosion! Add vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of heavy cream, then adjust the consistency with more cream if it’s too thick. Divide the frosting into two bowls and tint one with purple, the other with blue food coloring, mixing until you get soft, pastel shades.

Step 4: Frost and Decorate

Now the fun part—frosting your cooled bars! I like to swirl the two colors together slightly on the top for a marbled effect that screams unicorn vibes. If you want to get creative, pipe stripes or shapes, but honestly, a simple swirl looks gorgeous and pretty effortless. Finish with a generous sprinkle of your favorite colorful sprinkles on top for that extra pop of sparkle and crunch.

How to Serve Funfetti Cake Mix Unicorn Bars Recipe

The image shows several white bowls and a white plate arranged on a white marbled surface. In the center white plate, there is a large block of cream cheese next to a brown egg. Around the plate, there are five white bowls: the top left bowl is filled with white frosting covered with red, blue, and white round sprinkles; the top right bowl has a pale yellow liquid, likely oil; the bottom left bowl contains white ricotta cheese with a fluffy texture; the middle left bowl has white powdered sugar; the bottom right bowl holds colorful red, white, and blue round sprinkles; and next to it is a small bowl filled with more white powder, possibly salt. The ingredients are neatly placed and well lit, showing a mix of smooth, creamy, and powdery textures. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I’m all about those colorful sprinkles to finish off these bars—they add texture and look adorable every time. Sometimes, I used edible glitter or pastel candies for an extra touch of magic. Don’t be shy to experiment with your garnishes to make the presentation uniquely yours!

Side Dishes

These bars are sweet and festive enough to stand on their own, but I do love pairing them with a simple cup of milk or even a light fruit salad to keep things fresh and balanced. If it’s a party, a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side pairs beautifully as well.

Creative Ways to Present

For birthdays or special occasions, I’ve arranged these bars on a pastel-colored platter surrounded by mini cupcakes and colorful candies for a whimsical dessert table. You can also cut them into bite-sized pieces and serve them as part of a dessert board for easy snacking at gatherings.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Funfetti Cake Mix Unicorn Bars Recipe in an airtight container in the fridge to keep the cream cheese frosting fresh. They usually last about 4-5 days, and honestly, by then they’re usually all gone because they’re so tempting!

Freezing

I’ve frozen these bars a couple of times when I wanted to prep ahead. I cut them into squares and freeze them without frosting first, wrapped well in plastic wrap and foil. After thawing, I bake fresh frosting and decorate just before serving. It keeps the texture perfect!

Reheating

Since the frosting has cream cheese, I avoid heating the bars after frosting them—it can get a little melty and make a mess. If you want warm bars, gently reheat unfrosted bars in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, then add fresh frosting for the best experience.

FAQs

Can I use any cake mix to make Funfetti Cake Mix Unicorn Bars Recipe?

While this recipe is designed for funfetti cake mix to get those colorful sprinkles baked right into the bars, you can experiment with other vanilla or white cake mixes. Just keep in mind that the unique charm of these bars comes from the funfetti element, so swapping it out will change the look and taste slightly.
How do I prevent the bars from becoming too dry?

Using melted salted butter and heavy cream helps keep the bars super moist. Also, avoid overbaking—check for doneness at the 20-minute mark to keep the texture soft and tender.
Can I make the frosting ahead of time?

Absolutely! The cream cheese frosting can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge. Just let it come to room temperature and give it a quick stir before spreading it on the bars.
Is there a way to make this recipe vegan?

You can try vegan alternatives for cake mix, butter, cream cheese, and heavy cream, but it might take some experimentation to get the right texture. There are great dairy-free cream cheese brands out there that work well in frosting.
How do I store leftover Funfetti Cake Mix Unicorn Bars Recipe?

Store them in an airtight container in the fridge to keep the frosting fresh. They’ll stay delicious for about 4-5 days.

Final Thoughts

This Funfetti Cake Mix Unicorn Bars Recipe really brings out the kid-at-heart in me, and I think you’ll find it just as joyful to bake and eat. It’s a wonderful way to turn a simple cake mix into a colorful, flavorful treat that’s perfect for any celebration—or even just brightening a regular day. Give it a try, and I’m sure you’ll be hooked on these sweet, swirly bars that deliver both nostalgia and smiles in every bite.