Description
These Unicorn Cheesecake Bars are a magical dessert combining a tender buttery crust with a rich, creamy cheesecake filling vibrantly swirled with colorful gel food coloring and topped with festive nonpareil sprinkles. Perfect for celebrations or to delight kids and adults alike, these bars are visually stunning and deliciously satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1/2 cup unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Cheesecake Filling
- 24 ounces cream cheese, softened (3 8-ounce packages)
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Topping
- Nonpareil sprinkles (Light Blue, Hot Pink, Yellow, Purple, and Orange – purchased from Michaels craft stores)
- Gel food coloring (purple, pink, and blue)
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and combine until a dough forms. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of a prepared 9×13 inch baking pan to form the crust layer.
- Bake the Crust: Bake the crust for approximately 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly while preparing the filling.
- Make the Cheesecake Filling: In a large mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese and sugar together until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the sour cream and vanilla extract until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Color and Swirl the Filling: Divide the cheesecake batter into three bowls. Add purple gel color to one, pink to the second, and blue to the third. Mix each well to achieve vibrant colors. Drop spoonfuls of each colored batter over the pre-baked crust in the pan. Use a toothpick or skewer to swirl the colors gently to create a beautiful marbled unicorn effect.
- Bake the Cheesecake Bars: Bake the bars at 350°F (175°C) for 60-65 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly but not liquid. Avoid overbaking to maintain creamy texture.
- Cool and Decorate: Allow the cheesecake bars to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight to set firmly. Once chilled, sprinkle the top liberally with the colorful nonpareil sprinkles for a festive finishing touch.
- Serve: Cut into 16 bars using a sharp knife, wiping the blade clean between cuts for neat edges. Serve cold and enjoy the whimsical flavors and look of these Unicorn Cheesecake Bars!
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese and butter are fully softened to avoid lumps in the batter.
- For best results, use gel food coloring to achieve vibrant colors without thinning the batter.
- If nonpareil sprinkles are not available, you can substitute with rainbow jimmies or colored sanding sugar.
- Chill the bars thoroughly before slicing to get clean bars that hold their shape.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
