Description
Chewy Funfetti Bars from Scratch are colorful, festive dessert bars featuring a soft, chewy base loaded with rainbow sprinkles and topped with a vibrant, swirled buttercream frosting. Made without cake mix, these bars offer a homemade, rich vanilla flavor complemented by festive sprinkles both inside the batter and sprinkled on top, perfect for celebrations and fun snacks.
Ingredients
For the Bars:
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs (Use 1 whole egg, 1 yolk from the second egg)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup rainbow sprinkles
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- Pinch of salt
- Gel food coloring (pink, purple, teal)
- Assorted sprinkles (stars, edible glitter, nonpareils)
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Sheet and Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal, then lightly grease the parchment.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric hand mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Beat in 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk, mixing well. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Add Dry Ingredients to Wet Mixture: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to maintain chewiness.
- Add Sprinkles to the Batter: Gently fold in the rainbow sprinkles using a silicone spatula to evenly distribute them without breaking their shape.
- Spread Batter into the Pan: Spread the thick batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Make Frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter on medium-high speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low then increasing to medium-high speed until fully incorporated and smooth. Add vanilla extract, heavy cream, and a pinch of salt. Beat until the frosting is light, creamy, and fluffy. Add more cream, one teaspoon at a time, if frosting is too stiff.
- Divide Frosting into 3 Small Bowls: Evenly split the buttercream among three small bowls for coloring.
- Add Food Coloring: Add a drop of pink gel food coloring to one bowl, purple to the second, and teal to the third. Stir until each color is vibrant and even throughout.
- Decorate the Base with Frosting: Once the bars are completely cool, dollop spoonfuls of each colored frosting randomly across the surface of the bars.
- Make Swirls: Using an offset spatula or the back of a large spoon, gently swirl the three frosting colors together to create a marbled effect. Avoid over swirling to keep distinct color patches.
- Add Sprinkles on Top of Frosting: Generously sprinkle assorted sprinkles over the swirled frosting for added festive decoration.
- Cut into Squares: After the frosting has set, lift the bars from the pan using the parchment paper overhangs. Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.
Notes
- Ensure the butter used for the batter is softened for easy creaming with sugar.
- Do not overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added to keep the bars chewy.
- Use parchment paper with an overhang for easy removal of the bars from the pan.
- Allow bars to cool completely before frosting to prevent frosting from melting.
- Add gel food coloring sparingly; a little goes a long way for vibrant colors.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
