Cream Cheese Funfetti Bars are simple, semi-homemade treats that are perfect to kick off spring baking. Start with a box of funfetti cake mix and add cream cheese to make these fun and delicious bars!
Funfetti Cream Cheese Bars
Serve these funfetti bars this spring with an Easter egg fruit pizza, Easter basket cookie cups, chocolate peanut butter birds nests, or strawberry shortcake cake.
The weather has been such a tease here lately. The past two weekends have hit 60+ degrees but in between, we got a foot of snow. I’m so ready for spring.
I’m ready for birds singing, sunshine, bike rides… I have family in the south and blog friends across the country and I see all their pics on social media and I have major outdoor-activities jealousy.
For now, until it warms up, we run a lot of errands and do a lot of baking. Last weekend, we went to Walmart to stock up on baking supplies and swing by the toy department to do some pre-birthday browsing.
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card.
- Funfetti Cake Mix – Funfetti cake mix comes in many varieties. I used the “spring” version here (pastel colors) but any of them will work.
- Cream Cheese – I used regular, full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature.
- Butter – I used salted butter here but most bakers prefer to use unsalted so you can control the salt content.
- Egg – One large egg.
- Vanilla Extract – I know pure vanilla extract is expensive right now (there’s a shortage) but please use real and non imitation. I like to save a bit by stocking up at Sam’s or Costco and buying in bulk.
- Vanilla Funfetti Frosting – Again, the Funfetti frosting comes in many colors/flavors. I used vanilla here but you can use whichever you like.
- Sprinkles – Don’t skimp on the sprinkles. They make life better.
After we were done with the baking supplies and made our way to the toy department, our trip got a little waylaid. Julia was crouching down looking at a PlayDoh display and I was standing right next to her.
She somehow tipped over, like toddlers tend to do, and an older woman ran over her fingers with her cart. Julia, of course, started crying immediately so I swooped her up to make sure she was ok. She was, but you know what the woman said?
“Jeeze”.
That’s it.
Not, “is she ok?”, not, “I’m sorry!”. Just an irritated “jeeze”. People really disappoint me sometimes.
Anyway, we headed home and started baking. I’ve mentioned it many times before, but baking with her is one of my favorite things to do. I’m really lucky in that she’s pretty patient in the kitchen and can generally be trusted with pouring ingredients into the bowl.
Using a cake mix is perfect for her attention span – we whipped up these bars in no time.
Have you ever tried adding cream cheese to box cake mix? You end up with these delicious funfetti cheesecake bars that are fun and festive.
I used the spring version of Funfetti cake mix and vanilla frosting but the traditional one will work just as well. I also added extra sprinkles to the batter (the ones that came with the frosting can) to up the oomph of pretty colors.
Equipment you’ll need
- Sprinkles! – I like to use these pretty confetti sprinkles in these bars.
- 9 x 13 Baking Dish – I love that this one has a lid for storing leftovers.
- Hand Mixer – As much as I love my stand mixer, I find myself reaching for my hand mixer even more.
- Silicone Spatulas – I love the variety of shapes & sizes in this set. And colors!
How to make them
Making Funfetti Cream Cheese Bars is easy!
- First, add your room temperature butter & cream cheese to a mixing bowl and cream together.
- Next, add in the egg & vanilla and mix until fully combined.
- Then, add in the cake mix, 1/3 at a time, mixing in between. The batter will be very thick! Feel free to stir in more sprinkles at this point!
- Finally, spread the batter into a 9×13 baking dish that’s been lined with parchment paper and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.
- Once done and cooled, slice in bars & serve!
Craving more Funfetti ideas? Try these:
Click here to view my entire collection of Easter recipes.
Cream Cheese Funfetti Bars
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounce Funfetti cake mix
- 8 ounce cream cheese softened to room temp
- ½ cup butter softened to room temp
- 1 large egg
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- vanilla Funfetti frosting
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 9 x 13 baking dish with parchment paper or foil. Lightly spray with non-stick spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese.
- Add in the egg and vanilla and mix until fully combined.
- Add in the Funfetti cake mix, 1/3 at a time, and mix until combined. The batter will be very thick.
- Feel free to add additional sprinkles to the batter – also stirred in the sprinkles that came on the top of the Funfetti frosting can.
- Spread evenly into the prepared baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Once fully cooled, frost, add sprinkles, and cut into bars.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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MORE SPRING BAKING IDEAS
Spring Chick Cupcakes
This was originally a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The J.M. Smucker Company. The opinions and text are all mine.
Everything looks real yummy!
Thank you ♥
These are delicious! Very simple and quick. The only thing I did differently was use rainbow chip frosting and only because that is my absolute favorite. I am sure it is just as good with the funfetti frosting. I will make these again! Can’t wait to share them with my grandkids!
LOVE hearing that – thanks for reporting back!
Can you repost the recipe?
It’s right above the comment section – are you not seeing it?
These were absolutely delicious!!! One tip, though: don’t skip the icing! ❤️ I will definitely make these again!
Can you make this in a sheet pan?
I haven’t tested but it should be fine. It will bake quicker.
Stumbled upon this older recipe while looking for something different to make with a box of Valentine’s Funfetti. Might be one of my new favorite desserts. The cream cheese cuts the sweetness of the cake in such a good way! I used my favorite icing recipe instead since I knew I would prefer that to the can stuff. I did struggle spreading the thick batter over foil, but it was worth the struggle lol Will definitely make again and again! Thanks for the recipe.
I’m so glad you stuck with it – the batter is super thick, but it works! Thanks for reporting back 🙂
Do the bars need refrigerated after frosting?
You don’t have to, but I prefer them cold.
I switched ours up using yellow cake mix and cream cheese as directed added mini chocolate chips and chopped pecans😊
sounds like good swaps!
why do you have to line the pan with foil or parchment and then spray as well?
You don’t *have* to, but it makes for easy removal. Parchment paper alone would work (I’ve moved away from foil).