These creamy No Bake Rainbow Unicorn Cheesecake Bars are loaded with colored marshmallows and topped with sprinkles. It's the perfect spring dessert for any party or celebration!
This past weekend our daughter had a few friends over. Of course, I had to have some sweet treats ready for the sleepover. This crazy colorful cheesecake idea has been in my head for some time now.
With 4 teenage girls in the house, I knew it had to happen ASAP. Of course, a pan of Homemade Chocolate Chip Brownies was a must as well.
As I threw a ton of colored marshmallows and sprinkles on these easy cheesecake bars, I was instantly transported back in time to my 7th grade year. The year when all things neon and Lisa Frank were super popular.
I can vividly remember shopping at Deb and buying neon pink and yellow shirts for the start of the new school year! Who am I kidding? I just bought a shirt the other day with neon colors on it. Apparently, I'm still a 12 year old!
I have to admit that I was grinning ear to ear as I put together this cheesecake for pictures. The bright colors in every layer made me so very happy!
I realize that I'm a little behind on the whole rainbow and unicorn dessert trend. I've never been one to jump on a trend right at the beginning. Usually I have to see how it plays out, and if I really want to invest any time in it.
Although, a few years ago I did make these Rainbow Vanilla Cheesecake Bars, so maybe I was really just ahead of the trend this time.
Since unicorn desserts seem to be all the rage right now, I have had some ideas swirling around in my head for a fun cheesecake! This time I wanted it to be a no bake version because those are so much easier and faster to put together.
With any dessert that has the words rainbow and unicorn in it, there had to be sprinkles. Lots of them. In every bright color.
My pantry has a long spice rack on the back of the door, and over the past year I have filled it up with all sorts of sprinkles and spices.
So, I went through the rack and pulled out every bright color of sprinkle that I have ever bought. Then I took one or two tablespoons of each one and made one awesome unicorn dessert sprinkle mix!
How to make No Bake Rainbow Unicorn Cheesecake Bars:
- For the crust, you are going to crush pink wafer cookies into dust and then mix them with butter. The bright pink cookie makes such a fun crust for a unicorn dessert.
- Make sure you set your cream cheese out ahead of time. It really does make it easier to beat the mixture together if the cream cheese is soft. If you forget, no biggie. Just take off the foil wrapping and microwave it for about 20-30 seconds.
- Beat in the sugar and extracts until the cream cheese is very creamy. For these bars I knew I was going to be adding a bunch of fruity marshmallows, so I did a combination of vanilla, orange, and lemon extracts. Those three work so well together to make this a light flavored dessert.
- Fold in some Cool Whip. Yes, you could use homemade whipped cream if you wanted to. But I happen to have a love for that creamy white stuff, so I use it regularly.
- Stir in lots of colored marshmallows and spread the mixture on top of the crust. This cheesecake does need some time in the refrigerator because it needs to firm up and the marshmallows need to soften up. I realize that makes no sense, but just trust me on it.
- The last step to this crazy dessert is to add more Cool Whip, bright blue sparkly frosting, and a huge handful of sprinkles! Then step back and dissolve into giggles because this is seriously the most fun dessert ever!!!
Of course, I'm on a rainbow and sprinkle kick right now, so I can't wait to make these Unicorn Baked Strawberry Donuts for breakfast.
And then these Rainbow Chocolate Chip Cookies filled with a batch of this bright colored Unicorn Ice Cream for dessert! Hello, color goodness!!!
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Recipe
No Bake Rainbow Unicorn Cheesecake Bars
These creamy No Bake Rainbow Unicorn Cheesecake Bars are loaded with fun colored marshmallows and topped with lots of sprinkles. It's the perfect spring dessert for any party or celebration!
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 2 - 8 ounce packages pink wafer cookies
- 12 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the Cheesecake
- 16 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon lemon extract
- ½ teaspoon orange extract
- 16 ounce container Cool Whip, thawed & divided
- 3 ½ cups colored miniature marshmallows
- blue glitter frosting tube
- sprinkles
- rainbow marshmallows from Lucky Charms cereal
Instructions
- Line a 9x13 pan with foil.
- Place the wafer cookies in a food processor and pulse until you get 4 cups of crumbs.
- Stir the crumbs in the butter. Press the mixture into the prepared pan. Refrigerate.
- Beat the cream cheese until creamy. Add the powdered sugar and extracts and beat again.
- Fold in 4 cups of Cool Whip gently. Stir in the marshmallows.
- Spread the mixture evenly on top of the crust. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours.
- Cut into 24 squares. Top with the extra Cool Whip, frosting, and sprinkles.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 312Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 160mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 0gSugar: 19gProtein: 3g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Denise sims
I absolutely love this. So good. Thank you.
Danielle
Can I omit the orange extract? I am not a fan of the taste but I really want to try to make this!
Jocelyn
You sure can. Just use vanilla extract instead of the orange. I hope you enjoy this fun no bake cheesecake!
Sonya Jensen
I am confused...8oz = 1 cup?
Jocelyn
That is true when you are measuring liquids. An 8 ounce container of Cool Whip is about 3 cups if measured out. So you will use a larger container (16 oz) and measure out 4 cups for the filling, then spread the remainder on top. I hope that helps and that you enjoy the cheesecake.
Lynne
Can u freeze this cheesecake
Jocelyn
I have never actually frozen this, but I don't see why not. Keep me posted if you try it.
Priscilla W.
Recipe states 16 oz. container of Cool Whip, divided. Do you actually measure the 4 cups of cool whip? that's going to be folded in or just scoop out 3/4th of the container? I can't see myself trying to measure Cool Whip. Curious how much do I reserve for decorating/adding as topping right before serving?
I think I'll either buy pastel mini marshmallows or use the bag of "Lucky Charm" marshmallows I found (Dec. 2019 at Walmart) & put them in the food processor for a quick spin as they are larger than mini marshmallows and larger than the dry tiny marshmallows from the cereal.
Jocelyn
I do actually measure out the Cool Whip from the larger container. The 16 ounce container should be about 6 cups, so you would want to use a little more than half the container. I hope you enjoy the no bake cheesecake bars!
Michelle
Would this work if you didn’t have aluminum foil for the bottom or would the crust stick? I need to make this for my daughter’s birthday tomorrow but just realized I have none !
Jocelyn
Oh, it will be totally fine to make it without the foil. I like to use it because then I lift it out of the pan to cut it. You could also spray it with nonstick spray before pressing the crust in the pan. I hope you and your daughter enjoy this fun cheesecake!
Pam
Is that cool whip in a piping bag ? Also do u do all of it at once and put in fridge or do you decorate when ready to eat
Jocelyn
Yes, I added a swirl of Cool Whip to the top with a piping bag and icing tip. It's best to decorate it right before you serve it. I hope you enjoy it!
Donna S
Where do you buy the rainbow marshmallows from Lucky Charms cereal?
Jocelyn
I bought Lucky Charms cereal and picked out the marshmallows for the topping. 🙂
Renee
Christmas tree shop sells the lucky charms marshmallows in bags
Andrey
I ve always baked cheesecake in a water bath, but are the directions saying that the pan with water just needs to be in the same oven, rather than having one pan inside the other? If having both pans in the oven on different racks works just as well, I m all for it!
Jocelyn
I always do the pan of water on the oven rack right below the pan of cheesecake. No worries about a water bath leaking into the cheesecake this way! Of course, this particular cheesecake is a no bake, so don't bake the unicorn bars.
Kelly O.
These look amazing! thank you for sharing!! We are having a unicorn birthday party and this just might fit the bill 🙂
Cat
Perfect mix ! Id just have to call it unicorn throw up cheese cake and added an extra layer! Thanks!
I dont know how to attach the pic!
Chandelle
Urgent question - I decided to make this for a baby shower at work tomorrow - do you think it will be too soft if it sets overnight? That was the plan but now I'm worried...
Jocelyn
Not at all. It's is actually better if it sits for a little bit because the marshmallow soften up and become part of the cheesecake. I hope everyone enjoys it!
Katy
Can you substitute real whipped cream for the "Cool Whip?"
Jocelyn
Yes, you could. I would use 2 cups heavy whipping cream and 1/2 cup powdered sugar, so it is a little more stabilized. That will make 4 cups of whipped cream.
Diane yunker
Where do you get the pink wafer cookies and do you leave the cream in them
Jocelyn
I bought them at Walmart in the cookie aisle. Most grocery stores carry them too. And yes, leave the cream in them when you crush them. I hope you like the cheesecake bars!
Lisa Kay Garza
You got my attention! Thank you for video and recipe! Gotta try for Spring time!
Shayna
What type of blue gel did you? Could I get it at Walmart?
Jocelyn
It is a small tube of sparkly blue gel frosting by Wilton. I found it at Walmart in one of the party aisles with cake decorating stuff.
cakespy
Unicorn (me) approved! YUM
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats
Yes to all the colors and sprinkles! Plus cheesecake for the win! You are such an awesome mom!
Aimee Shugarman
These are so colorful and festive I love it!!!!
Toni | BoulderLocavore.com
These just make me SO happy!