We’re thrilled to welcome our newest food contributor, Erin Phraner of Hey, EEP! Erin will be sharing delightful sweets, inventive treats and the occasional pun. Enjoy her first recipe below—take it away, Erin!
Hi everyone! I’m Erin from Hey, EEP! (Pronounced EEP like beep.) Today I’m sharing a fun throwback party idea for anyone who remembers Dunkaroos from the ’90s: a DIY Dunkaroo Bar. I’ll start with a simple, creamy vanilla frosting base that’s delicious on its own and perfect for creating flavored variations. From that base you can make four mix-ins so your bar can offer five different frostings. This makes about 4 cups of frosting—enough for you and a few friends. I usually use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, but a hand mixer or whisk works fine too. Just be sure the butter is very soft.
DIY Dunkaroo Bar
Cook Time: 30 mins | Total Time: 30 mins
Servings: 4 Cups
Ingredients
- VANILLA FROSTING BASE
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 1/4 cup milk, room temperature
- CHOCOLATE FROSTING
- 1/3–1/2 cup cocoa powder (to taste)
- 1–2 tablespoons milk (optional, to thin)
- LEMON-LIME FROSTING
- Lemon zest and/or lime zest to taste
- STRAWBERRY FROSTING
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1–2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Additional confectioners’ sugar if needed
- MANGO FROSTING
- 1/3–1/2 cup diced mango
- Additional confectioners’ sugar if needed
- FOR SERVING
- Sprinkles for decorating
- Animal crackers or other dippers
Instructions
- Beat the softened butter, vanilla and salt together until combined. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar and milk and beat until smooth. Adjust with more milk or more sugar to reach your desired consistency.
- For chocolate frosting: add cocoa powder to taste and mix until incorporated. If the frosting is too thick, add up to 2 tablespoons more milk to thin it.
- For lemon-lime frosting: stir in lemon zest, lime zest, or both with a spatula. The more zest you add, the brighter the flavor.
- For strawberry frosting: pulse the strawberries in a food processor until smooth. Heat the purée in a saucepan over medium until it simmers, then stir in granulated sugar to taste. Simmer until reduced by half, then cool completely. Beat a spoonful at a time into the frosting, adding confectioners’ sugar as needed until the texture is smooth.
- For mango frosting: purée the mango until smooth, then beat a spoonful at a time into the frosting, adding confectioners’ sugar as needed until smooth.
- Top each frosting with sprinkles and serve with animal crackers or your favorite dippers.
- Tip: add a few drops of food coloring to any frosting to intensify or change the color.
Tried this recipe? If you make it, share a photo and tag your favorite accounts or hashtags you use—we love seeing your creations.
If you want a cute way to serve the frostings, plain paper pint containers work great. Use colorful labels and ice cream scoops to dress them up. Offer a large tub of animal crackers and provide small plates or divided disposable trays so guests can build sampler plates for dunking.
Photos by Erin Phraner | Hey, EEP!
Did you prefer vanilla or chocolate Dunkaroos growing up? I was always vanilla, but I’m loving these new variations—strawberry is my current favorite. Pink and fruity will always get me!
PS: Dunkaroo Ice Cream is a fun throwback if you want to try another nostalgic twist.