Do you love all things pink? High heels, dresses, drinks…? Have you ever dreamt about being a doctor, a judge, an astronaut, or a vet, maybe all at once? Do you ever… think about dying? The new Barbie movie is coming out soon, and it’s promising all that and MORE. To celebrate, we’ve gathered all the cocktails and bites you could ever want for the perfect Barbiecore party. Grab your rollerblades, let’s go!
It’s not all rainbows, hearts, and pink either (though we’ve got a ton of those too!)—one, this Barbie’s a serious businesswoman, so she can eat, wear, and drink whatever she likes. Two, though we are definitely looking forward to Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s rendition, we also think it’s important to look back and celebrate where the iconic doll has been too. Created in the 1960s, Barbie was revolutionary—prior to her creation, children had largely been relegated to playing with baby dolls, so an adult woman with infinite potential was a huge deal. At a time when women weren’t even allowed to open their own bank accounts in the U.S. (not 'til 1974), Barbie got her own Dreamhouse and her own car (in 1962)! We’ve included a number of vintage (and throwback-inspired) recipes here to commemorate what a trailblazer she was—our strawberry upside-down cake (the pink version of classic pineapple), our Old-Fashioned cocktail, and our lemon blueberry daiquiris (ditto on the pink) are all modern spins on 1960s classics.
If you’re not a child of the '60s, we bet your familiarity with Barbie comes from another source—the Barbie animated movies. Confusing in their inconsistency of animation style and content, these movies have still been fan favorites for years. Featuring tales as old as time (Rapunzel, The Prince, and the Pauper Pop Star), as well as modern stories, these beloved films are admittedly a bit inconsistent in their animation style and content, but are proof of just how ever-enduring Barbie truly is. Because of that, we’ve included a few recipes here inspired by some of our favorites, like baked ziti (The Barbie Diaries), sugar cookies (or are they chocolate chip cookies? Barbie of Swan Lake), our rainbow cheesecake bars (Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the Rainbow), and more.
Perfect Strawberry Milkshake
Adding frozen strawberries to our classic vanilla milkshake is a major upgrade (and, in our opinion, superior to most strawberry ice creams). To keep the milkshake decadently thick, freeze the strawberries first. And, of course, don't forget to top it off with some fresh whipped cream.
Get the Perfect Strawberry Milkshake recipe.
Funfetti Dip
It’s time to channel your inner kid. This Funfetti dip is a fluffy mixture of butter, cream cheese, and confectioners' sugar, with nostalgic flavor coming from imitation vanilla extract and a little crunch from confetti sprinkles. Think white cake laced with confetti sprinkles that explode into colorful polka dots (just like in our perfect birthday cake).
Get the Funfetti Dip recipe.
Strawberry Pop Tart Blondies
Buttery, chewy, and filled with strawberry jam, this dessert combines the nostalgia of Pop-Tarts and the classic comfort of blondies in one adorable bar cookie.
Get the Strawberry Pop Tart Blondies recipe.
Barbie Cocktail
If it were up to Barbie, we bet she'd be sitting outside her Dreamhouse sipping cocktails all day, so we made one with easy drinking in mind. This one's a frothy pink, citrus-forward, fizzy cocktail that’s perfect to sip in the backyard with friends or while throwing a summer pool party. Cheers!
Get the Barbie Cocktail recipe.
Strawberry Upside-Down Cake
Making strawberry compote for this layer cake is easier than you'd think. All you're doing is cooking down the fresh berries with sugar and lemon juice. We used it in the batter and the frosting, but if you want to take it even further (or are inspired by Barbie: Princess Charm School), put it between the layers too.
Get the Homemade Strawberry Cake recipe.
Rainbow Vanilla Cheesecake Bars
Don't be shy with that food coloring for this cheesecake bar recipe that's inspired by Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the Rainbow. The more vibrant the colors are in the batter, the more impressive the bars will turn out post-bake.
Mermaid Lemonade
This cocktail might look intense (those layers!), but it couldn't be easier to pull off. All you need is Blue Curaçao, light rum (Malibu, perhaps?), and lemonade. Whether you're a mermaid Barbie or just want a drink to share with Ken, this is the perfect one for sipping poolside.
Get the Mermaid Lemonade recipe.
Confetti Butterfly Cupcakes
These adorable cupcakes are inspired by Barbie Mariposa & The Fairy Princess and are wildly easy to make—bake your cupcakes, let them cool, make a few strategic knife cuts, and there you have it: super cute butterfly cupcakes that’ll fly off your Barbie dessert table in no time.
Get the Confetti Butterfly Cupcakes recipe.
Old Fashioned Cocktail
One of many classic cocktails popular the year the first Barbie doll was released (1959), the classic whiskey Old Fashioned is oaky and sweet, with a hint of citrus on the finish. It's truly a bourbon lover's drink, and there's nothing better for sipping.
Get the Old Fashioned Cocktail recipe.
Heart Cookies
From her Dreamhouse to her car, Barbie's world is COVERED in hearts. Now, your dessert table can be too, thanks to these adorable heart-shaped sugar cookies. Hot tip: Bake a batch of these, and let people decorate their own!
Get the Heart Cookies recipe.
Petit Fours
Featuring confetti cake layered with raspberry jam and buttercream and covered in a shiny white glaze, these stunning mini cakes are the perfect thing to serve at a Barbie party—their tiny size will delight everyone, young and old.
Get the Petit Fours recipe.
Lemon Blueberry Daiquiris
Inspired by our love of our lemon blueberry margs, this brightly colored daiquiri has major Barbie vibes. Between the fruity sweetness of the berries and the bright, citrusy flavor, the rum tends to fade to the background, making these surprisingly drinkable despite the strength.
Get the Lemon Blueberry Daiquiris recipe.
Unicorn Bark
The more sprinkles on this rainbow chocolate bark, the better. Raid the candy aisle for fun Barbie candy toppers too!
Get the Unicorn Bark recipe.
Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink
The Internet first learned about the Pink Drink in 2016, where customers ordered the Strawberry Acaí Refresher with coconut milk instead of water. The result was a creamy, bright pink beverage that took social media by storm—so much so that Starbucks made it an official menu item less than a year after. We just know this would be Barbie's Starbucks drink of choice too.
Get the Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink recipe.
Blueberry Glazed Donut Muffins
If Barbie were running late in the morning, this is the breakfast she would grab on her way out the door. The best part? That gorgeous pink color is all natural (thanks, blueberries!).
Strawberry Upside-Down Cake
Pineapple upside-down cake is the most classic, but you can pretty much put anything underneath cake batter, bake it, flip it, and have a stunner of a dessert. For this version, we kept it simple with strawberries—make this for any and every occasion this summer!
Get the Strawberry Upside-Down Cake recipe.
Baked Ziti
If you breathed a sigh of relief at the end of The Barbie Diaries when Barbie and Kevin get together to watch a movie over baked ziti, this is the recipe for you. It's got rich ricotta and a meaty, tomato-based sauce, all thrown together in a dish and baked with pasta for the perfect comfort food meal.
Get the Baked Ziti recipe.
Glazed Donut Cake
No one can deny the allure of a good glazed donut, but they're admittedly kind of a pain to make. Forget breaking out the heavy-bottomed pot and the fry oil—this easy cake checks all the same boxes! Feeling more of a vintage Barbie vibe? Go for a 1960s "Tunnel Of Fudge"-inspired chocolate Bundt instead.
Get the Glazed Donut Cake recipe.
French Macarons
These delicate, perfectly pink French cookies are somehow simultaneously crispy, chewy, soft, and light as air. This makes them the perfect blank canvas for creative flavors and colors (or for putting the Barbie logo on?). Make sure all your ingredients are room temperature to achieve the greatest success.
Get the French Macarons recipe.
Strawberry Love Notes
When Ken wants to write a note to Barbie, this is the way he should do it. These strawberry "love notes" are the most fun—to make, to give, and to eat, all year long.
Get the Strawberry Love Notes recipe.
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