Unicorn Cake
The Unicorn Cake is a magical, colorful centerpiece that combines fantasy and flavor with its soft pastel layers, creamy frosting, and iconic horn and mane. Loved for its whimsical appearance and adaptability, it's the perfect dessert to enchant guests at any special occasion.
Ingredients
Unicorn Cake – Ingredients List
- 1 box cake mix any flavor
- Butter in place of oil, amount equal to what the box mix calls for
- Ingredients required by the cake mix e.g., eggs, water – as listed on the box
- 2 large batches of your favorite buttercream frosting
- Gel food coloring pink, orange, yellow, green, blue – pastel shades preferred
- Edible glitter optional, for cheeks
- Unicorn cake topper
- Edible or fondant eyelashes
- Plastic wrap for rainbow piping preparation
- Piping bags
- Large star piping tip
Instructions
The Cake
- Prepare the cake using a boxed cake mix, but substitute an equal amount of melted butter in place of the oil for a richer flavor and texture.
- Bake according to the package instructions and check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean when the cake is fully baked. Make your favorite buttercream recipe—I used two large batches to ensure there was plenty for filling, frosting, and decorating.
- Stack the cake layers with approximately ¼ inch of buttercream between each layer, making sure the frosting is spread evenly and smoothly.
- Frost the entire outside of the cake with a generous layer of buttercream to prevent any cake crumbs from mixing into the final coat. Once frosted, add your unicorn-themed cake topper and edible or fondant eyelashes to bring the character to life.
Rainbow Piping Bag & Flowers
- Divide the remaining buttercream evenly into five separate bowls. Add food coloring to each to create different pastel shades—such as pink, orange, yellow, green, and blue.
- For extra charm, use a piping bag fitted with a round tip to pipe small pink circles onto the sides of the cake as blush cheeks. If desired, gently press edible glitter onto the cheeks for a touch of sparkle.
- To prepare the rainbow piping bag, lay out a sheet of plastic wrap and use a spatula to spread horizontal lines of each colored frosting side by side, starting near one edge. Carefully roll the plastic wrap into a log and twist the ends to form a sealed tube.
- Snip off one end of the plastic wrap and insert it into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Hold the piping bag close to the cake and pipe spirals to create colorful buttercream flowers.
- Fill in any gaps with smaller star-shaped dollops to complete the unicorn’s vibrant floral mane.