Unicorn Cake Recipe – Easy & Fun!

With a little creativity, you can create a unicorn cake that will be the coolest cake ever!

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk
• Food coloring gels (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)

For the Buttercream Frosting:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3-4 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Decorations (Optional):

• White fondant or modeling chocolate (for horn and ears)
• Edible glitter
• Rainbow sprinkles
• Candy pearls or gems
• Pipe cleaners (for mane and tail)

Directions:

Step 1

Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease three 6-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper for easy removal.

Step 2

Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Step 3

Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.

Step 4

Alternate Wet & Dry: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three batches, alternating with the milk. Mix until just combined after each addition.

Step 5

Divide & Color the Batter: Divide the batter evenly between six bowls (two per color). Using food coloring gels, tint each bowl a different pastel color of the rainbow spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple).

Step 6

Bake the Rainbow Layers: Pour each colored batter into a separate prepared cake pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes per layer, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

Step 7

Whip Up the Frosting: In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add heavy cream and vanilla extract, beating until smooth and spreadable.

Step 8

Assemble the Unicorn: Place one cooled cake layer on a cake plate or stand. Spread a generous layer of frosting on top. Repeat with the remaining cake layers, creating a rainbow stack. Frost the entire cake with a smooth layer of frosting.

Step 9

Decorate Your Dream Unicorn! This is where the magic happens! Get creative with your unicorn decorations. Here are some ideas:

Horn & Ears: Use white fondant or modeling chocolate to shape a horn and a pair of pointed ears. Attach them to the top and sides of the cake with a little frosting.

Mane & Tail: Use colorful pipe cleaners to create a whimsical mane and tail.

Sprinkles & Glitter: Add a touch of sparkle with edible glitter and rainbow sprinkles.

Eyes & Nose: Pipe small dots of black frosting for eyes and a pink dot for the nose.

Candy Accents: Use candy pearls or gems to add details like stars, flowers, or a unicorn necklace.

Tips:

• For vibrant cake layers, use high-quality food coloring gels. A little goes a long way, so start with a few drops and add more until you reach your desired color.
• If your frosting seems too stiff, add a little more heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach a spreading consistency.
• Let your creativity flow with the decorations! This is your chance to personalize your unicorn cake and make it truly unique.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment with different flavors. You can use a different cake batter recipe or frosting flavor to create a unique twist on this classic dessert.

Did you personalize the recipe? Maybe you used different colors or even made a sheet cake version. Share your creative twists in the comments!

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