Unicorn Cake – A Fun and Whimsical Celebration Cake
This Unicorn Cake is a magical, show-stopping dessert with soft, colorful cake layers, creamy buttercream frosting, and stunning decorations. It features pastel swirls, a golden edible horn, and fondant ears, making it perfect for birthdays, parties, and special occasions. With easy-to-follow steps, you can create this dreamy cake at home and impress everyone with your baking skills!
Equipment
- Three 8-inch cake pans (or two 9-inch pans)
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer (stand or hand mixer)
- Spatula
- Cake turntable (optional but helps with decorating)
- Parchment paper
- Offset spatula (for smooth frosting)
- Piping bags and star tips (for swirls)
- Fondant roller (for shaping ears and horn)
- Gold edible paint or gold luster dust
Ingredients
- For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- Food coloring pastel pink, blue, purple, yellow
- For the Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3-4 tablespoons heavy cream adjust for consistency
- ½ teaspoon salt
- For Decoration:
- 1 cup white fondant for ears and horn
- Gold edible paint or gold luster dust for horn
- Additional food coloring for pastel frosting swirls
- Edible pearls or sprinkles optional
Instructions
- 1️⃣ Make the Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Divide the batter evenly into four bowls and color each batch with a different pastel shade.
- Pour each colored batter into separate cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- 2️⃣ Make the Buttercream Frosting:
- In a large bowl, beat butter until smooth.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until combined.
- Stir in vanilla extract and salt.
- Add heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached. Beat for 3-4 minutes until fluffy.
- 3️⃣ Assemble the Cake:
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a thin layer of frosting on top.
- Repeat the process, stacking all cake layers with frosting in between.
- Apply a crumb coat (a thin layer of frosting) and refrigerate for 20 minutes to set.
- Frost the entire cake smoothly with white buttercream.
- 4️⃣ Decorate the Unicorn Cake:
- Make the horn: Roll white fondant into a cone shape and twist to form a unicorn horn. Paint with gold luster dust and let it dry.
- Make the ears: Roll white fondant and cut two ear shapes. Add pink fondant inside for detail. Let them dry.
- Pipe the swirls: Divide leftover frosting into three bowls and color them pastel pink, purple, and blue. Use a star piping tip to pipe swirls around the top.
- Insert the golden horn and fondant ears on top of the cake.
- (Optional) Add edible pearls, sprinkles, or shimmer dust for extra magic.
- 5️⃣ Serve and Enjoy!
- Let the cake set for 30 minutes before slicing.
- Serve and enjoy your homemade Unicorn Cake! 🦄🎂✨
Notes
Storage: Keep leftover cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Make Ahead: Bake the cake layers a day before and store them wrapped in plastic.
Easier Version: Use a vanilla cake mix instead of homemade cake for a quicker option.
Extra Decoration: Add edible glitter for a magical sparkle effect!
Make Ahead: Bake the cake layers a day before and store them wrapped in plastic.
Easier Version: Use a vanilla cake mix instead of homemade cake for a quicker option.
Extra Decoration: Add edible glitter for a magical sparkle effect!