Why Unicorn Cakes Are So Popular
Unicorn cakes have taken over birthday parties, baby showers, and baking blogs—and for good reason. They’re colorful, whimsical, and completely magical. Best of all, you don’t need to be a professional baker to make one at home. With a few basic tools, a little creativity, and this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to make a unicorn cake that looks amazing and tastes even better.
What You’ll Need: Ingredients and Tools
Ingredients:
- Vanilla cake (homemade or box mix)
- Buttercream frosting
- Gel food coloring (pink, purple, blue, yellow)
- Fondant (or unicorn toppers)
- Edible glitter, sprinkles, or pearls
Tools:
- Cake pans (6 or 8-inch)
- Cake turntable
- Offset spatula
- Piping bags with star tips
- Toothpicks (if using DIY toppers)
Need a great vanilla cake recipe? Sally’s Baking Addiction has a simple, delicious one perfect for this project.
Step by step guide
Start by preparing your cake batter using a vanilla base, either from scratch or a box mix. Divide the batter evenly into 3 to 4 bowls and add a few drops of pastel gel food coloring to each—think soft pinks, purples, blues, and yellows. Gently mix the colors until fully blended, then pour each one into greased round cake pans. Bake according to your recipe’s instructions until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once baked, allow the layers to cool completely before moving on. Want to get creative with flavor? You can add a fruity twist with ideas like these strawberry cheesecake bars from QuicklyTaste.com.
Whip buttercream frosting until it’s light, smooth, and fluffy. Divide it into several bowls and tint each with your chosen pastel shades. For best results, use a color mixing chart and test on a napkin first to check the hue.
Layer the cakes with buttercream in between, apply a crumb coat, chill, and then frost the entire cake smoothly. For visual ideas, check out the cotton candy cake from QuicklyTaste.
Top your cake with fondant or pre-made unicorn horns and ears. Pipe colorful buttercream swirls to create the mane, then finish with sprinkles, edible glitter, and piped eyes. For inspiration, check out ideas on Pinterest.
Chill between steps, level your cake layers, use support dowels for tall cakes, and most importantly—have fun and embrace the magic!
How to Slice and Store Your Cake
Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water for smooth slices. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Let slices come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
Fun Variations and Add-Ons
Want to experiment? Try these creative ideas:
- Use rainbow layers inside for a surprise when you slice
- Make the horn gold by dusting with luster dust
- Add flavor extracts like almond or lemon to your buttercream
- Explore other whimsical cakes like QuicklyTaste’s graduation cakes for party inspiration
Frequently Asked Questions
Vanilla and funfetti are popular, but you can get creative with strawberry, lemon, or even chocolate. Just make sure the color doesn’t overpower the pastel theme.
No! You can skip fondant and use printable unicorn toppers or buttercream piping to create ears and horns.
Yes. Bake your layers up to two days ahead and store them tightly wrapped. Decorate the day before serving for freshness and structure.
Final Thoughts
Making a unicorn cake at home is a fun, magical experience that anyone can do with a little time and patience. With the right tools and this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll be well on your way to creating a centerpiece-worthy dessert. Don’t forget to snap photos of your creation before serving—it’s guaranteed to impress!
Looking for more tutorials and decorating tools? Wilton’s unicorn cake tutorial is packed with expert tips and inspiration.
Unicorn Cake
Equipment
- Cake pans (6 or 8-inch)
- Cake turntable
- Offset spatula
- Piping bags with star tips
- Toothpicks (if DIY toppers)
Ingredients
Cake & Frosting
- 1 box vanilla cake mix or homemade vanilla cake
- buttercream frosting homemade or store-bought
- gel food coloring pink, purple, blue, yellow
Decoration
- fondant or unicorn toppers
- edible glitter, sprinkles, or pearls
Instructions
- Prepare cake batter. Divide into bowls and tint each with gel food coloring. Pour into greased pans and bake as directed. Cool completely.
- Whip buttercream until smooth. Divide and color each portion with matching pastel gel food colors.
- Layer the cake with frosting in between. Apply a crumb coat and chill. Finish frosting with smooth buttercream.
- Decorate with unicorn horn, ears (fondant or toppers), piped swirls for mane, sprinkles, and optional eyes.
- Chill again to set before slicing. Serve at room temp for best texture.