Magical Round Unicorn Cake
Create a stunning rainbow layered unicorn cake with buttercream frosting and decorative elements perfect for birthdays and special celebrations!
Equipment
- 3 8-inch round cake pans
- Mixing bowls (various sizes)
- Electric mixer (stand or handheld)
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Piping bags
- Piping tips (star tips and round tips)
- Offset Spatula
- Cake turntable (optional but recommended)
- Parchment Paper
- Cake leveler or serrated knife
- Small bowls for dividing frosting
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring pink, purple, blue, yellow, green
For the Buttercream Frosting
- 2 cups 4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 8 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 4-6 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring pink, purple, blue, yellow, green, black
For Decorations
- 1/2 pound white fondant or modeling chocolate
- Edible gold dust or spray
- Rainbow sprinkles
- Edible pearls
- Edible glitter optional
Instructions
Prepare Pans
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch round cake pans thoroughly with butter or cooking spray. Line the bottoms with parchment paper circles and dust the sides with flour.
Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix Wet Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully incorporated.4 large eggs, 1 cup whole milk, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Combine Batters
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing on low speed with an electric mixer until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Color Batter
- Divide the cake batter equally into 5 separate bowls. Add a small amount of gel food coloring to each bowl and gently fold until the desired shade is achieved.Gel food coloring
Bake Cakes
- Pour the colored batters into your prepared cake pans. If you only have three pans, you'll need to bake in batches. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool Cakes
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10-15 minutes, then carefully invert onto wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
Make Frosting Base
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes). Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition.8 cups powdered sugar, 2 cups 4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
Finish Frosting
- Add milk or cream and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, then beat until smooth and spreadable. If the frosting is too thick, add more milk; if too thin, add more powdered sugar.4-6 tablespoons milk or heavy cream, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Color Frosting
- Set aside about 2 cups of white frosting for the base coat. Divide the remaining frosting into separate bowls and add gel food coloring as desired for the unicorn's mane and decorations.Gel food coloring
Start Assembly
- Level each cake layer with a serrated knife if needed. Place the first cake layer on a cake turntable or serving plate and spread a thin layer of buttercream (about 1/2 cup) evenly on top.
Crumb Coat
- Continue stacking the cake layers with frosting between each layer. Apply a thin layer of buttercream all over the cake to create a crumb coat, then refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.
Final Frosting
- Apply the final layer of buttercream, smoothing the sides and top as much as possible with an offset spatula.
Create Horn
- Shape a piece of white fondant into a cone for the unicorn horn. Twist slightly to create a spiral effect, then insert a wooden skewer for support. Brush with edible gold dust and let dry.Edible gold dust or spray
Make Ears
- Roll out white fondant to about 1/8 inch thickness and cut two ear shapes. Add small pieces of pink fondant for the inner ears and allow to dry slightly.1/2 pound white fondant or modeling chocolate, Gel food coloring
Attach Features
- Place the unicorn horn in the center of the top of the cake and position the ears on either side of the horn.
Pipe Mane
- Use colored buttercream to pipe swirls and stars around the top edge and one side of the cake to create the unicorn mane. Alternate colors for a rainbow effect.
Final Details
- Use black buttercream to create the eyes on the front of the cake. Add sprinkles, edible pearls, or edible glitter for extra sparkle.Rainbow sprinkles, Edible pearls, Edible glitter
Notes
- For a simpler version, use two boxes of white cake mix following package directions.
- Plan ahead: Bake the cake layers a day in advance and freeze them for easier handling.
- Use gel food coloring instead of liquid for more vibrant colors.
- The crumb coat is essential for a smooth final result - don't skip this step! Make extra buttercream to ensure you have enough for decorating.
- For a smaller cake, use 6-inch pans instead of 8-inch. Store leftover cake in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To enhance boxed cake mix, replace water with milk and add an extra egg.