Making this unicorn cake is so fun and easy. It’s perfect for the most magical birthday parties. This unicorn cake is made with alternatives for fondant, which makes this an easy decorating project for any home cook.
You can use any cake flavor you prefer: strawberry, funfetti, or a vanilla cake with any color food dye added. Feel free to use a box mix or a recipe you love. This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to decorate a unicorn cake.
Related: Find more desserts and baking projects in our Recipes Archive
Table of Contents:
Supplies
- Candy melts (white and your choice of colors)
- Sprinkles
- Sugar cone
- Buttercream
- Cake
- Edible gel food color
- Piping bags
- Piping tip 1M
How to Decorate a Unicorn Cake
Frost your cake and set aside until ready to decorate.
Melt your candy melts. If using microwave, heat 10-20 seconds at a time until melted. Stir between heating times.
Add the melted candy to the piping bags. On some parchment or wax paper with a pencil, draw some ears and eyelashes. Flip over and use drawing as a guide.
For the ears, start with an outline then fill with melted candy. Leave a triangle shape in the middle and fill with your candy melt color of choice.
Place some toothpicks in the middle to make it easy to stick into the cake (optional). If your candy melt is hardening in the piping bag, stick in the microwave for 5 seconds.
For the lashes, trace your guide. Try to make it a thick outline so it doesn’t break when transferring. Set aside and let harden.
Edible Unicorn Horn
For the unicorn horn, cover your cone in buttercream. Spread some sprinkles out on a pan or parchment sheet. Roll cone in sprinkles. Set aside until ready to use.
Two Tone Frosted Rosettes
Color some buttercream for your unicorn hair. I used two colors. I put both colors in a piping bag fitted with the tip 1M.
To make buttercream unicorn hair you’ll need to make rosettes all over the top and side of the cake.
To make a rosette, start with piping the icing in the center and wrapping around it. Do this by dragging your icing around with consistent pressure. Practice on some paper.
Place rosettes all over the cake and add horn. Peel the candy melt ears and lashes. Use the smooth side for a more finished look.
Place ears and lashes on the cake. Lastly, add some sprinkles and ta-da!, your magical unicorn cake is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
What flavor is unicorn cake?
While you can make this unicorn cake recipe any flavor you prefer, a common option is strawberry for the pink color.
How to make a unicorn cake at home?
This post shows you step-by-step by how to make a unicorn cake at home, including how to make an edible unicorn horn. You could add the unicorn horn to any store bought cake for an even easier option.
What tips to use for unicorn cake?
Piping tip 1M is recommended for this tutorial for the frosting rosettes that make up the unicorn hair.
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Get the How-To
Supplies
- candy melts
- sprinkles
- sugar cone
- buttercream frosting
- cake
- edible gel food color
Instructions
- Frost your cake and set aside until ready to decorate.
- Melt your candy melts. If using microwave, heat 10-20 seconds at a time until melted. Stir between heating times.
- Add melted candy to piping bags. On some parchment or wax paper with a pencil draw some ears and eye lashes. Flip over and use drawing as a guide.
- For the ears, start with an outline then fill with melted candy. Leave triangle shape in the middle and fill with your candy melt color of choice. Place some toothpicks in the middle to make it easy to stick into the cake (optional).
- For the lashes, trace your guide. Try to make it a thick outline so it doesn’t break when transferring. Set aside and let harden.
- For the unicorn horn, cover your cone in buttercream. Spread some sprinkles out on a pan or parchment sheet. Roll cone in sprinkles. Set aside until ready to use.
- Color some buttercream for your unicorn hair. I used two colors. I put both colors in a piping bag fitted with the tip 1M.
- To make buttercream unicorn hair you’ll need to make rosettes all over the top and side of the cake. To make a rosette start with piping the icing in the center and wrapping around it. Do this by dragging your icing around with consistent pressure. Practice on some paper.
- Place rosettes all over the cake and add horn.
- Peel the candy melt ears and lashes. Use the smooth side for a more finished look. Place ears and lashes on the cake.
- Lastly, add some sprinkles to any areas that are bare or need them.
Equipment
Notes
- If your candy melt is hardening in the piping bag, stick in microwave for 5 seconds.
Love this cake so much!