Unicorn Cupcakes Recipe

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Delicious desserts don’t have to be as rare as a mythical horse! With this recipe, you can bake a batch of beautiful Unicorn Cupcakes—ready for your decorative touch.

Usually in my household, cupcakes are suggested by my kids, baked by me, then consumed by my kids. It’s a cute little “back and forth” thing we have going on. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. Sure, I get to sneak one or two so don’t feel too sorry for me, but it would be nice to get a little help. Then I realized my kids’ cupcake Achilles. They love to decorate. Now, one mention of not just any cupcake, but UNICORN cupcakes, and they’re glued to my side in the kitchen, mixing batter then getting creative with the assortment of decorations I have on hand. They even sometimes join me on my grocery runs so they can browse the decorations themselves.

And you know what? The cupcakes taste better. I can’t explain it from a scientific point of view but desserts that involve the whole family (yes, even my husband likes to flex his creative muscle with a cake or two) have an increase in flavor that sugar just can’t compete with. Maybe love is the secret ingredient after all!

What makes these unicorn cupcakes so entrancing isn’t just the wave of purple, pink, and blue frosting. It isn’t even the sparkles and stars we sprinkle on top. It’s the sensation of taking a bite out of them and having them explode with decoration. It makes every bite an adventure.

Can you recommend any cupcake recipes?

Can I! I haven’t conducted a census of the recipes on the site so I don’t have any exact number but I’m pretty sure the amount of cupcake recipes on Baked Bree has broken into the triple digits. Okay, maybe not that many but there is a lot, which is almost a bad thing. You know, agony of choice and all that. Nevertheless, you’ll have fun browsing the options, which can cater to your choice of flavor (vanilla, chocolate, etc) and even diet (Don’t want egg? Don’t use ’em!). I suppose the traditional route would be vanilla but if you want a beautiful brown unicorn, get that chocolate batter mixed!

Ingredients

24 cooled vanilla cupcakes
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2-3 tbsp heavy whipping cream
food coloring (pink, blue, and purple)
sprinkles (for filling and decoration)

How to Make Unicorn Cupcakes

Step 1: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the salt and vanilla extract. Pour in 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream and beat the mixture on medium-high speed until smooth. If necessary, add more cream to reach your desired consistency.

Step 2: Divide the frosting evenly into three separate bowls. Using food coloring, tint one bowl pink, another blue, and the third purple. Mix each bowl until the colors are bright and uniform.

Step 3: Lay out a piece of plastic wrap and spoon one color of frosting in the center. Roll it up tightly into a log, pushing out any air bubbles, and twist the ends to seal. Repeat this process with the other two colors. Snip off one end of each frosting log and place them side by side into a large pastry bag fitted with a star tip.

Step 4: Cut a small hole into the center of each cupcake and scoop out a bit of cake to create a cavity. Fill the hole with a generous amount of sprinkles, then replace the piece of cupcake you removed.

Step 5: Squeeze the pastry bag to pipe the tri-colored frosting onto each cupcake, creating a beautiful swirl pattern. If you like, sprinkle a few more sprinkles on top for extra sparkle.

FAQs & Tips

How do I store these cupcakes?

You should be able to keep these cupcakes covered at room temperature for up to two days. You can also keep them longer if you store them in the fridge, where they should last for up to four days. If you haven’t applied the frosting, you can freeze the cupcakes for up to a month. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight, then apply the frosting.

What if I don’t have a pastry bag?

Thanks for asking, as this grants me an opportunity to talk about one of my favorite cooking hacks: the Ziploc piping bag! Just add the different colors of frosting to a bowl and stir it up (little darling!). Then grab a small Ziploc bag (the kind you might put the kids’ sandwiches in) and snip a zigzag pattern into a corner. Now, fill the bag with your frosting. When squeezed through, it should produce a charming rippled effect to your topping.

What exactly is food coloring?

There are two different kinds of food coloring: the natural kind, which is derived from plants, fruits, etc. like beet juice (red), turmeric (yellow), spirulina (blue-green), and caramel (brown), and the synthetic kind, which, for better or worse, is the type I more frequently use. It’s made in a food factory and can be a liquid, gel, powder, or paste. Its production is regulated (though just how regulated differs, like most food, from country to country) so it’s safe to consume. Just don’t make a habit of incorporating it into your meals; eating so much of anything synthetic can’t be good for you.

Serving Suggestions

The fun part! While I do love making cupcakes and frosting, it’s the decorations that set unicorn cupcakes apart. And if they’re edible, they’re fair game! We’re talking edible glitter, rainbow sprinkles, candy eyes (the unicorn has to see, right?), and gummy bears (set them up so it seems like they are riding the mythical horse!). You can also use fondant to create edible flowers, unicorn ears, and even the horn itself (how else will people know they’re unicorns?).