Description
These whimsical Unicorn Cupcakes feature moist French vanilla cake topped with vibrant, swirl rainbow buttercream frosting, decorated with fondant unicorn horns and colorful sprinkles for a magical treat perfect for parties or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients
- 1 box French vanilla cake mix
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Buttercream Frosting
- 2 cups unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 6-10 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- Gel food coloring: teal, pink, purple, leaf green
Decorations
- 1 container white fondant
- 1 container pink fondant
- Wilton icing tips #2D and #2
- Pink, hot pink, neon blue, and purple nonpareils and sprinkle jimmies (Michaels craft store)
- Disposable piping bags (large round tip, large star tip, medium star tip, small star tip, Wilton tip #195)
- 1 package unicorn horn royal icing transfers (Hobby Lobby)
Tools
- Rolling pin
- Cutting board
- 3 mixing bowls
- Cupcake pan
- White cupcake liners
Instructions
- Prepare the cupcake batter: Preheat your oven and line a cupcake pan with white cupcake liners. In a large bowl, combine the French vanilla cake mix, eggs, softened butter, whole milk, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and well combined.
- Bake the cupcakes: Distribute the batter evenly among the cupcake liners. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
- Make the buttercream frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream, continuing to beat until light and fluffy. Divide the frosting into several bowls and tint each with gel food coloring (teal, pink, purple, leaf green) to create a rainbow palette.
- Decorate the cupcakes: Using disposable piping bags fitted with various tips, pipe swirls and star shapes of colored buttercream on each cooled cupcake to create a vibrant, unicorn-themed design. Roll out white and pink fondant on a cutting board with a rolling pin to form unicorn horns and other decorations. Attach unicorn horn royal icing transfers and sprinkle nonpareils and jimmies for extra sparkle and texture. Chill briefly to set decorations before serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for better batter consistency and smooth frosting.
- Coloring the frosting in different bowls allows you to pipe multi-colored designs that look magical and vibrant.
- Make sure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- Fondant decorations can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container until needed.
- Adjust heavy cream quantity to achieve desired frosting consistency.
