Unicorn Cupcakes That Are Almost Too Cute to Eat (But So Worth It!)
Unicorn cupcakes are the kind of magical treat that brings instant smiles.
If you love whimsical ideas, don’t miss these dessert recipes that are just as fun to make as they are to eat!
With their swirls of pastel frosting, sparkly sprinkles, and charming little horns, these cupcakes are surprisingly easy to pull together, and you can get as creative as you want with colors and decorations.
From birthday bashes to cozy weekend baking sessions, unicorn cupcakes add a pop of magic that turns any moment into something memorable.
How to Make Unicorn Cupcakes
Before you dive into baking, go ahead and print the recipe and gather all your ingredients.
Start with your favorite cupcake recipe for the base (vanilla, chocolate, or even a trusty boxed mix will do the trick).
Once your cupcakes are baked and fully cooled, it’s time to bring on the color!
Make a batch of white buttercream frosting and divide it into separate bowls.
Add a few drops of gel food coloring to each for vibrant shades — think pinks, purples, blues, and yellows.
Load each color into its own piping bag (no tips needed here!), then place all the bags into one large piping bag fitted with a 1M or 2D tip. This little trick lets all the colors swirl together beautifully!
Before you start piping, wrap each cupcake with a unicorn-themed wrapper, then pipe swirls or rosettes to create that dreamy unicorn mane. Pop on the horn and ears from a unicorn decorating kit, and have fun with extras like rainbow sprinkles, edible glitter, or tiny fondant flowers.
What can I use for unicorn horn on cupcakes?
There are a few fun and easy options:
- Ready-made unicorn cupcake toppers – These often come in kits and include paper or plastic horns along with ears and eyelashes. Super convenient!
- Fondant or modeling chocolate – Roll it into a spiral cone shape, then paint with edible gold or shimmer dust for that magical touch.
- Ice cream cone tips – Snip the pointed ends off mini cones and decorate with colored icing or edible glitter.
- Tootsie Rolls or Starburst – Microwave for a few seconds to soften, then shape and twist them into tiny horns.
Yes! Just make sure it’s thick enough to hold its shape when piped. You can beat it with a mixer for better texture.
A 1M or 2D piping tip works best for creating those fluffy swirls or rosettes. You can find them at most craft or baking stores.
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If you’re loving this unicorn cupcake idea, you won’t want to miss these other fun and festive recipes that are perfect for any celebration!
- Bring the magic to your dessert table with a unicorn cake recipe that’s just as enchanting as it is delicious — perfect for making your celebration unforgettable.
- From rainbow layers to glittery gold horns, these unicorn cake ideas will inspire your next baking adventure and wow your party guests.
- These unicorn donuts are almost too cute to eat —with colorful icing, sprinkles, and a touch of sparkle, they’re a sweet treat everyone will love.
- Whether you’re planning a themed bash or a simple celebration, these birthday party cakes and birthday snacks are sure to make your party spread extra special.
How to Make Unicorn Cupcakes
Ingredients
- Prebaked cupcakes
- White frosting + gel colors
Instructions
- Cool cupcakes completely to room temperature on a wire rack before decorating.
- When making your cupcakes, use a large cookie scoop to scoop batter into the muffin tin so they are all uniform in size.
- Make your buttercream frosting in a large bowl.
- Divide your white frosting into separate bowls and tint them with various colors using gel-based food coloring.
- Add the colored icing to the 12 inch piping bags without a coupler or tip.
- Snip the ends of the tips and set aside.
- Place a 1M or 2D Piping tip inside of the 16 inch piping bag.
- The tip should be pushed down as far as it can go end it should be cut right underneath the teeth
- of the tip. You do not want icing caught on the side of the piping bag.
- Place the colored bags of icing inside of the 16 inch bag and push them all down so that each of
- the colors is inside of the tip.
- Keep your cupcakes on a flat surface while you are icing them.
- Squeeze with even pressure to make sure that all three colors are coming out together onto the top of the cupcakes.
- Open up your unicorn cupcake kit.
- Place the Unicorn Wrappers around the cupcake liners before icing.
- Pipe swirls or rosettes around the top of each cupcake to create the unicorn's colorful mane.
- In the center of a cupcake, add the unicorn decorations to these adorable cupcakes.
- Get creative with additional decorations like edible glitter, rainbow sprinkles, or fondant flowers to enhance the unicorn cupcakes' whimsical appearance.
- Allow the decorated cupcakes to set for a little while to ensure that the frosting and decorations stay in place.
- Keep your easy unicorn cupcakes in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve them to keep the frosting staying stiff. You can keep any leftover cupcakes in an airtight container or cupcake tin to stay fresh for 3-4 days.