Print

Unicorn Cupcakes Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 66 reviews

These whimsical Unicorn Cupcakes are a delightful treat featuring moist, violet-tinted cupcakes topped with a vibrant rainbow buttercream swirl. Perfect for celebrations or bringing a magical touch to any occasion, these cupcakes combine classic vanilla flavors with colorful gel food colors to enchant both kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

Scale

Cupcake Batter

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2/3 cup water
  • Purple/Violet gel food color (about 10 drops, adjust as desired)

Buttercream Frosting

  • 2 cups (4 sticks/550 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 8–9 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • Purple gel food color
  • Blue gel food color
  • Pink gel food color
  • Orange gel food color

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cupcake or muffin pan with cupcake liners and set aside.
  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
  3. Combine wet ingredients: In the mixer bowl, whisk the milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs on medium speed until fully combined, about 1 minute.
  4. Form batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Scrape the bowl with a spatula to ensure all sides are mixed.
  5. Add color and water: With the mixer on low, slowly add the water and approximately 10 drops of purple gel food coloring. Mix just until combined, scraping sides as needed. Add more gel color if a deeper purple is desired, being careful not to overmix.
  6. Fill cupcake liners: Use a pancake dispenser or spoon to fill cupcake liners just over half full for even baking and less mess.
  7. Bake cupcakes: Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. Do not open oven door before 15 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick; it should come out with moist crumbs but no raw batter. Mini cupcakes bake in about 9-12 minutes.
  8. Cool: Remove cupcakes from oven and let cool 3-5 minutes in the pan. Transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
  9. Prepare frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until smooth. Add 4 cups powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Mix in vanilla extract and milk until smooth. Add the remaining 4 to 5 cups powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add more powdered sugar ½ cup at a time if frosting is too soft.
  10. Divide and color frosting: Divide the buttercream evenly into 4 medium bowls. Add 7-10 drops of purple gel food color to one bowl, blue to another, orange to the next, and pink to the last. Stir each until fully combined and set aside.
  11. Assemble multi-color frosting: Cover your workspace with parchment or plastic to prevent staining. Lay a 15-inch piece of plastic wrap on the counter. Spread ⅓ of the purple buttercream in a 6×6 inch square in the center. Layer the blue buttercream over purple evenly, then orange over blue, and pink on top, spreading carefully to form neat layers.
  12. Form piping bag: Roll the plastic wrap tightly into a tube containing the layered buttercream, ensuring it fits your piping bag size. Place the wrapped buttercream inside a piping bag fitted with a large star or preferred tip. Begin with a pipe-and-dump test to get the frosting close to the tip.
  13. Pipe and decorate cupcakes: Pipe buttercream onto the cooled cupcakes in swirls. Decorate with edible glitter stars or sprinkles to add magical touches.
  14. Repeat: Continue piping and decorating all cupcakes using the remaining buttercream.
  15. Chill and serve: Refrigerate the frosted cupcakes for at least one hour before serving to set the frosting and enhance flavors. Enjoy your magical unicorn cupcakes!

Notes

  • Do not open the oven door during the first 15 minutes of baking to prevent cupcakes from collapsing.
  • If you want more intense cupcake color, add gel color 1-2 drops at a time to avoid overmixing.
  • The batter is thin; using a pancake dispenser or piping bag for filling makes this step cleaner and easier.
  • Adjust powdered sugar quantities if the buttercream is too soft or too stiff for piping.
  • Cover your work surface to prevent gel food coloring stains during frosting preparation.
  • Use fresh ingredients and room temperature butter for better frosting consistency and flavor.
  • Refrigerate cupcakes to help the buttercream set for neater presentation and flavor consolidation.

Keywords: Unicorn cupcakes, colorful cupcakes, rainbow buttercream, birthday cupcakes, kids party dessert, vanilla cupcakes, festive cupcakes

Find it online: https://www.cheftara.com/unicorn-cupcakes-recipe/