You know those desserts that stop the whole party while everyone gasps and says: “Wait. Did you make these?!” — yep, these are those. These fluffy, pastel-swirled vanilla cupcakes are crowned with dreamy swirls of buttercream, a sprinkle of edible glitter, and a sweet little unicorn horn topper.
Perfect for kids’ birthdays, baby showers, or just whenever your inner 8-year-old demands something magical. The best part? They look like a Pinterest fantasy, but they’re surprisingly doable — pinky promise. 💖
(If you love whimsical bakes, you might also like my Cotton Candy Layer Cake or these party-perfect Confetti Cookie Sandwiches!)
✅ Quick Tip:
- ✔️ Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors that won’t water down your frosting.
INGREDIENTS
For the cupcakes:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk
For the buttercream:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp heavy cream
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Gel food coloring (pink, purple, blue, yellow)
- Edible glitter & sprinkles
- Unicorn horn and ear toppers (store-bought or homemade with fondant)
Instructions:
1️⃣ Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin pan with colorful cupcake liners.
2️⃣ In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3️⃣ In a separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes). Beat in eggs, one at a time, then mix in vanilla.
4️⃣ Add dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
5️⃣ Divide batter evenly into liners, filling about ⅔ full. Bake 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
6️⃣ Make the buttercream: Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt. Beat until fluffy.
7️⃣ Divide frosting into 3–4 bowls and tint each with a different pastel gel color. Fit a piping bag with a large star tip, spoon each color into different sections of the bag, and swirl them together as you pipe.
8️⃣ Frost cooled cupcakes with tall, magical swirls. Sprinkle with glitter, and finish with unicorn toppers.
🎀 Serving Tips:
- Arrange on a white cake stand with pastel confetti scattered around.
- Wrap each cupcake in a clear treat bag for magical party favors.
- Add tiny “Happy Birthday” flags for a personal touch.
🌈 Creative Variations:
- Swap vanilla cake for funfetti for even more whimsy.
- Make them vegan with dairy-free butter & plant-based milk.
- Try different color schemes — like gold & blush for a chic unicorn look!
🧁 Troubleshooting:
- Buttercream too soft? Pop it in the fridge for 10–15 minutes, then rewhip.
- Cupcakes sinking? Check oven temp with an oven thermometer — it may be running too hot.
- Colors getting muddy? Wipe the piping bag tip between swirls to keep colors clean.
🧊 Storage Info:
- Refrigerate frosted cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze (unfrosted) cupcakes for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temp and frost fresh.
Magical Unicorn Cupcakes
Ingredients
- For the cupcakes:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk
- For the buttercream:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 –3 tbsp heavy cream
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Gel food coloring pink, purple, blue, yellow
- Edible glitter & sprinkles
- Unicorn horn and ear toppers store-bought or homemade with fondant
Instructions
- 1️⃣ Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin pan with colorful cupcake liners.
- 2️⃣ In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- 3️⃣ In a separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes). Beat in eggs, one at a time, then mix in vanilla.
- 4️⃣ Add dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
- 5️⃣ Divide batter evenly into liners, filling about ⅔ full. Bake 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
- 6️⃣ Make the buttercream: Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt. Beat until fluffy.
- 7️⃣ Divide frosting into 3–4 bowls and tint each with a different pastel gel color. Fit a piping bag with a large star tip, spoon each color into different sections of the bag, and swirl them together as you pipe.
- 8️⃣ Frost cooled cupcakes with tall, magical swirls. Sprinkle with glitter, and finish with unicorn toppers.
Notes
- Don’t overfill your liners — you want room for the frosting to shine.
- You can make the toppers ahead of time with fondant or buy pre-made online.
💌 Let me know if you bake up a batch of these unicorn cuties — tag me on Pinterest or Instagram so I can see your magical creations!
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