If you’ve ever seen kids (or adults!) light up at a pastel, rainbow-topped unicorn cake, you’ve probably wondered how to make a unicorn cake yourself without it turning into a frosting disaster.
The good news is that with a bit of planning and a few decorating tricks, you can create a cake that looks magical and tastes amazing.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to make a unicorn cake step by step: from baking and stacking to frosting, piping the mane, and finishing with the horn and ears. We’ll also cover extra ideas for flavors and colors, plus when it’s smart to call in a professional bakery like Nikoo Cake to handle the magic for you.
Before you start measuring flour, it’s worth taking a moment to plan how to make a unicorn cake so the design, size, and colors fit your celebration. A little thought up front can save frustration later when you’re rushing to decorate.
Think about how many guests you’re serving, what flavors they love, and what style of unicorn cake will make your life easiest—simple buttercream, fondant accents, or lots of piping details.
When planning how to make a unicorn cake, start with the basics: will it be a single tier or multi-tier? Round cakes are the most common and easiest to decorate for this design. An 8-inch or 9-inch round layer cake is usually perfect for a small party, while stacked tiers work better for larger groups.
For flavor, you can keep it classic with vanilla or chocolate, or go playful with funfetti, strawberry, or marble. Whatever you choose, make sure the cake is sturdy enough to hold up to frosting and decorations, especially if you’ll be transporting it.
Another important part of how to make a unicorn cake is your color palette. Soft pastels (pinks, blues, purples, yellows) are popular for the mane, but bold rainbow colors can be equally stunning. Decide whether you want a white or pale base color for the cake so the mane and horn really stand out.
You can keep the look simple and sweet with a few piped rosettes and a gold horn, or go elaborate with a full wraparound mane, sprinkles, and hand-painted details. Having a clear vision early makes the decorating process much smoother.
Once your plan is set, the next step in how to make a unicorn cake is baking the cake layers. Good structure and even baking will make everything else—stacking, frosting, and decorating—far easier.
You can use your favorite from-scratch recipe or a high-quality cake mix; the key is to bake the layers properly and let them cool fully before you start building.
To set yourself up for success with how to make a unicorn cake, start by preparing your pans properly. Grease them and line the bottoms with parchment circles to help the cakes release cleanly. Lightly flour the sides if your recipe calls for it.
When mixing your batter, follow the recipe instructions carefully. Overmixing can make a cake tough, while undermixing can leave flour pockets. If you’re using food coloring in the cake itself for a fun rainbow effect, divide the batter and gently tint each portion before pouring into pans.
Even baking is critical for how to make a unicorn cake that stacks neatly. Rotate pans halfway through baking if your oven has hot spots, and check for doneness with a toothpick in the center. Once baked, let the cakes cool in the pans for a short time, then turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely.
After cooling, use a serrated knife or cake leveler to trim any domed tops so your layers are flat. Level layers stack more safely and create a clean canvas for frosting and decorations.
The frosting you choose plays a big role in how to make a unicorn cake that looks smooth and holds its shape.
Buttercream is the most popular option because it’s easy to tint and pipe, but whipped ganache or cream cheese frosting can also work if they’re stable enough.
You’ll want two types of frosting: a neutral or base color for the outside and multiple shades for the mane and details.
When you focus on how to make a unicorn cake with a clean finish, a smooth, spreadable base frosting is essential. Classic American buttercream, Swiss meringue, or Italian meringue buttercream all work well as long as they’re not too soft.
Tint your base frosting white or pale ivory to resemble a unicorn’s coat, or use a soft pastel if you want a more whimsical look. Make enough to fill between the layers and cover the entire cake in a crumb coat plus a final coat.
A fun part of how to make a unicorn cake is creating the colorful mane. Divide a portion of your frosting into several bowls and add gel food coloring in your chosen shades—pastel pink, lavender, teal, and yellow are popular choices.
Place each color in its own piping bag, or combine multiple colors in one bag for multi-colored swirls. Using star or rosette tips, you’ll later pipe these colors around the top and side of the cake to create a flowing mane effect.
With cake layers baked and frosting ready, the next stage in how to make a unicorn cake is stacking and crumb coating. This step keeps crumbs locked in and gives you a smooth surface for decorating.
Take your time here—neat stacking and a solid crumb coat make the final decorating much easier and more polished.
To begin this stage of how to make a unicorn cake, place your first layer on a cake board or serving plate. Spread an even layer of frosting or filling (such as jam, ganache, or flavored buttercream) over the top. Add the next layer and repeat until all layers are stacked.
Check from the side to make sure the cake is level. You can gently press down or adjust the layers if needed. A centered, straight stack is key for stability, especially if you plan to transport the cake.
Next in how to make a unicorn cake is applying a thin crumb coat. Spread a light layer of frosting over the entire cake, just thick enough to seal in crumbs. Don’t worry about perfection at this stage—this coat is simply your base.
Once coated, chill the cake in the fridge for 20–30 minutes to firm up the frosting. This makes it easier to apply a smooth final coat and create a clean background for the unicorn face and mane.
Now comes the most magical part of how to make a unicorn cake—bringing the unicorn to life with eyes, ears, horn, and a colorful mane. This is where your creativity can really shine.
Even simple details can look stunning if placed thoughtfully and piped neatly.
For the face in how to make a unicorn cake, many decorators choose to draw closed eyes with long lashes using black buttercream or edible marker on fondant. You can pipe the eye shapes directly onto the front of the cake or use small fondant cutouts.
Add a tiny blush of pink cheeks or small edible pearls for extra charm. Keep the expression gentle and cute—simple lines often look better than overly complicated designs.
The mane is a showstopper in how to make a unicorn cake. Using your colored frostings and piping tips, pipe rosettes, stars, and small swirls starting near the horn area and flowing down one side and across the top of the cake.
Mix different colors and sizes for a full, textured look. You can also tuck in edible glitter, sprinkles, or candy pearls between piped shapes to add depth and sparkle to the design.
No guide on how to make a unicorn cake would be complete without the horn and ears. These elements instantly define the cake as a unicorn.
You can make them from fondant, gum paste, modeling chocolate, or use pre-made decorations if you’re short on time.
To form the horn in how to make a unicorn cake, roll fondant or gum paste into a long rope, then twist it into a spiral cone shape. Insert a skewer or sturdy lollipop stick through the center so you can anchor it into the cake later.
Paint the horn with edible gold or pearl dust mixed with a little clear alcohol or extract for a metallic finish. Let it dry and firm up before placing it on top of the cake.
The ears are another key detail in how to make a unicorn cake. Cut two teardrop or leaf shapes out of white fondant and slightly smaller pink shapes for the inner ears, then layer them together.
Let the ears dry long enough to hold their shape, then attach them on either side of the horn using toothpicks or skewers, angled slightly outward for a playful look.
Once you’ve mastered the basics of how to make a unicorn cake, you can add fun twists and custom touches to make each cake unique.
These ideas help you tailor the design to the birthday child, event theme, or season.
To take how to make a unicorn cake to the next level, consider adding sprinkle borders around the base, or a pastel ganache drip down the sides. These elements add color and texture without much extra effort.
You can also pipe a name or age on the cake board or directly on the cake, incorporate themed toppers, or match the color scheme to party decorations.
Another way to personalize how to make a unicorn cake is by playing with flavor combinations. Try pairing vanilla cake with strawberry filling, chocolate layers with hazelnut or salted caramel, or lemon cake with raspberry buttercream.
Seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice or gingerbread can turn the same basic design into a unique centerpiece for autumn and winter celebrations.
Even with a clear plan for how to make a unicorn cake, things don’t always go perfectly. Cakes can crumble, frosting can be too soft, and decorations can sag.
Knowing how to troubleshoot common problems can turn a near disaster into a cake that still looks beautiful on the table.
If your layers crumble or crack while stacking, you can often salvage them by using extra frosting as a “glue” and trimming uneven edges. A solid crumb coat is especially useful here—it hides imperfections and locks everything together.
When addressing these hiccups while you figure out how to make a unicorn cake, remember that the final decorations will cover a lot of small flaws. Focus on structure and stability more than perfection at the crumb coat stage.
Sometimes, when working through how to make a unicorn cake, you’ll find your frosting is too soft or your piped mane starts to slide. If that happens, chill the cake. Refrigeration firms up buttercream and gives you time to adjust or add more support.
You can also slightly thicken frosting by adding a bit more powdered sugar or shortening, depending on your recipe, so it holds piped shapes better, especially in warm kitchens.
Not necessarily. The design looks impressive, but it’s mainly about simple stacking, frosting, and basic piping. Start with a single-tier cake and keep details simple your first time.
Basic tools like round cake pans, piping bags, star or rosette tips, a spatula, and a turntable (optional but helpful) are usually enough. Fondant tools are useful but not mandatory.
Yes. A good-quality cake mix is fine, especially if you’re focusing on getting the decorating right. Make sure the layers are fully cooled and sturdy before stacking.
You can bake the layers a day or two ahead and keep them wrapped and refrigerated. Decorating is best done the day before or the morning of the event.
If you’re short on time or prefer a guaranteed professional finish, you can order a custom unicorn cake from a bakery that specializes in decorated cakes.
Learning how to make a unicorn cake is a fun way to bring a bit of magic to birthdays, baby showers, or any celebration that calls for sparkle and color. By planning your design, baking sturdy layers, preparing smooth frosting, stacking carefully, and adding key details like the horn, ears, and mane, you can create a cake that delights everyone at the party. Even if things aren’t perfect, thoughtful decoration and a few troubleshooting tricks ensure your unicorn still looks enchanting on the dessert table.
If you love the idea of a unicorn cake but don’t have the time, tools, or desire to tackle all the steps yourself, Nikoo Cake is ready to help. The team at Nikoo Cake specializes in beautifully crafted, custom-designed cakes—including unicorn creations tailored to your colors, flavors, and event theme. Whether you want a simple, sweet design or an elaborate multi-tier centerpiece, Nikoo Cake can bring your vision to life with professional skill and outstanding taste, so you can relax and enjoy the celebration. Schedule your deliveries today.
