Unicorn Manes Recipes

UNICORN CAKE

Steps:

• For the unicorn decorations: First, make the horn and ears. Put the marshmallows in a large microwave-safe bowl and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons water. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until the marshmallows are melted, about 1 1/2 minutes total. Add 1 1/2 cups of the confectioners' sugar and stir to make a stiff mixture. Grease your hands and a work surface with some shortening. Knead the mixture, adding up to 1/2 cup more confectioners' sugar and greasing your hands as needed to keep it from sticking, until the mixture is very smooth and pliable, 4 to 5 minutes. (The mixture should form a tight but very smooth ball. If you poke a finger into it, the indentation should remain.)
• Break off three-quarters of the marshmallow mixture, add 1 drop blue gel food coloring and knead it into the mixture until evenly distributed. Remove one-quarter of the blue mixture and roll out to a thickness of a little less than 1/4 inch. With a sharp paring knife, cut two 2-inch-tall triangles for the inside of the unicorn ears. Roll the remaining blue mixture into a thick, tapered strand, about 2 feet long. Brush an 8-inch lollipop stick with water. Starting about 3 inches up from the bottom of the stick, roll the strand around it, starting with the thickest part first, into a tapered horn. Press gently all around to adhere it to the stick. Stick the horn upright in a jar filled with dried beans or rice to dry.
• Roll out the remaining plain marshmallow mixture to a thickness of a little less than 1/4 inch. With a sharp paring knife, cut two 3-inch-tall triangles for the outside of the unicorn ears. Brush the larger ears on one side with a small amount of water. Stick on the smaller blue ears. Drape the ears, with the smaller pieces face down, over the rolling pin to dry.
• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat four 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Prepare the cake mixes according to the package directions. Stir in the sprinkles. (If you don't have 4 pans, make 1 box of cake mix at a time and use half of the sprinkles in each).
• Divide the batter among the 4 prepared pans and bake, rotating the pans from top to bottom halfway through baking, until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 28 minutes. Let cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove from the pans and cool completely.
• For the buttercream: Beat the butter and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and light, about 1 minute. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat on low to incorporate, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and then the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the frosting is easily spreadable.
• Cut the domed tops from the cakes to make them flat. Frost the top of one cake layer with about 1/2 cup frosting. Set another layer on top and frost again. Repeat with the third layer, then end with the last layer bottom-side up on top. Coat the cake with a very thin layer of frosting to crumb coat, then chill until set, about 15 minutes. Set the cake on a cake stand and spread all but 1/2 cup of the remaining frosting on the cake in a smooth layer.
• Cut two 3-inch strands from the licorice and stick to the cake about halfway down in wide U shapes for the eyes. Cut ten 1/2-inch licorice pieces and press 5 along the bottom of each eye for eyelashes. Wrap the rainbow candy belt around the base of the cake. Spread the remaining 1/2 cup frosting in a strip along the base of the cake to adhere the candies. Stick the candies around the cake in a decorative fashion. Pull the cotton candy apart to make it fluffy and stick on the top and sides of the cake as a mane. Add the horn and ears and serve immediately. (Most of the cake can be decorated in advance; the cotton candy needs to be added at the last minute.)

EASY UNICORN CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Prepare cake batter and bake in 2 (8-inch) round pans as directed on package. Cool cakes in pans 15 min. Invert onto wire racks; gently remove pans. Cool cakes completely.
• Beat cream cheese, marshmallow creme and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Gently stir in COOL WHIP. Spoon 1-1/4 cups cream cheese mixture evenly into 2 separate small bowls; stir in food colorings to tint cream cheese mixture in each bowl to desired shade.
• Spread 2 Tbsp. of the remaining (untinted) cream cheese mixture into thin layer onto outside of waffle cone; roll in sprinkles until evenly coated.
• Stack cake layers on plate, filling layers with jam. Frost top and side of cake with remaining (untinted) cream cheese mixture. Place inverted waffle cone on top of cake for the unicorn's horn as shown in photo.
• Cut marshmallow diagonally in half with kitchen shears. Press cut sides of marshmallow halves into remaining sprinkles; gently press into cake for the unicorn's eyes.
• Spoon one of the tinted cream cheese mixtures into pastry bag fitted with star tip; use to pipe cream cheese mixture onto cake for the unicorn's mane. Spoon remaining tinted cream cheese mixture into second pastry bag fitted with separate decorative tip; use to pipe cream cheese mixture onto cake as shown in photo. Decorate cake with candies and decorating gel as shown in photo.

WHITE CHOCOLATE UNICORN BARK

Steps:

• Measure all your ingredients into separate bowls. Heat the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-sec bursts until melted, stirring each time. Or put it in a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) a pan of simmering water (an adult should help with this bit). Stir frequently until the chocolate has melted smoothly.
• Pour the melted chocolate into four or five small bowls. Use the food colouring to dye the chocolate in the colours you like best. Food colouring can be very strong, so start by adding a tiny amount, mixing well, then add more if you like.
• Line a large tray or board with baking parchment and spoon the different coloured chocolates onto the parchment in puddles, in any order you like. The different colours should start to join up and become one big puddle.
• Use a skewer or a cocktail stick to swirl the colours together, but don't swirl too much, otherwise the colours will blend into one. Gently shake the tray from side to side to help the chocolate sit in an even layer and fill in any gaps.
• Decorate with your sprinkles, sweets and marshmallows. Leave the chocolate to set in a cool place, or overnight, until set hard. Then break it into pieces and place in gift boxes lined with baking parchment. Will keep in the fridge for up to a week.

UNICORN CAKE

Steps:

• Start by making the unicorn's horn and ears - they'll need to dry completely before use. Roll 225g white fondant into a long sausage shape, with one end slightly thicker than the other. Starting from the thicker end, twist the sausage into a tight coil until you have a horn shape. Pinch the small end upwards into a pointed tip. Next, divide the remaining white fondant into two pieces. Roll each one out into a rough oval on a sheet of baking parchment, then pinch the top end of each oval upwards to make a point. Set the ears aside with the horn and leave to dry while you make the cake.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter the base of three 20cm sandwich tins and line with baking parchment. Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla together in a large bowl with an electric whisk for 8-10 mins until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift in the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt, and fold in using a large metal spoon. Add just enough of the milk to create a soft dropping consistency.
• Divide the batter between the prepared tins and smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 25-30 mins, or until golden and firm to the touch. Leave to cool slightly in the tins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• While the cake is cooling, make the buttercream. Beat the butter, icing sugar and vanilla together until pale and fluffy, beating in 4-6 tbsp hot water to loosen the mixture if necessary.
• Put one of the cooled sponges on a cake board or stand and spread a little of the buttercream on top using a palette knife. Gently spread over half the salted caramel, if using, then sandwich with another sponge. Repeat the process with a little more buttercream, the remaining salted caramel (if using) and the third sponge. Spread the outside of the cake with a thin layer of buttercream - this doesn't have to be neat. Chill for 30 mins.
• Spread a thick, even layer of buttercream over the chilled cake using a palette knife. Divide the remaining buttercream into three bowls and colour each one differently using the gel food colouring. Ours were light pink, purple and dark pink.
• Put a little gold lustre dust into a bowl, add a drop of water and stir to make a gold paste. Using a small paintbrush, paint the unicorn horn gold using the paste, as well as the inside of the ears, if you like. Carefully place the gold horn in the middle of the iced cake, with the ears on either side.
• Fit three piping bags with three different nozzles (we used a round nozzle and two different-sized star nozzles) and fill each with a different colour of buttercream. Pipe each colour around the ears and horn and all over the top of the cake, coming down one side and over the edge of the front - this is the unicorn's mane. Decorate with some sprinkles, if using.
• Divide the black fondant in two pieces, and roll each into a thin sausage shape. Shape each into an arch, then press onto the front of the cake for eyes. If you like, curve the outer edges of the eyes upwards for eyelashes. Cut into slices and serve. Will keep in the fridge for up to three days.