Description
These Easy Unicorn Petit Fours are colorful, whimsical mini cakes perfect for parties or special occasions. Made using a simple French vanilla cake mix, vibrant gel food colorings, and creamy vanilla frosting, these petite treats are decorated to resemble magical unicorns complete with piped frosting manes and unicorn horn sprinkles. The recipe is straightforward, requiring baking, cooling, frosting, and decorating steps that yield 12 charming unicorn-themed petit fours.
Ingredients
Scale
Batter Ingredients
- 1 box French vanilla cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1 cup whole milk
- Pink gel food coloring
- Sky blue gel food coloring
- Purple gel food coloring
- Black gel food coloring
Frosting & Decorations
- 2 containers vanilla frosting
- 1 package unicorn horn sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously spray a petit four baking pan with non-stick baking spray to ensure easy release of the cakes.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, canola oil, and whole milk until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Divide Batter: Pour the prepared cake batter from the box into the wet ingredients and mix well, then divide the batter evenly into four separate bowls.
- Add Colors: Add pink gel food coloring to one bowl, sky blue to the second, purple to the third, and leave the fourth bowl without any coloring (vanilla color).
- Fill Pan Cavities: Using a teaspoon, spoon about 1 teaspoon of each colored batter into each petit four cavity, layering or placing side by side as desired for a colorful effect.
- Bake Cakes: Place the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, indicating the cakes are fully baked.
- Cool Cakes: Remove the petit four cakes from the pan and transfer them onto a wire rack. Let them cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare Base Frosting: Scoop one container of vanilla frosting into a medium bowl and microwave for 15 to 20 seconds until it becomes liquid-like for easier coating.
- Coat Petit Fours: Carefully pour the warmed frosting over each petit four to fully coat the cakes with a smooth layer of frosting.
- Set Frosting: Allow this initial frosting layer to firm up completely before moving on to decorating.
- Prepare Colored Frostings: Divide the second container of vanilla frosting equally into four bowls, about 1/4 cup each.
- Add Colors to Frosting: Add a few drops of pink gel to one bowl, blue gel to another, purple gel to the third, and black gel to the last bowl, mixing each until color is uniform.
- Fill Piping Bags: Fill a piping bag fitted with a star tip with the pink and blue frostings for creating the unicorn’s mane.
- Fill Additional Piping Bags: Fill separate piping bags fitted with a number 2 tip with purple and black frostings for accent dots and facial details, respectively.
- Pipe Unicorn Hair: Using the pink and blue star-tip frosting, pipe the colorful “hair” or mane onto the petit fours to create the whimsical look of a unicorn.
- Add Purple Dots: Pipe small purple dots into the “hair” sections to add dimension and visual interest.
- Pipe Eyes Details: With the black frosting, carefully pipe eyes and facial details onto the front of each petit four to give the unicorn character.
- Place Sprinkles: Gently place a unicorn horn sprinkle at the top center of each petit four as the finishing magical touch.
- Set Final Frosting: Allow the decorated petit fours to sit for at least 30 minutes so the frosting can firm up before serving and enjoying.
Notes
- Ensure the petit four cakes are completely cool before applying the frosting to prevent melting.
- You can customize the colors of the frosting to match your party theme or preferences.
- If you don’t have a petit four pan, mini cupcake pans can be used as an alternative.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without thinning the batter or frosting.
- For easier piping, chill the frosting slightly if it becomes too warm when mixing colors.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
