Description
These Easy Unicorn Petit Fours are delightful miniature cakes bursting with vibrant colors and fun unicorn-themed decorations. Made with a classic French vanilla cake mix and naturally colored frosting, these petit fours are perfect for parties or special celebrations, offering a whimsical treat that’s as charming to look at as it is delicious to eat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Batter
- 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
- Black gel food coloring
- Purple gel food coloring
Frosting and Decorations
- 2 containers vanilla frosting
- 1 package unicorn horn sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a petit four baking pan with baking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, canola oil, and whole milk until smooth and fully combined.
- Divide batter: Pour the cake batter evenly into four separate bowls to prepare for coloring.
- Color the batter: Add pink gel food coloring to the first bowl, sky blue to the second, purple to the third, and leave the fourth bowl uncolored for a natural vanilla shade.
- Fill pan cavities: Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of each colored batter into the petit four pan cavities, layering or arranging as desired to reflect a colorful mosaic.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool cakes: Remove the petit fours from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack. Allow them to cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare first frosting layer: Scoop one container of vanilla frosting into a medium bowl and microwave for 15–20 seconds until it becomes pourable.
- Glaze petit fours: Carefully pour the warmed frosting over the cooled petit fours, ensuring each one is completely coated with a smooth layer of frosting.
- Set frosting: Let the glazed petit fours sit until the frosting firms up and sets properly.
- Prepare colored frostings: Divide the second container of vanilla frosting into four bowls (about 1/4 cup each). Add pink gel food coloring to one, blue to another, purple to the third, and black to the fourth bowl, mixing each until fully combined.
- Fill piping bags: Transfer the pink and blue frostings into a piping bag fitted with a star tip for creating textured “hair.” Put the purple and black frostings into separate piping bags fitted with a number 2 tip for detail work.
- Pipe hair: Use the pink and blue star-tipped frostings to pipe flowing “hair” designs onto each petit four, creating a whimsical unicorn mane.
- Add hair details: Use the purple frosting with a small tip to pipe small dots within the hair for added dimension and color variation.
- Create eyes and details: Use the black frosting to pipe the eyes and other facial features on the front of each petit four, bringing the unicorns to life.
- Place unicorn horn: Gently place a unicorn horn sprinkle on top-center of each petit four as the finishing decorative touch.
- Let set: Allow the decorated petit fours to sit for about 30 minutes to let all frosting decorations firm up before serving and enjoying.
Notes
- Make sure the petit fours are completely cooled before pouring the melted frosting to prevent it from melting and sliding off.
- When dividing and coloring the batter, adjust the amount of gel coloring gradually for desired color intensity.
- Using piping bags with proper tips helps create neat and professional-looking details.
- Store petit fours in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 4 days.
- Allow refrigerated petit fours to reach room temperature before serving for best flavor and texture.
