Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans to ensure your cakes slide out easily once they’re baked.

In a medium bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together. This step ensures a light and airy texture for the cake, so be sure not to skip it!

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes with a hand mixer. This step is essential for creating a soft and tender cake texture.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract to infuse a rich, comforting flavor into the cake.

Gradually add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk, and mix just until combined. Be careful not to overmix—this helps keep your cake light and fluffy.

Divide the batter evenly into separate bowls. Each bowl will be a different color for your unicorn layers.

Add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl, starting with a small amount and gradually increasing until you reach the desired shade. Opt for gentle pastel hues to give the cake a whimsical, magical appearance!

Divide the colored batters evenly into the prepared cake pans. For a marbled design, gently swirl the colors together with a spoon. If you want defined layers, pour the batters one on top of the other without mixing.

Bake the cakes for 25–30 minutes, checking for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center—it should come out clean. Since ovens can vary, monitor your cakes closely during baking.

Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience is key—make sure they cool completely before frosting!

In a large bowl, beat the butter until it’s creamy and smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until the frosting is thick and fluffy.

Stir in the vanilla extract and heavy cream. Adjust the consistency by adding more cream if the frosting is too stiff or more powdered sugar if it’s too runny. You want it to be thick but easy to spread.

Divide the frosting into separate bowls and color each one to match the cake layers.

Place the first cake layer on your cake stand or platter. Spread a generous amount of frosting over the top.

Add the second cake layer and apply a crumb coat—a thin layer of frosting that seals in any crumbs. Chill the cake for about 20 minutes in the fridge to set the crumb coat.

After the crumb coat sets, spread a thicker layer of frosting over the entire cake. You can smooth it out or create fun, textured designs with a spatula.

Decorate with edible glitter, fondant unicorn ears and horns, or rainbow-colored candies to give your unicorn cake that extra touch of magic!