What frosting do professionals use for cakes?

If you’re wondering what is the best frosting for a unicorn cake according to the pros, most will tell you buttercream. Specifically, Swiss meringue buttercream gets tons of love for its smooth texture and ability to hold its shape. It’s less sweet than American buttercream but still stable enough for those picture-perfect swirls.

What is the best icing to use for cake?

It depends on the job! For a unicorn cake, buttercream frosting is often the best choice because it’s versatile, holds up well, and can be colored easily. However, fondant is great if you’re going for a super polished look—though it’s not as tasty.

What icing holds its shape best?

Buttercream wins again! Both American and Swiss meringue versions are stiff enough to hold those fancy designs. If you’re making flowers, swirls, or that majestic unicorn mane, you need a frosting that stays put.

Which frosting is best for cake: buttercream or whipped?

Whipped cream frosting is lighter, but it doesn’t hold up like buttercream. For a unicorn cake, you want strength, stability, and color vibrancy. That’s why buttercream (American or Swiss meringue) is usually the better pick.

What Is The Best Frosting For A Unicorn Cake? Easy Guide!

Name: What is the Best Frosting for a Unicorn Cake? (Complete Guide)
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened; 4 cups powdered sugar (sifted); 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk; 2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract (for bright colors); Gel-based food coloring (pink, teal, purple, yellow, etc.); Optional: 1 teaspoon almond extract (for extra flavor); Edible luster dust (for the unicorn horn, optional)

Description

Looking for what is the best frosting for a unicorn cake? This recipe walks you through creating a smooth, colorful, and stable buttercream frosting, perfect for magical unicorn cakes. It’s vibrant, easy to pipe, and tastes as good as it looks!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Buttercream Frosting:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
2–3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract (for bright colors)
Gel-based food coloring (pink, teal, purple, yellow, etc.)
Optional: 1 teaspoon almond extract (for extra flavor)
Edible luster dust (for the unicorn horn, optional)

Instructions

Cream the butter in a large bowl using a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add heavy cream one tablespoon at a time until the frosting reaches your desired consistency—smooth, but firm enough to hold its shape.
Mix in clear vanilla extract and almond extract if using. Beat the frosting for another 1-2 minutes on medium speed until it’s light and creamy.
Divide the frosting evenly into small bowls.
Color each portion with your choice of gel food coloring. Stir until each color is vibrant and evenly mixed.
Transfer frosting into piping bags, fitted with your favorite tips (Wilton 1M, 21, 104 recommended).
Decorate your unicorn cake, piping colorful swirls and rosettes for the mane. Paint the horn and ears with edible luster dust for extra magic!
Refrigerate the cake if not serving immediately, especially if it’s warm, to keep the frosting firm and vibrant.

Notes

For best results, use gel-based colors—they create vibrant shades without thinning the frosting.
Clear vanilla keeps frosting colors bright, but you can swap for pure vanilla if color intensity isn’t critical.
Practice piping on parchment before decorating your unicorn cake to build confidence.
To make the cake even more special, check out our How to Do a Heart-Shaped Cake guide!

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: No-bake
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
Calories: 140 kcal
Sugar: 18g
Sodium: 1mg
Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Unsaturated Fat: 3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 0g
Cholesterol: 20mg

Keywords: Unicorn cake frosting, buttercream recipe, colorful cake frosting, gel food coloring, best frosting for unicorn cake