Unicorn & rainbow cupcakes tutorial

In this quick and easy set of tutorials by Renshaw, learn how to model cute and colourful unicorn and rainbow cupcake toppers using their Personalise Me! Rainbow & Unicorn Decorating Kit.

Bring a bit of unicorn magic and rainbow love into your life with this adorable set of unicorn and rainbow cupcakes. You'll have them made in no time thanks to Renshaw's Personalise Me! Rainbow & Unicorn Decorating Kit.

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You will need

To decorate

Renshaw Personalise Me! Rainbow & Unicorn Decorating Kit
Renshaw Vanilla Flavour Frosting
Jam
Cupcakes

Equipment

Dried spaghetti
Round cutter
Small pointed brush
Cooled boiled water
Knife
Modelling tool
Apple corer
Piping bags
Icing sugar
Rolling pin
Scissors
Kitchen roll
Small dusting brush
Baking tray
Clingfilm

Instructions

For the cupcakes

Create a hidden centre in your baked cupcakes, by removing the middle of each cupcake using the corer. Press halfway through and give a gentle twist as the corer is removed. Trim the excess sponge from the piece you removed to create a sponge lid for the hidden centre.

Mix the jam with a spoon until smooth and lump-free.

Open the vanilla frosting and mix with a spoon until smooth.

Place both the jam and vanilla frosting into separate piping bags, then cut a medium-sized hole at the tip of the bag with scissors.

Pipe a small amount of jam into the centre of each cupcake, then top with vanilla frosting, leaving enough space to replace the sponge lid.

Pipe a small amount of vanilla frosting on top of each cupcake. Spread with a palette knife or spoon, then place onto a clean baking tray. Loosely cover with clingfilm until ready to decorate.

To decorate

Open the Renshaw Personalise Me! Unicorn and Rainbow Decorating Kit. Inside you will find 4 x 100g coloured icings in pink, yellow, green and blue, along with a 2g silver lustre sachet.

On a clean dry surface, knead each icing in turn until soft and pliable. Wash your hands before moving onto the next colour.

For the unicorn

Lightly dust a clean work surface with icing sugar and roll out the green and blue icing to 2-3mm (1/8in) thick.

Cut a green icing circle and blue icing semi-circle using the round cutter.

Attach them together with a small amount of water and attach to the top of the cupcake.

Use the end of your paintbrush to press holes for the nose and use the modelling tool to add the eyes. Top tip! If you don't have a modelling tool you can use a straw that has been carefully trimmed lengthways with a pair of small scissors.

Creating a unicorn face with a modelling tool

For the ears, shape green icing into a 1cm (1/2in) ball, then lightly press down with your finger and flatten slightly. Use the end of your knife handle to add an indent to the centre, then cut in half to create two ears. Pick up each one and pinch the top to make them pointed. Attach to the cupcake with water.

To make the horn, shape yellow icing into a sausage, then roll each end to a tapered point. Brush a line of water along one side of the shape, then fold in half and twist round into a spiral. Insert a piece of dried spaghetti brushed with water and attach to the cupcake.

For the hair, make small balls in different icing colours and shape into long cones. Style the hair around the ears and horn, then attach with water.

Carefully open the silver lustre sachet with a pair of scissors. Place a small amount of lustre on kitchen paper, then use a dusting brush to add sparkle to the horn and other features such as the hair. Use a little at a time to build up the sparkle.

For the rainbow

Lightly dust the work surface with icing sugar and roll out the blue icing, then cut out an icing circle and cover the top of the cupcake.

Shape a 2cm (3/4in) ball of each icing into a long, even rope. Brush a line of water along the inside of each rope and attach them together.

Curve the ropes over to create an arch. Trim to size with a knife, then attach to the cupcake with water.

To make the heart decoration, shape two 2cm (3/4in) balls of pink icing into cone shapes. Lightly press down with your finger to flatten slightly, then use the back of a knife to press the line to create the heart shape. Smooth over the area with your finger.