The Unicorn Cupcake from Cold Stone Creamery features vibrant, swirled frosting with rainbow sprinkles atop a moist vanilla cupcake, blending whimsical colors with sweet, creamy flavors for a magical dessert experience.
Equipments
- Muffin pan (cupcake tin)
- Cupcake liners
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or whisk
- Spatula
- Piping bags
- Piping tips
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Oven
- Cooling rack
- Ice cream scoop (for filling batter)
- Spoons
- Small offset spatula
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk, room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120ml) sour cream, room temperature
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature (for frosting)
- 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar (for frosting)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (for frosting)
- 3-4 tablespoons (45-60ml) heavy cream or milk (for frosting)
- Pink food coloring
- Blue food coloring
- Purple food coloring
- Yellow food coloring
- Rainbow sprinkles
Ensure all dairy ingredients like butter, eggs, milk, and sour cream are at room temperature to achieve a smooth and well-incorporated batter. Measuring flour accurately using the spoon-and-level method prevents dense cupcakes, as too much flour can dry out your cupcakes. You can adjust food coloring intensity to match the vibrant swirls seen on the Cold Stone Creamery Unicorn Cupcake, balancing colors for a whimsical appearance. Use a piping bag with appropriate tips to create the distinct layered frosting effect topped with rainbow sprinkles for an authentic look. Your efforts will result in a magical copycat version of the Unicorn Cupcake from Cold Stone Creamery that closely mimics its vibrant and creamy layers.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time; mix well.
- Add vanilla extract; mix well.
- Mix milk and sour cream together.
- Alternate adding dry mixture and milk mixture to butter mixture, starting and ending with dry.
- Do not overmix; just combine.
- Use an ice cream scoop to fill liners 2/3 full.
- Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cupcakes in pan for 5 minutes.
- Transfer cupcakes to cooling rack to cool completely.
- Beat butter for frosting until creamy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar; beat until smooth.
- Mix in vanilla extract and heavy cream/milk until fluffy.
- Divide frosting into 4 bowls.
- Tint each bowl with a different food coloring (pink, blue, purple, yellow).
- Lay out a sheet of plastic wrap; spread lines of each colored frosting side by side.
- Roll up plastic wrap; twist ends.
- Snip one end and insert wrapped log into a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
- Pipe swirled frosting onto cooled cupcakes.
- Decorate immediately with rainbow sprinkles.
Substitution
The Unicorn Cupcake from Cold Stone Creamery copycat recipe captures the whimsical, colorful appeal with swirled rainbow frosting and vanilla cupcake base. If you don't have sour cream on hand, Greek yogurt can be used as a substitute to maintain moistness and tang. When piping the frosting, a small offset spatula helps achieve cleaner swirls if piping bags or tips aren't available. You can replace heavy cream with whole milk in the frosting, although the texture may be slightly less creamy. Incorporating your preferred food coloring brands will still yield vibrant hues for that magical presentation.
Tips
Ensure all dairy ingredients and eggs are at room temperature before mixing to achieve a smooth, well-emulsified batter that bakes evenly. Avoid overmixing the batter once dry and wet ingredients are combined; this prevents tough, dense cupcakes and maintains their moist texture. When using food coloring for frosting, apply gel-based colors sparingly to get vibrant hues without altering consistency. You can pipe multicolored frosting by carefully layering colored frostings on plastic wrap, then snipping the end for a magical swirl effect that mimics the Unicorn Cupcake.
Nutritions
The Unicorn Cupcake contains a combination of all-purpose flour, sugar, butter, and eggs, providing a source of carbohydrates, fats, and protein essential for energy and muscle repair. The frosting, rich in unsalted butter and powdered sugar, significantly increases the calorie and fat content, which should be consumed in moderation. Whole milk and sour cream add calcium and vitamin D, supporting bone health, while the colorful food coloring and rainbow sprinkles contribute negligible nutritional value. Your enjoyment of this magical dessert is best balanced with mindful portion control due to its high sugar and fat levels.
Storage
Store your Unicorn Cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature to preserve the moist vanilla cake and creamy, swirled frosting for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate the cupcakes, but allow them to come to room temperature before serving to maintain optimal texture and flavor. Avoid freezing the finished cupcakes as the rainbow sprinkles and swirled frosting may lose their vibrant appearance and texture.
Variation or Alternatives
You can substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt for a tangier cupcake texture that still stays moist. For a dairy-free option, replace butter and milk with coconut oil and almond milk, respectively, without compromising flavor. Experiment with edible glitter or metallic food dust along with rainbow sprinkles to elevate the magical appearance of your frosting. Consider baking cupcakes in silicone molds instead of paper liners to enhance moisture retention and add a slight chewiness to each bite.
Allergies
The Unicorn Cupcake contains common allergens such as eggs, dairy (butter, milk, sour cream, and heavy cream), and gluten from all-purpose flour. Rainbow sprinkles may also contain traces of nuts or soy, depending on the manufacturer. You should exercise caution if you have allergies to any of these ingredients or cross-contamination risks.
Why this recipe?
Cold Stone Creamery's Unicorn Cupcake menu captivates customers with its vibrant colors, whimsical design, and rich, creamy flavors blending vanilla ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, and colorful frosting. You'll enjoy the playful texture and delightful mix of sweetness combined with the nostalgic appeal of a classic cupcake, making it a unique dessert experience. Recreating this popular treat at home allows you to customize ingredients for freshness and dietary preferences while saving money compared to restaurant prices. The visual appeal and crowd-pleasing taste make the Unicorn Cupcake an irresistible indulgence worth replicating.