Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures it’s hot and ready for your cake batter. Don’t forget to grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper for easy cake removal.

In a medium bowl, whisk together your flour, baking powder, and salt. This helps to evenly distribute the leavening agents and ensures a light, fluffy cake. Set this bowl aside for later.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes. The mixture should become light and fluffy, which is key to creating a tender cake.

Add your eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Once the eggs are fully incorporated, add in the vanilla extract and beat until smooth. This step adds richness and flavor to your cake.

Now, it’s time to alternate adding the dry ingredients and the milk to your butter mixture. Start by adding about a third of the dry ingredients, mix until combined, then add a splash of milk. Repeat this process until both are fully incorporated into the batter. This method helps to keep the batter smooth and evenly mixed.

Divide your cake batter evenly into several bowls—one for each color you want to use. Add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl and gently stir until you achieve the desired pastel or vibrant shades. Get creative with your colors to give the cake that rainbow-like magic.

Now comes the fun part! Start spooning each colored batter into the center of each cake pan, one color at a time. There’s no need to worry about perfect layers—just let the colors naturally spread out. You’ll end up with a beautiful, multi-colored cake once it bakes!

Place the pans in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Keep an eye on them, and when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, your cake is ready. Every oven is different, so make sure to check a little earlier if needed.

Once baked, let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. If you try to frost the cakes while they’re still warm, the frosting might melt and slide off!

When your cakes are completely cool, it’s time to frost! Start with a layer of buttercream frosting on top of one cake layer. Smooth it out with a spatula, then place the second layer on top. Cover the entire cake with more frosting, smoothing it out as you go. Don’t worry about making it perfect; a slightly textured look will add to the charm!

Here’s where the magic happens! Use fondant or a pre-made unicorn topper to create the unicorn’s horn, ears, and mane. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can pipe frosting for the mane and use different colors to make it extra fun. For added sparkle, dust the cake with edible glitter or sprinkle some fun sprinkles on top.

After decorating, let the cake sit for about 30 minutes. This helps the frosting firm up so it’s easier to slice and serve.