A Brief History of the Rainbow Unicorn Birthday Cake

Ah, the rainbow unicorn birthday cake. A favourite of children and young adults alike, these colourful creations are almost too pretty to eat…almost. But where did they come from? How did they become so popular? Let’s take a look at the history of the rainbow unicorn birthday cake.

A brief history

The first recorded mention of a unicorn cake was in an English cookbook from 1851. The cake was made with almonds, sugar, eggs, and cream and was decorated with meringue and a thin slice of almond placed in the center to resemble a unicorn horn. Fast forward to the 1970s, and we see the first mention of a rainbow unicorn cake in print. In her 1977 cookbook Frappe! Freezing Desserts for Year-Round Delights, Phyllis Hirsch included a recipe for a “Rainbow Dream Cake” that was inspired by the then-popular Lisa Frank Unicorn Trapper Keeper.

However, it wasn’t until 2015 that the rainbow unicorn birthday cake as we know it today exploded in popularity. That’s when bakerCColemanCakes posted a photo of a beautiful six-layer rainbow cake decorated with swirls of colourful buttercream Frosting on Instagram. The post went viral, and soon everyone was trying to recreate Coleman’s masterpiece. These days, you can find rainbow unicorns cakes adorned with everything from edible flowers to glitter to macarons. No two are alike, but they’re all guaranteed to be Instagram-worthy.

Why Are Rainbow Unicorn Cakes So Popular?

Rainbow unicorn cakes are popular for a number of reasons. First and foremost, they’re visually stunning. They’re also usually very delicately flavoured, making them a hit with both kids and adults alike. Unicorn cakes are also designed to be fun and festive, which makes them the perfect choice for a birthday party.

There’s no doubt about it: rainbow unicorn cakes are here to stay. These beautiful creations are perfect for birthdays, showers, or any other celebratory occasion. So whether you’re looking for some inspiration for your next baking project or you’re just curious about where they came from, we hope this brief history has been informative and enjoyable.

The perfect choice for any birthday party or celebration

A rainbow unicorn cake is the perfect choice for any birthday party or celebration. These beautiful and delicious cakes are sure to be a hit with guests of all ages. To make your own rainbow unicorn cake at home, all you need is a cake pan in the shape of a unicorn head, some coloured fondant, white frosting, and food colouring gels. With a little time and effort, you’ll have a show-stopping cake that’s sure to impress.

Find out about my Rainbow Unicorn Cakes here