Unicorn Cookies Recipe

Unicorn Cookies

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Prep: 60 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 70 mins
Servings: 24 servings
Yield: 24 cookies

These decorated unicorn sugar cookies look impressive, but they are easy to create when you break down the icing technique step by step.

Unicorn shaped cookie cutters can be purchased online or in your favorite kitchen store. Edible gold shimmer is also easy to purchase online and it really make these cookies shine!

For this recipe, you will need an edible cookie pen to draw the unicorn's eyes. These are also available online and at specialty baking shops.

Ingredients

For the Sugar Cookies:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 8 ounces (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 large egg

  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Unicorn Icing and Decorations:

  • 3/4 cup warm water

  • 5 tablespoons meringue powder

  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

  • 16 ounces confectioners' sugar

  • Pink, purple, blue, yellow, and green food coloring

  • Edible gold shimmer, or glitter

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare baking sheets by covering with parchment paper.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni 
  2. In a large bowl, sift together flour and baking powder. Set aside.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  3. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, stopping to scrape down the bowl once while mixing. Add the egg and mix until pale and fluffy. 

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  4. Add the vanilla extract and salt. Mix to combine. 

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  5. Slowly add the flour mixture, 1 cup at a time, mixing each time until incorporated. 

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  6. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  7. Roll out onto a lightly floured surface. Use a cookie cutter to cut into unicorn shapes. Place on prepared baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes. 

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  8. Remove to a wire rack and cool completely before decorating.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  9. For the icing, in a large mixing bowl whisk together water and meringue powder until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and whisk again.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  10. Add the powdered sugar all at once and mix on medium speed for 10 minutes or until thick.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  11. Place 2/3 of the icing in one bowl and keep it white. Divide the remaining icing into 6 other smaller bowls. Add a couple of drops of food coloring to dye each of the bowls, pink, purple, blue, yellow, and green. When the desired colors have been achieved, place each color in a separate piping bag fitted with a small round tip.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  12. Pipe the white icing into all of the cookies first. Start by outlining the edge of the cookie and then fill in the center.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  13. Brush edible gold shimmer or glitter on the horn of each unicorn.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce /  Kristina Vanni
  14. Use the pink icing to fill in the ears, to make small dots on the cheeks, and to make one pink flower in the center of the forehead.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  15. Use the purple icing to make a flower to the left of the pink flower.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  16. Use the blue icing to make two small flowers to the right of the pink flower. 

    Unicorn Cookies
     The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  17. Add miscellaneous yellow dots around the flowers.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  18. Add miscellaneous green dots around the flowers.

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  19. Once the white icing has set, use the edible pen to draw on eyes and eyelashes. (To quickly set, the cookies can be placed in the freezer.)

    Unicorn Cookies
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
  20. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
254 Calories
9g Fat
43g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories 254
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 11%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 30mg 10%
Sodium 61mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 43g 16%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 30g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 19mg 1%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 47mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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