18 Yummy Unicorn-Inspired Rainbow Recipes That Will Have You Seeing Colors
There's no reason to live a life filled with non-rainbow grilled cheeses and pancakes.
instagram Sprinkles, confetti, and glitter — oh my! And we're not just talking about our wardrobes. What if our kitchens were filled willed with as much color and excitement as Times Square on New Years Eve? That's what food writer and stylist, Rachel Johnson of Stupid Good Food, thought when she wrote her latest cookbook: Unicorn Food: Magical Recipes for Sweets, Eats, and Treats.
Filled with forty unicorn-inspired recipes meant to turn any house warming, birthday party, or baby shower into a rainbow-fantastic event — from healthy meals like Rainbow Veggie Bowls to indulgences like Glitter Pink Strawberry Marshmallows — the variety of meals featured throughout the book can cure any food-craving.
And whether you're looking for unicorn cupcakes or a sweet unicorn drink, read on as we go through 18 of our favorite creations by Rachel that are featured throughout her book, including a few sneak peaks into select recipes.
1. Candy Mountain Cream Bows
Listed in Rachel's Instagram as her favorite recipe throughout the entire book. These swirling dollops of sweet goodness are filled of refined sugar, fun, and um... golden Oreos! Need anyone say more?
The recipe is based off an Israeli cookie called the Krembo, but made with a exciting unicorn twist. The icing on top? Is actually homemade marshmallow fluff.
2. Unicorn Hot Chocolate
Never be caught again sipping on an ordinary, chocolate brown hot-cocoa. Instead, grab a mug filled with unicorn-color goodness and topped with all (and we mean all) the fluff.
These beverage will have you wishing you were snuggled up by the fireplace and not in the hot summer sun, but we're not going to judge if you make yourself a cup of hot chocolate in the middle on June. Rachel's special ingredient is a topping of lucky charms, and if your timing is right, you'll be able to fill to the brim with Lucky Charm's limited edition unicorn cereal.
3. Rainbow Fruit Salad
Fruit alone has the colors inspired by the prettiest rainbow, which gave Rachel the inspiration for this recipe. Filled with an assortment of fruits like dragon fruit, blueberries, and pineapples, this plate would be the perfect dish to bring to any party or potluck if looking to bring bright colors to the room and healthy food to anyone's tummy.
4. Rainbow Pancake Stack
Long gone are the days of ordinary pancakes. The void of colorful mornings has finally been filled with Unicorn Food's Rainbow Pancake Stack, and to top it off (literally), homemade maple whipped cream.
The recipe serves four, and takes around 45 minutes to complete (include prep and cooking):
Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups of all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- .5 teaspoons of salt
- .25 teaspoons of baking soda
- 2 large eggs
- 1.5 cups of buttermilk or nonfat plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
- *Rainbow food coloring (red, orange, green, any color your heart desires)
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 cup of heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons of maple syrup (plus for more serving)
Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk (or yogurt), and melted butter. Add the egg mixture into the flour mixture and whisk until just combined.
Let the pancake batter sit for 6-10 minutes. Divide the batter into 6 bowls (opt for paper for easy clean up) and gently stir in 5-6 drops of food coloring.
Step 2: Heat a griddle or nonstick pan over medium-high heat and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Add one color of batter into the pan (this will make one large pancake) and cook the pancake until bubbles have risen to the surface and the edges firm up (about 3 minutes).
Flip the pancake and cook until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes, and set the pancake on the plate. Repeat the process with the additional colored batters until you've made 6 pancakes. Keep the pancakes in a warm oven until ready to serve.
Step 3: In a large bowl, vigorously whip heavy cream until soft peaks form, usually 5 minutes or so. Gently fold in the maple syrup.
Step 4: Remove the pancakes from the oven and stack them one colored pancake on top of another in a rainbow pattern. Finally top with the maple whipped cream and additional maple syrup.
5. Unicorn Cereal Stacks
A magical twist on the way we grew up eating cereal. Bring back all the nostalgia and childhood feels with Unicorn Food's Cereal Bars.
Dressed up with pastel colors and golden bakery accessories, these finger foods won't stay on the table for long once the plate comes out. Both are eye grabbing and delicious, and your friends will be begging you to whip up another batch.
6, 7, & 8. Unicorn Food Tea Party Inspired Assortment
Long gone are the days of boring and stuffy Tea Parties, so invite over the friends who let their hair down and wear the edgy ripped jeans to this majestic affair.
With Rainbow Pinwheel Sandwich, Glittery Scones, and Rainbow Sprinkle Cream Puffs, you'll look side-eyed at the next affair offering ordinary cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwiches and traditional blueberry scones. Just make sure you've got the decor to match if whipping up these delicious and sparkly recipes.
9. Unicorn Layered Cake
Thank goodness the times of unicorn-themed parties for children are a long-gone pastime, because I'd be damned if anything was going to stop me from blowing out the candles in this beautiful unicorn-inspired layered cake. Pair with a themed unicorn onesie, and ta-da! You're the most festive birthday queen there ever was.
10. Unicorn Universe Baked Donuts
If there ever was a Kryptonite for human kind, it would have to be the magical art of fried dough. But oh, is it delicious! Now, imagine your favorite donuts drenched in galaxy swirled icing and colors inspired by all things rainbow and unicorn. I think even Superman couldn't avoid the temptation.
The recipe serves 24 small donuts, and takes around 45 minutes to complete (include prep, and cook):
What you'll need: Donut pan, large piping bag fitted with a .5 inch plain tip.
Ingredients (for the donuts):
- 2.5 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoons of baking powder
- .25 teaspoons of baking soda
- .75 teaspoons of salt
- .5 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, softened
- .5 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup of brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 cup of whole milk (warmed)
Ingredients (for the glaze):
- 1.25 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream
- *Food coloring (three colors of your choice)
- *Edible glitter and sprinkles (for garnish)
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray two six-count donut pans with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 2: In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a stand mixer (or large bowl with hand mixer), beat together butter and sugars until smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and milk alternatively and mix until just combined.
Step 3: To Fill the donut pans, fill a large pastry bag (no tip required) with donut batter and pipe the batter into the wells of the pan, filling with about 1/4 inch of room remaining. Or you can simply use a spoon to spread batter into the pan.
Step 4: Bake the donuts for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and wait a few minutes before turning them out of the pans onto a rack. let them cool.
To make the glaze: In a bowl, whisk together the sugar, melted butter, and heaving whipping cream. Divide the glaze into four bowls. Leave one bowl of glaze white and dye the other bowls of glaze to create a preferred color palette. By the spoonful, drop random scoops of glaze back into the main bowl. Use a knife to swirl the glaze gently.
To decorate the donuts: Dip each doughnut into the swirled glaze, placing it back on the cooling rack to set. Sprinkle with edible glitter and garnish with as many sprinkles as your unicorn heart desires. The doughnuts will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
11. No-Cook Rainbow Rolls
Who says that unicorns only eat sugar and sprinkles? While definitely a main staple in their diet, these No-Cook Rainbow Rolls are slices of heaven as Rachel found a way to pair jalapeños with strawberries! A task only the magical can do. And the sauce? Finger-licking good.
12. Rainbow Veggie Bowls
Ingredients (for the veggies):
- .5 cup grain of your choice (such as quinoa, or farro), cooked to package directions
- 1 cup of chopped kale
- 2 cups of olive oil
- 2 teaspoons of kosher salt
- 1 small candy stripe or golden beet, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 watermelon radish, thinly sliced
- .5 cup of yellow bell pepper, sliced into strips
- 1 large carrot, peeled and shaved into ribbons
Ingredients (for the dressing):
- .5 cup of Greek yogurt
- .25 cups of fresh italian parsley leaves, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons of water
- 1 peeled garlic clove
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
- .25 teaspoon of salt
- 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds or preferred spice blend
Step 1: Let the grains cool and set aside. In a bowl, massage kale, olive oil, and 1 teaspoon of salt with your hands.
Step 2: The kale should be soft and reduced by half in volume.
Step 3: Sprinkle the vegetables with the remaining salt. Divide the grains into two bowls and top with vegetables and edible flowers in a pretty pattern that shows off all the colorful veggies!
Step 4: For the dressing, blend Greek yogurt, parsley, water, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt into a blender until smooth. Drizzle onto grain bowls and sprinkle with sesame seeds or other preferred spice blend.
13. Magically No-Fail Sugar Cookies
The perfect plate to bring to your next office work party to add some much needed sparkle into the building, and maybe even some of your co-workers. While both festive and delicious, to put these cookies over the top (and give them the magic they deserve), pair with some themed sprinkles and shape them like, well... unicorns.
14. Unicorn Movie Mix
If you were the kid at the movies that would dump your M&Ms into your tub of popcorn, this recipe will be your ultimate go-to for any movie night. The perfect mix of salty and sweet with pops of color to bring a smile to anyone's face, it's clear this assortment was well thought out by Rachel to create the best explosion of flavor.
Now all that's left is to pick the perfect chick-flick to pair this Movie Mix to.
15. Rainbow Crudites Unicorn Dip
Not all the recipes in Rachel's Unicorn Food are loaded with sugar. In her Rainbow Crudites Unicorn Dip Plate, Rachel creates a plate full of color packed with our favorite veggies and a magical dip you'll want to dunk everything you've ever owned into.
Yes, it will become your next staple dipping sauce permanently residing in your refrigerator.
16. DIY Rainbow Pasta
Let's be honest, if someone is going to go through the process of making homemade pasta, it should at least be bright and colorful, right? In Rachel's DIY Rainbow Pasta recipe, she uses natural ingredients to dye her pasta and makes the process simple by avoiding the use of machinery and sticking to a simple rolling pin. These adorable bow-tie pasta shapes are perfect for a girl's night in or an impressive date night.
The recipe makes 1 pound of pasta, and takes around one hour to prep and 90 seconds to cook.
What you'll need: pasta maker or rolling pin, fluted pasta roller (optional)
Ingredients (for the pasta):
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoons of kosher salt
- 6 large eggs at room temperature
- 3 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
- *All natural food coloring (4 colors of your choice)
- *Semolina flour, for dusting
- *Sauce of your choice such as Marinara or simple melted butter or cheese.
Step 1: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and salt and make a well in the flour mixture. Crack the eggs into the well and whisk with a fork, gradually whisking in the flour until the dough just comes together.
Step 2: Turn the dough, out onto a clean floured surface. Knead the dough a few times and add the olive oil one teaspoon at a time, kneading after each addition, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Form a ball and cover it in plastic wrap. Let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
Step 3: Divide the dough into four pieces. Using gloves to protect your hands, smear 3-4 drops of one food color onto the top of one piece of dough. On a surface protected with a sheet of plastic, knead the color into the dough until smooth. Set the piece aside, and repeat with the remaining dough pieces.
Step 4: Using a pasta machine or rolling pin, roll the pasta into thin rectangular sheets to about 1/4-inch thickness. Dust each sheet with semolina and cut the pasta into 1.5 x 1 inch pieces. Use a fluted pasta cutter to decorate the edges.
Along the long side, pinch each rectangle in the middle firmly to make a bow-tie shape. (Alternatively, cut sheets into thin strips for noodle and dust with more semolina to keep separate.)
Step 5: Drop the pasta into rapidly boiling water and cook it for 90 seconds, using a long-handled strainer to drain. Toss in a sauce of your choice and enjoy!
17. Rainbow Swirl Bread
Everyone has that loaf of bread taking up residence in their kitchen cabinets, whether for making avocado toast, or a rainbow inspired grilled cheeses, why stick to the standard brown loaf when you can have rainbow-tastic break pieces.
The recipe makes 1 loaf of break, and takes around three hours to prep and cook.
Ingredients (for the bread):
- 3 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
- 1 packet (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
- 1 cup of whole milk at room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, softened.
- 2 teaspoons of kosher salt
- *Food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
Step 1: In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together flour, sugar, and yeast. Add the milk, egg, butter, and salt and stir to combine.
Step 2: If you are using a stand mixer, use the dough hook to knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic to the touch, about 5-8 minutes. If you don't have a stand mixer, stir the ingredients to combine and knead the dough on a clean floured surface and work it by hand until it is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
Set the dough in an oiled bowl and cover it with a tea towel. Let it ride in a warm, dark place for at least 45 minutes or until it has doubled in size
Step 3: Punch the dough down and cut it into six even pieces. On a plastic cutting board (or any surface you're willing to dye with food coloring), add a different color of food coloring (about 4-5 drops or so) to each ball of dough and knead it until the color is fully incorporated.
Use gloves to prevent your hands from staining; if you prefer, change the gloves between colors to prevent cross-contamination. After the color is consistent through the dough, place the balls of dough into six small separate bowls and cover to let rise for another hour.
Step 4: One at a time, remove each colored ball of dough and gentle roll it into an 8x4-inch rectangle about 1/2-inch thick. Stack the color rectangles on top of one another and roll the dough up into a log. Lightly grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and set the dough into the pan. Let is rise another 45 minutes or until it has doubled in size.
Step 5: Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the dough for 35 minutes or until it is lightly browned. Remove the loaf from the pan and let it cool completely on a rack.
18. Rainbow Smoothie Ideas
With all the delicious smoothie recipes in Unicorn Food, Rachel stepped it up a notch by providing her readers fun and inspiring recipes to make with your smoothies:
Rainbow Smoothie Popsicles
"Instead of glasses, pour the smoothies into 12 popsicle molds and freeze overnight or for at least 6 hours. To pack the protein, add a pinch of chia seeds or raw oats to the bottom of the molds for a complete breakfast."
Rainbow Smoothie Bowls
"Swirly layers of a smoothie into a bowl format and garnish with toppings such as shredded unsweetened coconut, chia seeds, balls of dragon fruit (or other colorful fruits), star fruit cutouts, and crumbled granola."
Elizabeth Blasi is a New Yorker. A lifestyle & travel writer, who is often seen with a suitcase in hand jetsetting to her next location. But as a true Digital Nomad, her love of writing and romance novels means her laptop is always beside her.
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