Bunny Cake Easter Spring Centerpiece (Printable Version)
Moist vanilla cake shaped into an adorable bunny with buttercream frosting and coconut decoration.
# What You Need:
→ Cake
01 - 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 3 large eggs
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
→ Frosting
10 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2–3 tablespoons milk
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - Pinch of salt
→ Decoration
15 - 2 cups shredded sweetened coconut
16 - Pink food coloring
17 - Jelly beans or mini candies for nose and eyes
18 - Pink and white fondant or marshmallows for ears
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
04 - Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to the creamed mixture, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 22–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
06 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
07 - Beat butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and enough milk to achieve a spreadable consistency.
08 - Leave one cake round whole for the bunny's face. Cut the second round into two equal ovals for the ears, and the remaining center into a bow tie shape.
09 - Arrange the face, ears, and bow tie on a large serving tray.
10 - Spread a thin layer of frosting over the entire cake pieces. Chill for 20 minutes.
11 - Frost the cake fully and press shredded coconut over the entire surface for fur.
12 - Tint a small amount of coconut with a drop of pink food coloring for the inner ears. Gently press onto the ear sections.
13 - Use fondant or marshmallows for ears, and place candies for the nose, eyes, and any other decorations as desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The moist vanilla crumb tastes like childhood birthday parties but better because you made it yourself
- Watching the bunny come together piece by piece feels more like craft time than baking
02 -
- Chilling the crumb-coated cake for 20 minutes prevents the coconut from sliding off and keeps the frosting neat
- Working quickly when pressing on the coconut while the frosting is still slightly tacky helps it adhere better
03 -
- Use an offset spatula for the smoothest frosting application and most precise coconut placement
- Place your serving tray on a turntable or lazy Susan makes decorating all sides much easier