Whimsical Bunny Shaped Cake (Printable)

A festive vanilla cake shaped like an adorable bunny with coconut fur and buttercream frosting.

# What You'll 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
18 - Pink and white fondant or marshmallows

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy in a large bowl. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
04 - Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to creamed mixture, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 22-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in 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 spreadable consistency.
08 - Leave one cake round whole for the face. Cut the second round into two equal ovals for ears, and 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 entire cake pieces. Chill for 20 minutes.
11 - Frost cake fully and press shredded coconut over entire surface for fur.
12 - Tint small amount of coconut with pink food coloring for inner ears. Gently press onto ear sections.
13 - Use fondant or marshmallows for ears, and place candies for nose, eyes, and other decorations as desired.
14 - Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerated for up to 4 days.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Its the kind of dessert that makes people pause and smile before they even take a bite
  • The coconut covered frosting creates the perfect fluffy texture that mimics real bunny fur
  • You can let kids help with the decorating and make memories together
02 -
  • Warm cake will cause the coconut to slide off so let the layers cool completely before frosting
  • The crumb coat might seem like an extra step but it prevents coconut from sticking to bare cake spots
  • Pink food coloring is incredibly potent so start with the tiniest drop you can possibly make
03 -
  • Use an offset spatula for smooth frosting and to press coconut into hard to reach spots
  • If fondant ears wont stand up, insert a toothpick into the cake first for support

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