Kids love Easter and all the fun things that come with it, especially the Easter Bunny! And why not? The Easter Bunny is fun and cute and well, most importantly, comes when they’re having sweet dreams and leaves them an Easter basket full of goodies! So what could be more fun for them and Grandma to do together, than to create Easter Bunny cakes?

Your grandkids will love being the star of the Easter dinner with their homemade Easter Bunny Centerpieces that they created themselves, with a little help from Grandma. But these adorable cakes are not only an adorable centerpiece, they’re a delicious dessert. Imagine everyone’s surprise and oohs and ahhs as they cut into a colorful rainbow cake with all the appropriate Easter colors. But that was a little secret between the chefs, you and your grandkids. Nothing more bonding than sharing a fun secret.

And they’re easy to make with lots of creative options. You can make the cake any color or colors you choose, along with the icing, grass around the cake, coconut and ears. My granddaughters love the rainbow colors.

Most importantly, as with all creative things you do with your grandkids, do it together, not for them. It’s not your project. It’s theirs. You may think that pink is the perfect color for the cake, but let them make the decisions, as long as they’re safe and won’t alter the mechanics, even if they want bright red! They’ll be so proud of their creation. That’s what counts. Make it creative and fun for everyone. Always ask yourself, does it really matter. Red is a nice color for an Easter Bunny cake because, they will not only love it, they’ll always remember.

EASTER BUNNY CAKE RECIPE

(These instructions are for making two side by side bunnies on one display tray)

1 Box White Cake Mix (I prefer Duncan Hines)

Water, Vegetable Oil and Eggs called for on cake mix box

3-4 Cups Shredded Coconut

Food Coloring

Tray or cardboard covered with foil or plastic food wrap for display

Card Stock or Construction Paper (White or Pink) for ears

Jelly Beans in a variety of colors                                 

Black or red String Licorice

Make cake as directed on box. If you desire to color cake, add food color of your choice and mix well.  Pour batter into 2  9” cake pans. For Rainbow, divide white batter into four small bowls and color one bowl pink, one blue, one yellow and one green. Drop batter 1/8 cup at a time of each color into each pan to create rainbow effect. DO NOT STIR. Bake according to package instructions. Do not overbake cake. Remove from oven After 10 minutes, loosen cake around inside of pan with a table knife and carefully remove from pans. Allow them to cool.  

 

BUTTERCREAM ICING

1 Stick of soft butter (1/2 Cup)

1/2 Cup Shortening

7 Cups Powdered Sugar

5-6 Tablespoons of Milk (or enough to obtain correct consistency of icing)

2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla

Cream together the butter, shortening and powdered sugar using hand mixer on low speed until well blended. Add the milk a little at a time until you get the desired spreadable consistency. Add vanilla. Mix until completely blended. Do not get icing too thin.

FOR EARS: Cut card stock or construction paper in tall pointed ovals using templates included below. Color the centers of the ears with bright pink crayons or markers. The kids love to do this. You can get creative with edible glitter attaching with a think layer of egg white wash (in case any drops on the cake). Fold crease in center.

You will have two round cakes. Each one will make one bunny. When finished, the two bunnies will sit next to each other on the platter.

1. Cut each round cake in half down center. Turn the halves upright on cut edges.
2. Put the two halves of each round cake together side by side, spreading icing between them to make two bunny bodies. Spread a thin layer of icing on the display platter where the bunnies will sit to help hold them upright and place the bunny bodies on the tray.
3. About 1/3 of the way from the end that will be the bunny head, cut a notch about ½ in deep on each bunny. This will create the bunny neck.
4.  Generously spread icing to cover the bunnies.
5. Before the icing gets hard, apply the white coconut to both bunnies. If you desire a different color i.e. pink, mix food coloring with the coconut for the body then apply.
6. Place two black jelly beans on the front for the eyes and one pink jelly bean below them for the nose.
7. Cut six pieces of string licorice 2-3 inches long and put three on each side of the nose for the whiskers. Stick ears in notch behind head so they stand up straight.
8. In a glass bowl, mix remaining coconut with green food coloring for grass. Spread around base of bunnies.
9. Sprinkle grass with jelly beans around bunnies.
10. Use for beautiful Easter Dinner centerpiece and enjoy. Take lots of pictures.

 

TEMPLATE FOR BUNNY EARS.

Enlarge pattern to desired size on printer. We like our ears tall and a little exaggerated. Customize them and make them your own!

 

 

Hoppy Easter! Grandma Arvey