Whimsical Festive Bunny Shaped Cake (Print View)

Whimsical vanilla cake shaped like an adorable bunny, coated in buttercream and coconut with candy decorations.

# 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
18 - Pink and white fondant or marshmallows

# How to Make It:

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. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
04 - Alternate adding flour mixture and milk, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
05 - Divide batter between pans. Bake 22-25 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
06 - Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn onto wire racks to cool completely.
07 - Beat butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and milk to achieve spreadable consistency.
08 - Leave one cake whole for face. Cut second cake into two ovals for ears and center into bow tie.
09 - Arrange face, ears, and bow tie on large serving tray.
10 - Spread thin layer of frosting over cake pieces. Chill 20 minutes.
11 - Frost cake completely and press shredded coconut over entire surface.
12 - Tint small amount of coconut with pink coloring. Press onto ear sections.
13 - Use fondant or marshmallows for ears, candies for nose, eyes, and other decorations.
14 - Store covered at room temperature up to 2 days or refrigerated up to 4 days.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • This vanilla buttercream is so luscious you will catch yourself eating it straight from the bowl
  • The coconut covering forgives all sorts of decorating imperfections so your bunny looks professionally adorable
02 -
  • Cutting the second cake into ears and bow tie feels wrong but trust the process, it all comes together beautifully
  • That crumb coat step might feel like extra work but it makes the final coconut covering look clean and professional
03 -
  • Chill your coconut covered cake for 15 minutes before adding the final candy decorations, this prevents them from sliding
  • Toast a handful of coconut for bow tie dimension, the contrast between fluffy and toasted coconut looks stunning

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