Sparkle Easter Bunny Cake (Print Version)

Moist vanilla cake shaped as a bunny, frosted with buttercream and decorated with gold sprinkles.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Cake

01 - 2½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk

→ For the Buttercream Frosting

09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 2 to 3 tablespoons whole milk
12 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt

→ For Decoration

14 - 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
15 - Pink gel food coloring
16 - 2 large marshmallows
17 - 2 mini marshmallows
18 - Black licorice laces or black gel icing
19 - Gold sprinkles

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks and cool completely.
08 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt. Beat until fluffy and smooth.
09 - Place one cake round as the bunny's face. Cut two ovals from the second round for ears and use the remaining piece for the bowtie. Arrange on a large platter to form the bunny silhouette.
10 - Frost entire cake assembly with a thin layer of buttercream, chill for 20 minutes, then apply a thick, even layer of frosting.
11 - Press shredded coconut onto the frosted areas to resemble fur texture.
12 - Tint a small amount of coconut with pink food coloring. Arrange tinted coconut on inner ears and nose area.
13 - Use marshmallows for cheeks and teeth. Apply black licorice laces or gel icing for whiskers and eyes.
14 - Decorate entire cake with gold sprinkles for a sparkling festive finish.
15 - Slice and serve immediately or store for later enjoyment.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's genuinely impressive to look at but doesn't require fancy cake decorating skills, just patience and a sense of play.
  • The vanilla cake itself is incredibly moist and tender, the kind that stays soft for days and tastes even better on day two.
  • Kids and adults alike feel like they're eating edible art, which somehow makes dessert taste better than usual.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable for a fluffy, well-incorporated batter, so plan ahead and don't rush this step.
  • The crumb coat isn't extra work, it's the difference between a professional-looking cake and one that looks crumbly and rough, so don't skip it even though you're eager to decorate.
03 -
  • If you're making this ahead, bake the cakes the day before and store them wrapped at room temperature, then frost and decorate the day of for the freshest presentation.
  • A thin, offset spatula is worth the investment if you're making this cake more than once, because it makes frosting smooth surfaces so much easier and more satisfying.
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