Easter Bunny Cake | Continuing Granny's Tradition | Coconut Cake

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We could always depend on what was going to come out of Granny's kitchen - spaghetti and meatballs any day of the week, shrimp dip on Christmas Eve, fried mushrooms during mushroom season, fried donuts on Saturday mornings and the infamous Bunny Cake on Easter.  Easter wasn't Easter without the Bunny Cake.  As I look back on the Bunny Cake, I can remember thinking it was amazing when I was really young.  We were fascinated by anything in the "cake decorating" realm and I loved seeing it come together in person.  

Making Sugar Cookies each season is another family tradition we have.  This Spring, we'll be using these Copper Cookie cutters to make this collection of Chicks, Bunnies, Birds & Eggs - love these! 

These cookie cutters are extra special, as they are made from copper - the most traditional metal for cutters.  They are a truly heirloom quality cutter that can be passed down for generations.  I love collecting copper cutters - and I love thinking that Emma will be using them with her kids and grandkids as they make holiday memories as I did with my Mom and Sister. 

For more Spring and Easter baking projects, decorating and gift ideas, visit my Spring Entertaining Guide. (and...enjoy Free Shipping Friday in my store today!  Use code FreeFriday at checkout!) 

Back to the bunny cake... we never really ate the cake - none of the kids liked coconut and my Mom's cream pies piled with meringue tended to distract us.  None-the-less, the Bunny Cake always showed up and we always got a kick out of it.  She presented hers similarly, in a basket with fake green Easter "grass" surrounded by cupcakes topped with jelly beans.  

I also put mine in a basked, but instead of the "grass" I used Spanish Moss ($12) for a more natural looking bunny - you can buy in my store here.  Granny was better than me - I forgot to only make one 8-inch cake and bake the rest of the batter as cupcakes... I made two cakes and ended up with two bunnies.  I guess it really is true what they say about bunnies...

Coconut
Bunny Cake

Get my Printable Recipes, here.

3 sticks of butter, softened

2 1/2 cups sugar
6 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup milk
4 ounces sweetened shredded coconut
...
Parchment Paper (can buy here)

...

Cream Cheese Icing

Coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Cream together butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.

In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking powder, soda, salt and coconut.  Add it to the butter mixture a little at a time alternating with the milk.  End with adding flour coconut mixture.  Do not over mix.

I line my baking pans (and cookie sheets, and everything...) with parchment paper that I cut to fit.

Bake the cake for 30 minutes and cupcakes for 15.

See cream cheese icing recipe below.

 

 

I made a base for the cake to sit on by wrapping a piece of cardboard in parchment paper.  You can use wrapping paper, printer paper or foil... whatever you have.

Cream Cheese Icing

2 sticks of butter, softened
1 block of cream cheese, softened
1 pound of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1/4 cup of milk

Cream together butter and cream cheese.  Add powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.  Stir together until creamy - do not whip. 

I put a smear of frosting on the base to help the cake stick.

 

Cut a notch out of the top to form the head.  Use part of the scrap to create a little tail.

Cover the bunny in icing.  You may need to put it in the refrigerator then add a second coat if you like a lot of icing like me.

 Cover the outside with flaked coconut.  I put some of my Spanish Moss, $12 around the bunny to give it some natural texture and life.
 

I created the little ears by cutting them out of textured cardstock and painting pink centers with Emma's watercolor paints.  Granny used good ol' fashioned pink construction paper.

I added a little pink nose, too, but kept the bunny blank... I like just the nose and ears.  Too much decor takes away from the simplicity of it.

The Bunny Lives on!   Both of them.

The eggs came from my Mom's friends' farm - I've been saving them just for this.  It will make a great centerpiece for our Easter dinner!

Here are some of my favorite Spring projects so far : 

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

Products used :

6" Celebration Candles in Lemon Curd
Jumbo Starburst Tip
18" Disposable Piping Bag
Brown Cupcake Liners

Spring Copper Cookie Cutters, $15

Cookie Cutters have become my new favorite item to think about for each season of the store.  For years, I've always looked forward to decorating cookies each season, now I look forward to being able to share that tradition with all of my readers.  

For more Spring and Easter baking projects, decorating and gift ideas, visit my Spring Entertaining Guide. 

Here is the easy-to-pin strip!