Easter Bunny Cake Recipe

The Hoppiest Easter Bunny Cake Recipe for Spring Joy

My grandma’s beloved easter bunny cake always brings smiles around our kitchen table.

Sweet memories flood back when I mix these classic ingredients together.

Kids absolutely adore decorating this playful dessert with colorful candies and frosting.

Pastel sprinkles make the cake look magical and festive for spring celebrations.

Soft, fluffy layers create the perfect bunny shape that delights everyone.

Marshmallows and coconut flakes add whimsical texture to this charming treat.

You’ll fall in love with how simple yet spectacular this recipe becomes.

Gather your mixing bowls and let’s create something delightful that will make everyone’s eyes light up!

How To Shape And Decorate Easter Bunny Cake Easily

Step 1: Prepare Baking Setup

Warm up the oven to a cozy 350°F. Grab two round cake pans and give them a light coating of grease and flour. This will help your cake slide out perfectly later.

Step 2: Mix Cake Batter

Whip up the cake mix using:
  • Water
  • Vegetable oil
  • Fresh eggs

Blend everything until smooth and creamy. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans, making sure they’re equally filled.

Step 3: Bake and Cool

Pop the pans into the oven for about 25-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean. Let the cakes rest in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Step 4: Create Bunny Shape

Place one cake layer as the bunny’s head on a large serving tray. Carefully slice the second cake into unique pieces:
  • Two curved ear shapes
  • A center piece for the bow tie

Arrange the ears above the head and position the bow tie underneath.

Step 5: Apply Crumb Coat

Spread a thin layer of frosting all over the cake. This helps trap any loose crumbs. Chill in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to set.

Step 6: Cover with Frosting

Generously spread a smooth layer of frosting over the entire bunny cake, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 7: Add Furry Texture

Sprinkle shredded coconut over the frosted cake to create a fluffy, furry appearance.

Step 8: Decorate Bunny Features

Create the bunny’s face using:
  • Jelly beans for eyes
  • Candy-coated chocolates for the nose
  • Red licorice strings for whiskers and mouth
  • Pink sprinkles or construction paper for ear details

Step 9: Create Grass Effect

Optional: Sprinkle green-tinted coconut around the base of the cake to mimic a grassy landscape.

Enjoy your adorable Easter Bunny Cake!

Helpful Tips For A Neat Easter Bunny Cake

  • Cake Mix Mastery: Choose a high-quality vanilla or white cake mix for the best flavor and texture, ensuring a delightful Easter bunny base.
  • Precision Cutting: Use a sharp knife and a steady hand when shaping the cake ears and bow tie, wiping the blade clean between cuts for smooth, even edges.
  • Frosting Finesse: Refrigerate the cake briefly after the crumb coat to set the initial layer, preventing crumbs from mixing into the final frosting application.
  • Coconut Creativity: Gently press shredded coconut onto the frosted cake to create a realistic fur-like appearance, using unsweetened coconut for a more natural look.
  • Decorative Detailing: Get creative with candy decorations, using different colored jellybeans or small candies to add personality to your bunny's face and create a whimsical Easter treat.

How To Store Easter Bunny Cake Without Ruining The Look

  • Refrigerate the Easter Bunny Cake in an airtight container to maintain its freshness for up to 3-4 days.
  • Place the cake on a flat surface inside the container to prevent shifting and damage to delicate decorations.
  • Keep the cake away from strong-smelling foods to preserve its original flavor.
  • When storing, loosely cover the cake with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent the frosting from drying out or absorbing other refrigerator odors.
  • Before serving leftover cake, let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to restore its soft texture and enhance the flavor.
  • If you want to extend the cake's shelf life, consider freezing individual slices wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 weeks.
  • Thaw frozen cake slices in the refrigerator overnight for the best taste and texture.

Tasty Pairings With Easter Bunny Cake

  • Pair with Pastel Milkshakes: Whip up delightful pastel-colored milkshakes using vanilla ice cream and food coloring to match the Easter bunny's playful theme. Soft pink, baby blue, and pale yellow shades will complement the cake's whimsical design and add a festive touch to your dessert experience.
  • Serve with Spring Berry Punch: Craft a refreshing berry punch combining strawberries, raspberries, and a splash of sparkling water. The light, fruity beverage will balance the cake's sweetness and provide a vibrant, seasonal drink that captures the essence of springtime.
  • Match with Carrot Cake Smoothies: Blend a creamy carrot cake smoothie using carrots, vanilla yogurt, cinnamon, and a touch of honey. This clever pairing plays on the bunny's carrot connection and offers a complementary flavor profile that enhances the overall Easter dessert celebration.
  • Offer Easter Mocktails: Create kid-friendly mocktails with sparkling apple juice, a hint of grenadine, and decorated with marshmallow bunnies or colorful fruit skewers. These playful drinks will delight children and adults alike, adding an extra layer of festive fun to the Easter bunny cake experience.

Creative Ideas To Decorate Your Easter Bunny Cake Differently

  • Carrot Patch Bunny
  • Pastel Rainbow Bunny: Create a soft, colorful version by tinting the frosting in gentle pastel shades like lavender, mint green, and baby blue. Use edible pearl sprinkles for a delicate shimmer and swap traditional decorations with colorful candy melts for eyes and nose.
  • Chocolate Lover's Bunny: Replace white frosting with rich chocolate buttercream. Coat the cake in chocolate shavings instead of coconut, and use dark and white chocolate chips to create intricate facial features. Add chocolate-covered almonds as accent details around the cake.
  • Berry Bunny Blast: Incorporate fresh berries into the decoration by adding sliced strawberries and blueberries around the cake. Use berry-flavored frosting and garnish with edible flowers for a fresh, spring-inspired look.

Answers To FAQs About Easter Bunny Cake

  • How difficult is this Easter Bunny Cake to make?

The cake is moderately easy and perfect for beginner bakers. The recipe uses a cake mix, which simplifies the process, and the shaping and decorating steps are straightforward and fun for all ages.

  • Can I use homemade cake instead of a boxed mix?

Absolutely! You can substitute the cake mix with your favorite homemade cake recipe. Just ensure you prepare enough batter to fill two 8-inch round pans and adjust baking time accordingly.

  • What if I don't have coconut for the fur?

No worries! You can use white frosting with texture or white sprinkles to create a similar fluffy effect. Alternatively, you can pipe frosting in a textured pattern to mimic fur.

  • Is this cake suitable for children to help decorate?

Yes, this cake is perfect for a family activity. Kids can help with placing candies for eyes and nose, arranging the licorice whiskers, and sprinkling coconut or decorative elements, making it a fun Easter project.

Why Easter Bunny Cake Is The Cutest Dessert On The Table

  • Create a Festive Easter Centerpiece: Transform an ordinary cake into a charming bunny-shaped dessert that becomes the star of your holiday table, delighting both kids and adults with its adorable design.
  • Master Simple Cake Sculpting: Learn an easy cake-shaping technique that turns basic round cakes into a cute bunny without requiring advanced baking skills, making it perfect for home bakers of all levels.
  • Enjoy Quick and Fun Decorating: Decorate the cake using everyday ingredients like coconut, jelly beans, and licorice, creating a whimsical treat that allows creativity and personal touches without complicated techniques.
  • Craft a Kid-Friendly Baking Project: Engage children in cake decorating by letting them help sprinkle coconut, place candy eyes, and create the bunny's facial features, turning baking into a memorable family activity.

Ingredients You’ll Need For Easter Bunny Cake

Cake Base Ingredients:
  • Yellow Cake Mix: A quick and easy base for the Easter bunny cake, providing a soft and sweet foundation.
  • Water: Helps blend the cake mix ingredients smoothly.
  • Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture and helps create a tender cake texture.
  • Eggs: Provides structure and richness to the cake batter.
Frosting and Decoration Ingredients:
  • White Frosting: Smooth, creamy covering that creates the bunny's fur-like appearance.
  • Shredded Coconut: Adds a fluffy, textured look resembling bunny fur.
  • Jelly Beans or Candy-Coated Chocolates: Colorful accents for creating bunny eyes and nose.
  • Red Licorice Strings: Perfect for making whiskers and mouth details.
Decorative Accent Ingredients:
  • Pink Sprinkles or Construction Paper: Soft color for adding detail to bunny ears.
  • Green-Tinted Coconut: Optional grass-like decoration around the cake base.
Print
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Easter Bunny Cake Recipe

Easter Bunny Cake Recipe


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4.9 from 25 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Sweet Easter memories come alive with this adorable Easter Bunny Cake, perfect for family gatherings. Delightful layers of moist cake, fluffy frosting, and playful decorations create a whimsical centerpiece you’ll cherish.


Ingredients

Scale

Cake Base:

  • 1 box (15.25 ounces / 432 grams) white or vanilla cake mix
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) water
  • ½ cup (120 milliliters) vegetable oil

Frosting and Coating:

  • 2 cups (16 ounces / 454 grams) vanilla frosting
  • 1 ½ cups (120 grams) sweetened shredded coconut

Decorative Elements:

  • Jelly beans
  • Candy-coated chocolates
  • Red licorice strings
  • Pink construction paper or pink sprinkles
  • Optional: Green-tinted coconut or green sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Prepare the baking vessel by coating two 8-inch circular pans with grease and flour. Whisk together cake mix ingredients following package guidelines, ensuring smooth incorporation of liquid and egg components. Distribute batter uniformly across prepared pans, maintaining equal volume.
  2. Slide pans into a preheated 350F (175C) oven. Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, monitoring doneness by inserting a clean toothpick into the cake’s center. Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
  3. Position one cake layer centrally on a spacious serving platter, establishing the bunny’s foundational head shape. Strategically slice the second cake layer, creating distinctive ear and bow tie configurations. Carve two gently curved ear sections from outer cake edges, preserving the central portion for the bow tie.
  4. Meticulously apply an initial thin frosting layer, sealing cake crumbs and creating a smooth base. Refrigerate briefly to stabilize the initial coating. Generously spread a uniform frosting layer, completely enveloping the cake’s surface.
  5. Transform the cake’s appearance by sprinkling shredded coconut, generating a soft, furry texture. Enhance facial features using jelly beans or candy-coated chocolates for eyes and nose. Craft delicate whiskers and mouth using slender red licorice strands.
  6. Elevate the aesthetic by adding pink-tinted coconut or sprinkles to ear regions. Optional: scatter green-tinted coconut around the cake’s base, simulating a verdant landscape. Carefully arrange decorative elements to capture playful bunny characteristics.

Notes

  • Prep in Advance: Bake cake layers a day ahead and store wrapped in plastic to prevent drying out, ensuring maximum moisture and easier decorating process.
  • Smooth Frosting Technique: Use an offset spatula or bench scraper for even, clean frosting application, rotating the cake stand while creating smooth surfaces.
  • Coconut Coverage: Gently press shredded coconut onto frosting to create an even, fluffy fur-like texture without leaving bare spots.
  • Allergy-Friendly Modifications: Swap traditional cake mix for gluten-free or dairy-free alternatives, using applesauce or mashed banana as egg replacements for dietary restrictions.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 380
  • Sugar: 34 g
  • Sodium: 350 mg
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 51 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 40 mg
Emily Morgan

Emily Morgan

Food Critic & Kitchen Tips Specialist

Expertise

Global Food Exploration & Critique, Simple Kitchen Hacks & Time-Saving Tips, Presentation & Plating Techniques, Culinary Research & Storytelling.

Education

New York University

  • Program: Bachelor’s in Journalism
  • Focus: Combined foundational journalism training with deep dives into global food traditions, restaurant criticism, and the cultural role of cuisine.

Emily Morgan has journeyed across the globe, collecting culinary secrets that turn everyday ingredients into impressive meals.

Based in Seattle and armed with a Journalism degree from NYU, she blends thorough research with a flair for presentation, ensuring every dish looks just as good as it tastes.

Focusing on fresh flavors, simple methods, and a bit of fun, Emily shows home cooks how to elevate their daily cooking without fancy gadgets or complex steps.

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