The Bunny Cake

Easter traditions at my house included colored eggs, candy and a bunny cake. When you are in a family with 7 kids, candy is not hidden in the yard but put equally in baskets. Besides in Minnesota "the yard" could still be covered with snow! Getting candy on Easter was a treat because we didn't often get candy. We had plenty of sugar in the form of cakes, cookies and bars but candy was special. One year I remember going to visit cousins in the Twin Cities where we had an "Egg Hunt." There was more candy than I had ever seen and four decades later I can still remember every detail of that day. Thank you Aunt Betty for that special memory.

Here are the directions so you can add a Bunny Cake to your Easter traditions.  I use a chocolate cake mix  since I love the combination of coconut and chocolate but any flavor will work.

Bunny Cake		Skill Level: Easy, but messy
Cake: Chocolate Cake Mix (or flavor of your choice) Oil Water Eggs 1 box instant chocolate pudding (or flavor to match cake) Make a cake mix according to the directions on the box except add a box of instant pudding powder. Line 2- 9 inch round pans with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray. Bake as directed on the box, cool 10 minutes then turn over on a cooling rack to finish cooling.  Cut 1 cake into 2 ears and a bow as shown in the picture. Freeze the cake to make it easier to frost. I always freeze my cakes because I think cake tastes better when it has been frozen and frosted before it thaws.
Frosting: (Canned frosting can save time and covered with coconut no one will know)
1/2 c. 1/2 c.	Crisco Shortening Butter (softened at room temperature)
2 tsp.	Vanilla (clear if possible)
4 c.	Powdered Sugar
3 TBSP	Milk or Cream

Beat shortening, butter and vanilla on high for 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar and continuing beating until blended then add milk. Additional milk or powdered sugar can be added so frosting is the right consistency.

Colored coconut: 
Divide 1 cup coconut  between 2 disposable bags. Put 2 drops of food coloring in one bag for the center of the ears. Close and squish the bag until the coconut is colored. Add more coloring until you get the color you like. Do the same with the other bag using green coloring to create the grass. You can use another color of coconut for the bow or use colored frosting so there are some pieces for those who don't like coconut.

To Assemble:
Remove bunny from the freezer and frost the head and sprinkle the sides and top with coconut. Next, frost sides of ears, add coconut and add to the head. When ears are in place, frost the top of ears, put colored in center then finish with white coconut.

Do these same steps for the bow if you are using colored coconut. If you are using frosting, tint your icing and frost the bow either by spreading the frosting or using a star tip and a decorator's bag.

After a few jelly beans, some licorice whiskers and green coconut grass your bunny is complete.

Happy Easter!