Sparkle Easter Bunny Cake (Printable)

Moist vanilla cake shaped like a bunny with buttercream and shimmering gold sprinkles.

# Components:

→ 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

# Directions:

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 or 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 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 shape.
10 - Frost entire cake with a thin layer, chill for 20 minutes, then apply a thick, even layer of buttercream.
11 - Press shredded coconut onto the frosted areas to create fur texture.
12 - Tint a small amount of coconut with pink food coloring for the inner ears and nose. Arrange accordingly on the bunny.
13 - Use marshmallows for cheeks and teeth. Apply black licorice laces or gel for whiskers and eyes.
14 - Decorate with gold sprinkles for a sparkling finish.
15 - Serve and enjoy the festive Easter bunny cake.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The vanilla cake stays impossibly moist and doesn't dry out even after a few days, which is a quiet relief when you're juggling holiday prep.
  • It's a showstopper that actually tastes like something worth eating, not just a cute novelty that disappoints.
  • You get to be creative with the decorating without needing professional skills—wonky whiskers add charm, not embarrassment.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients aren't a suggestion—they're the difference between a tender cake and one that's oddly dense or doesn't rise evenly in the oven.
  • The crumb coat step feels like extra work but saves your final look by creating a clean foundation that keeps decorative elements from sliding around.
  • This cake actually tastes better after sitting overnight, as the flavors settle and the crumb becomes even more tender.
03 -
  • If your decorative coconut keeps sliding off, apply the buttercream in thicker patches and press the coconut on immediately while it's still sticky—the timing matters more than precision.
  • Marshmallows stay in place better if you use a tiny dab of buttercream as adhesive, and black gel icing is more forgiving than licorice laces if you're not confident with fine detail work.
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