Whimsical Festive Bunny Shaped Cake (Printable)

Whimsical vanilla cake shaped like an adorable bunny, covered in coconut and decorated for festive occasions.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake Components

01 - 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 3 large eggs
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Buttercream Frosting

10 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2–3 tablespoons milk
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - Pinch of salt

→ Decorations

15 - 2 cups shredded sweetened coconut
16 - Pink food coloring
17 - Jelly beans or mini candies
18 - Pink and white fondant or marshmallows

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
04 - Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just incorporated.
05 - Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake 22–25 minutes until toothpick inserted in center emerges clean.
06 - Let cakes rest in pans 10 minutes, then invert onto wire racks to cool completely.
07 - Beat butter until smooth. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and sufficient milk to achieve spreadable consistency.
08 - Keep one cake round intact for face. Cut second round into two equal ovals for ears and remaining center into bow tie shape.
09 - Position face, ears, and bow tie on large serving tray.
10 - Spread thin frosting layer over cake pieces. Refrigerate 20 minutes to set.
11 - Frost cake completely and press shredded coconut over surface for fur. Tint small coconut amount with pink coloring for inner ears.
12 - Use fondant or marshmallows for ears. Place candies for nose, eyes, and additional decorations as desired.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • The coconut trick makes even messy frosting look intentionally fluffy and adorable
  • Kids light up when they see the bunny face appear on the serving platter
  • You do not need fancy decorating skills to create something genuinely charming
02 -
  • The cake must be completely cool before cutting or it will crumble and tear apart
  • A chilled crumb coat is the secret to keeping coconut from sliding off the frosting
  • Fondant ears work better than marshmallows for standing up straight all day
03 -
  • Toast half the coconut for a two tone fur effect that looks extra fluffy
  • Use licorice strips for whiskers that stay in place better than drawn lines