Ingredients:

  • 2.5 cups All-purpose flour (315g)
  • 1.5 cups Granulated sugar (300g)
  • 1 tbsp Baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp Salt
  • 0.75 cup Unsalted butter, softened (170g)
  • 3 Large eggs
  • 1 cup Whole milk (240ml)
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla extract
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter, softened (225g) for frosting
  • 4 cups Powdered sugar, sifted (500g)
  • 3 tbsp Heavy cream
  • 1 tsp Vanilla bean paste
  • 2 cups Sweetened shredded coconut
  • Pink jelly beans
  • Black licorice strings
  • Marshmallows or pink construction paper for ears

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Cream the 0.75 cup butter and 1.5 cups sugar until pale and fluffy, which usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the 3 eggs one at a time. Alternately add the 2.5 cups flour (mixed with baking powder and salt) and the 1 cup milk. Divide into two greased 8 inch pans. Bake 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and the edges pull away slightly.
  2. Let the cakes cool completely on a wire rack. Take one whole cake — this is the bunny head. Place it on your platter. Take the second cake and cut two convex ear shapes from the sides, leaving a bow tie shape in the middle.
  3. Place the whole round cake in the center of your board. Position the two ear pieces at the top of the head. Place the bow tie piece at the bottom of the head. Use a small amount of the buttercream (made from the 1 cup butter, 4 cups powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla) to glue these pieces together. Press them firmly so they don't shift.
  4. Cover the entire surface of the bunny with a generous layer of buttercream. Don't worry about it being perfectly smooth; the coconut will hide everything. Immediately toss the 2 cups shredded coconut over the top and sides. Press the coconut gently with your palms so it sticks into the velvety frosting.
  5. Slice the marshmallows diagonally to create long ear shapes and place them on the cake ears. Use pink jelly beans for the nose and eyes. Carefully press the black licorice strings into the frosting around the nose to create whiskers. If you want to get fancy, you can use the leftover frosting to pipe a little pink bow on the bow tie piece.