Easter Bunny Cake Coconut Frosting (Printable Version)

Vanilla cake with fluffy coconut frosting shaped like an Easter bunny, perfect for spring.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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
07 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk

→ Coconut Frosting

09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - ¼ cup whole milk
12 - 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
13 - 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut

→ Decoration

14 - Pink food coloring
15 - Jelly beans or candy-coated chocolate eggs
16 - Licorice strings
17 - Mini marshmallows
18 - Black edible gel or chocolate chips

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, beating thoroughly 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 and smooth the tops.
07 - Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
08 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract, beating until light and fluffy.
09 - Reserve ½ cup frosting in a separate bowl and tint with pink food coloring for bunny ears and nose.
10 - Cut one cooled round cake to form bunny ears and bow tie. Arrange on a large board: one round cake for the face, two ear shapes positioned above, and bow tie below.
11 - Spread a thin layer of white frosting over the entire assembled cake structure. Chill for 15 minutes.
12 - Apply remaining white frosting generously over all cake surfaces. Press shredded coconut firmly over frosted areas for a fluffy effect.
13 - Use pink-tinted frosting to fill inner ears and nose. Place jelly beans or candies for eyes, chocolate chips or gel for nose, licorice strings for whiskers, and mini marshmallows for cheeks and tail.
14 - Present and serve the Easter Bunny cake to guests.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like showstopper magic but actually comes together with two simple vanilla cake layers and basic frosting techniques.
  • The coconut frosting tastes like a cloud, and kids get genuinely excited when they see the bunny shape on the table.
  • You can prep the cakes a day ahead, which means the morning-of stress disappears completely.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable; if your butter is cold or your eggs come straight from the fridge, they won't blend properly and you'll end up with a grainy, uneven crumb that disappoints.
  • Don't skip the crumb coat; it transforms a messy-looking frosted cake into one that looks intentional and polished, which is half the magic.
03 -
  • Use parchment paper to line the bottom of your cake pans in addition to greasing and flouring; this guarantees your cakes release perfectly every single time.
  • If the pink frosting looks too bright, add a tiny pinch more white frosting to soften it and make it look more natural and less artificially colored.
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