Easter Bunny Coconut Jelly (Printable Version)

Whimsical bunny-shaped cake adorned with shredded coconut fur and vibrant jelly bean decorations, perfect for festive gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
07 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
09 - 1 cup whole milk

→ Frosting

10 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - 2 to 4 tablespoons milk

→ Decorations

14 - 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
15 - 1 large pink jelly bean for tail
16 - 4 large white jelly beans for paws
17 - 4 small pink jelly beans for paw pads
18 - Pink food coloring, optional
19 - 2 mini chocolate chips or black jelly beans for eyes

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
05 - Alternately add the 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, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla and enough milk to reach a spreadable consistency.
09 - Cut one cake round in half to create two semicircles. Place the whole cake round on a serving platter to form the bunny's body. Stand the semicircles upright at one end to create the bunny's back and head.
10 - From the second cake, cut out two ear shapes and two paw shapes using a serrated knife. Attach ears and paws to the bunny body using frosting.
11 - Frost the entire cake generously with an offset spatula or butter knife.
12 - Press shredded coconut over the frosted cake to cover the surface and resemble bunny fur.
13 - Place the pink jelly bean for the tail and white and pink jelly beans on the paws for pads. Add mini chocolate chips or black jelly beans for eyes. Tint some coconut pink with food coloring for ear details if desired.
14 - Chill the decorated cake until ready to serve.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It's the kind of showstopper that looks impossibly fancy but actually comes together with basic cake-baking skills.
  • Kids become invested in decorating it, turning a baking project into a full family afternoon adventure.
  • The soft vanilla cake paired with silky frosting and fluffy coconut fur creates a texture experience that lingers.
02 -
  • Warm cake is impossible to sculpt—cooling completely is not optional, and the cake is actually sturdier cold and can hold more decorative weight.
  • Powdered sugar must be sifted for frosting or you'll end up with gritty, streaky results that feel sandy on your tongue.
  • Jelly beans lose their grip on slightly warm frosting, so wait until your frosting has been at room temperature for a few minutes and the cake is properly chilled before adding them.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are your secret weapon—they incorporate smoothly and create a lighter, more tender crumb than cold ingredients.
  • Using a serrated knife to cut cake pieces makes cleaner cuts than a chef's knife; the saw motion is gentler on delicate cake.
  • If the bunny starts to look lopsided, frosting is incredibly forgiving and can fill gaps and smooth imperfections like magic.
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