Easy Bunny Cake Tutorial: How to make an adorable, woodland-themed bunny cake in 10 easy steps. Includes gluten-free options.

A Modern Take on an Old School Cake

As I brainstormed Easter themed desserts to make with G this year, an adorable bunny cake my mom used to make came to mind. It had coconut “fur”, jelly bean eyes, licorice whiskers and a big bow tie. I’m pretty sure red hots were even incorporated somehow. My six-year-old self thought it was the best . thing . ever.  The cake tutorial I’m sharing today is based on that cake from the 1980’s, but with a simplified, woodland theme inspired look.

Why This Bunny Cake is the Best

You don’t need any special molds or bunny shaped pans to make this cake! I like specialty molds, but I don’t have room in my kitchen to store something I’ll only use once a year. As cute as this cake is, I really only plan to make it for Easter. So, I love that I can use two 9-Inch round cake pans, which I already own.

Another plus: You can use any kind of cake you want! Whip up a quick cake from a boxed mix, or make a cake from scratch. Use whatever kind of cake appeals to you! I was in a hurry, so I used a box of gluten-free cake mix. Next time, I plan to use homemade carrot cake and cream cheese frosting.

Easy Bunny Cake Tutorial

What you need:

• Two 9-inch cake pans (I love these nonstick pans)
• Cake batter (from a box or from scratch)
• 1 can of icing (or icing from scratch)
• 1 (7 oz) bag sweetened coconut flakes
• red food coloring
• 2 chocolate chips or berries
• 1 mason jar lid or empty, clean, tin can
• 1 zip top plastic bag

Steps:

1. Fill two 9-inch cake pans with batter and bake until done. Allow to cool.
2. Carefully cut one layer of cake as pictured: 
3. Remove outer edges of cut layer and place at the top of the remaining layer of cake to make “ears”. Reserve the center to make a bow (optional), or discard.
4. Trim away about two inches from bottom of each ear, cutting on a curve.
5. Place the cake on a serving tray (we used our Pioneer Woman Acacia Wood Cutting Board) and then ice with white frosting.
6. Place 1 cup coconut in a zip top bag. Then, add two to three drops red food coloring and shake until coconut is pink.
7. Use a mason jar lid or tin can to make cheeks.  To use a mason jar lid: Remove the center disk, leaving the rim. Lay on cake and sprinkle pink coconut into center, patting lightly in place before removing lid. Repeat on opposite side of cake. To use a can: Clean an empty tin can and remove the bottom of the can using a can opener. Place on cake and sprinkle coconut into the can. Use the back of a spoon to lightly pat coconut into place.
8. Add nose, the pink center to the ears, and eyes.  Nose: Place a pinch of pink coconut on the cake and shape it into an upside down triangle. Ears: Place pink coconut in center of ear and spread until about two inches of white remain around the edge. Eyes: Turn two chocolate chips upside down and press into the cake.
9. Add white coconut. Sprinkle it over the remaining frosting, being careful not to cover the pink. Lightly pat into place as needed.
10. Optional: Add a bow. The original cake I based this on used the center piece of the layer that the ears were cut from to make a large bow tie like this:I decided to skip the bow-tie, but added on an optional mini bow. I cut a small bow shape out of the excess cake, covered it with icing and then added some blue food coloring to the leftover pink coconut to make purple. I covered the bow in purple and popped it on the bunny’s head to make a girl bunny. For a boy bunny, it makes a cute little bow tie below the face.

And that’s it, an adorable bunny cake, perfect for Easter or woodland animal themed parties!

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Oh, and if you happen to have something against coconut (like my husband), you can substitute white and pink sprinkles for the coconut!

Planning to make this cake? I’d love to see! Upload a picture to instagram or Facebook and tag @mypennywiselife.