Easter Bunny Cake Surprise (Printable)

Festive bunny-shaped cake with a colorful hidden sprinkle center, ideal for holiday gatherings.

# Components:

→ Cake

01 - 3 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 vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk

→ Hidden Sprinkle Center

09 - 1 cup assorted sprinkles

→ Buttercream Frosting

10 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 4 cups powdered sugar
12 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
13 - 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
14 - Pink food coloring, optional

→ Decoration

15 - Shredded coconut for bunny fur, optional
16 - Candy eyes
17 - Pink jelly beans or pink candy for nose
18 - Marshmallows for tail and ears, optional

# 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, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans.
07 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Once cool, level cakes if necessary. Using a 3-inch round cutter, cut a hole in the center of one cake layer.
10 - Place intact cake layer on serving plate. Spread thin layer of buttercream on top. Position cake layer with hole on top. Fill hole with sprinkles. Place cake cutout on top to seal.
11 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla extract and milk. Continue beating until fluffy and spreadable.
12 - Frost entire cake with buttercream. Use one round layer as bunny face. Cut remaining round into ears and bowtie shapes. Arrange all pieces on large serving board to form bunny silhouette.
13 - Decorate with shredded coconut for fur texture, candy eyes, pink frosting or candy for nose and inner ears, and marshmallows for tail. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The hidden sprinkle center creates a magical moment when guests discover the surprise with every slice.
  • Kids feel like they're part of the magic—decorating becomes playtime, not a chore.
  • It looks fancy and impressive, but the actual technique is forgiving enough for a first-time cake decorator.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the cakes completely or your frosting will melt off like it's made of shame—I learned this the hard way with a sliding disaster.
  • The round cutter size matters because a hole that's too small won't hold enough sprinkles to create that magical reveal moment.
  • Gel food coloring beats liquid coloring for creating vivid pink ears because liquid coloring adds moisture that can throw off your frosting consistency.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients mix more smoothly and create a better texture, so pull eggs, butter, and milk out 30 minutes before you start.
  • If your buttercream looks too soft after you add frosting, pop it (and the cake) in the fridge for 15 minutes to firm up—patience here prevents a melting disaster.
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