Easter Bunny Cake
Jump into spring with this playful cake—the perfect centerpiece for your Easter table—which is easily assembled using our exclusive bunny-shaped pan and Bundt cake mix.
Ingredients:
For the cake:
- 3 cups (15 oz./470 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 18 Tbs. (2 1/4 sticks) (9 oz./280 g) unsalted butter
- 1 2/3 cups (13 oz./410 g) granulated sugar
- 4 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups (10 fl. oz./310 ml) milk
For the buttercream frosting:
- 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup (3 oz./90 g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 1 1/2 tsp. milk
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
Directions:
Have all the ingredients at room temperature. Position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 325°F (165°C). Grease and flour all 4 wells of an Easter bunny cake pan; tap out excess flour.
Over a sheet of waxed paper, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 30 seconds. Add the sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the eggs a little at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla just until incorporated, about 1 minute.
Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour. Beat each addition just until incorporated, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, filling each well about 3/4 full, and spread the batter so the sides are slightly higher than the center. Bake until the cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Invert the pan onto the rack and lift off the pan. Let the cake cool completely, at least 2 hours, before assembling and decorating.
Meanwhile, prepare the buttercream frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the confectioners’ sugar, milk, vanilla and salt and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute more, stopping the mixer to scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.
To assemble the cake, return both halves of the bunny and both halves of the egg to the pan. Level all four cakes by using a serrated knife to gently saw off any portion of the cake that rose above the edge of the pan.
Remove the egg cakes from the pan; set aside. Remove one half of the bunny cake from the pan. Spread a thin layer of the buttercream frosting over the cut side of the cake half that is still in the pan. Place the first half, cut side down, on top of the half that is still in the pan, lining up the edges. Gently press down to secure the two halves. Cover the pan with the cake in it loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the buttercream is firm, about 1 hour.
Carefully unmold the bunny cake and place the bunny upright on a platter. If the cake is unstable, use a serrated knife to trim the bottom so it is level. Place the egg cakes alongside. Dust the three cakes with confectioners’ sugar immediately before serving. Serves 12 to 16.
Williams-Sonoma Test Kitchen
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$24.95
