Easter Bunny Cake Sprinkles (Printable)

A festive bunny-shaped cake featuring a hidden sprinkle center that's perfect for Easter celebrations.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 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 - 1 1/2 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

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla.
04 - Add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
06 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
07 - Once cool, level cakes if necessary. Using a 3-inch round cutter, cut a hole in the center of one cake layer.
08 - Place the intact cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a thin layer of buttercream, then top with the cake layer with the hole.
09 - Fill the hole with sprinkles. Place cake cut-out from the hole on top to seal.
10 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla and milk until fluffy and spreadable.
11 - Frost entire cake with buttercream. Cut one round for the face and cut the other round to make ears and a bowtie. Assemble on a large board in bunny shape.
12 - Decorate with coconut for fur, candy eyes, pink frosting or candies for nose and ears, and marshmallows for tail if desired.
13 - Chill for 30 minutes before serving to help set the frosting and surprise center.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Kids go absolutely wild when they discover the rainbow sprinkle surprise hiding inside.
  • It looks impressive and showstopping but is honestly way more forgiving than fancy cakes tend to be.
  • You can make it chocolate, vanilla, or even sneak in other flavors without breaking the bunny shape.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable—cold eggs and butter won't blend smoothly, leaving you with a grainy, dense cake instead of light and tender crumb.
  • Don't overmix the batter once you add flour, because that develops gluten and turns your cake tough and chewy like bread instead of tender and delicate.
  • The 3-inch cutter needs to go straight down and straight up to create clean edges for your sprinkle chamber; any twisting or wiggling creates rough walls that crack.
  • Pink gel coloring is stronger than liquid food coloring, so start with just a tiny drop or your frosting will taste bitter and your pink will be garish instead of pretty.
03 -
  • Use a serrated knife dipped in hot water to cut clean, even layers if you need to level your cakes—the heat prevents frosting from sticking to the blade.
  • If your kitchen is warm, chill your frosting for 15 minutes before frosting the cake; it'll spread more easily and hold cleaner lines.
  • The sprinkle center stays a complete surprise if you don't tell anyone it exists—let them discover it the moment they slice in.
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