Adorable Vanilla Bunny Cupcakes (Print)

Fluffy vanilla cupcakes topped with creamy buttercream, coconut fur, and cute bunny faces featuring marshmallow ears, candy eyes, and pink noses.

# What You Need:

→ Cupcakes

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

→ Buttercream Frosting

09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 2 cups powdered sugar
11 - 2 tablespoons milk
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt

→ Decorations

14 - 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
15 - 24 mini marshmallows
16 - Pink sanding sugar or edible pink glitter
17 - 24 candy eyes or mini chocolate chips
18 - 12 pink jelly beans or pink candies for noses

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in vanilla.
04 - Add flour mixture to wet ingredients in three batches, alternating with milk. Mix gently until just combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly among liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack.
06 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
07 - Frost cooled cupcakes with a generous layer of buttercream.
08 - Dip each frosted cupcake into shredded coconut to create fur effect.
09 - Cut each mini marshmallow in half diagonally. Dip sticky side into pink sanding sugar to make bunny ears.
10 - Insert two ears into each cupcake. Add two candy eyes, a pink jelly bean nose, and use extra coconut for cheeks if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These cupcakes transform a basic vanilla treat into something that makes people actually gasp when they see them
  • The decorating process is surprisingly meditative and perfect for getting kids involved in the kitchen
  • They taste as good as they look with a tender crumb and not too sweet buttercream
02 -
  • Completely cool cupcakes before frosting or the buttercream will melt right off. I learned this the hard way one Easter morning.
  • The marshmallow ears need to be inserted fairly soon after coating with coconut or they wont stick properly to the frosting.
  • Make extra ears because they inevitably get eaten or damaged during the decorating process.
03 -
  • If your buttercream is too stiff add milk one teaspoon at a time. Too soft add more powdered sugar.
  • Chill the frosted cupcakes for 15 minutes before adding decorations. This helps the coconut stick better and gives you more control when placing the ears.

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