Get Hoppin' In The Kitchen

It's the Year of the Rabbit, so this spring everyone should try making the super cute Betty Crocker Bunny Cake for Easter, or just for fun!! My mom made this cake for Bunko, but she used Paula Deen's recipe for Cool and Creamy Coconut Cake, which is very moist and decadent.  It is  from The Lady and Sons Just Desserts cookbook. If you decide to give Paula's recipe a try, one helpful hint we offer is to look for the cream of coconut in the liquor section of your grocery store. It is the same coconut they use for Pina Coladas

Prep Time: 30 Minutes

Total Time: 2 Hours and 10 Minutes

What You Will Need For The Cool and Creamy Coconut Cake

1 box yellow cake mix
water, vegetables oil, and eggs called for on the cake mix box

1  can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1  can (12 oz.) cream of coconut
1  container of cool whip
1  cup shredded coconut

What You Will Need To Decorate

a tray or a piece of cardboard, covered with foil

white construction paper

jelly beans or robin's eggs

green food coloring

1  cup coconut

Heat oven to 350°F. Make cake as directed on the box for two 8 inch or 9 inch round pans. Using a fork or skewer, poke holes in the entire cake. After mixing condensed milk and cream of coconut, slowly pour over warm cake. Cool cake completely.

Reserve one layer for another use or to make a second bunny. Cut one layer in half as shown in the diagram below. Put halves together with cool whip to form a body.
 Place cake upright with the cut edge down on the tray. (If you prefer the Carrot Cake, follow the directions of the box and frost with cream cheese frosting instead of cool whip.) 

Cut out notch about 1/3 of the way up one end of the body to form the head as shown in the diagram below. Attach half of cutout piece from tail with toothpicks. Frost with remaining cool whip, rounding body on sides. Sprinkle with the 1 cup coconut. Cut ears from construction paper; press into notch on top. Use jelly beans for eyes and nose.

 Shake 1 cup coconut and 3 drops of the green food coloring in a tightly covered container until evenly tinted. Surround bunny with green coconut grass.
 Add additional jelly beans or robin's eggs if desired.

Click HERE to read reviews and comments on Betty Crocker's Bunny cake!!