BUNNY CAKE.

We have a new tradition of making bunny cake for Easter. Made from real Easter bunny.

I remember Mom making us a delicious bunny cake when we were small. It had pasta whiskers and everything. I thought it was the coolest!  I made one last year and again this year because hey, bunny cakes are something grown-ups can appreciate, too. And besides, we did have one child celebrating with us, my cousin's adorable 3-year old daughter. Marcella kept running toward it saying "bunny cake!!" and trying to grab jelly beans off of the platter before her parents grabbed her. I felt like doing the exact same thing.

I use the a version of the Joy of Cooking's carrot cake recipe, coconut cream cheese frosting, and assemble it according to my friend Betty's instructions.

Carrot cake:

Preheat the oven to 350.
Oil and flour ONE 9" round cake pan.
Whisk together the dry ingredients: 1 1/3c all-purpose flour, 1c sugar, 1.5t baking soda, 1t baking powder, 1t cinnamon, 1/2t cloves, 1/2t nutmeg, 1/2t allspice, 1/2t salt. Use fresh ground spices if possible--they add a lot!
Stir in 2/3c vegetable oil (use an unflavored oil, like canola) and 3 large eggs using a mixer on low speed.
Stir in 1.5c peeled & grated carrots, 1c walnuts, and 1c golden raisins. There's room for creativity here: some people use pineapple and/or coconut and omit the raisins. I find the golden raisins are substantially better than regular raisins, though.
Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30" or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cool on a rack, turning it out of the pan after 10 min or so.

Cream cheese frosting: 

Beat 8 oz. cold cream cheese with 5T butter and 2t vanilla until combined.
Gradually add 2c powdered sugar (sift after measuring.) Some recipes call for more powdered sugar, but I don't recommend it here.  The cake is already pretty sweet and you'll be adding sweetened coconut for "fur".
Beat until completely combined.

Grass:

Place 1-2c grated coconut (I use sweetened) in a plastic container.  Add green food coloring a few drops at a time and shake it, baby, shake it until it looks like grass. Like fake, plastic easter grass.

Assembly:

Follow the below instructions.  Before sticking the two halves of the cake together, frost one half.

I like to use colorful magazine covers for the ears. They stay good and stiff even when stuck in frosting! New Yorker covers are usually nice this time of year.

Place the cake on the platter. Frost the outside of the bunny and cover it in sweetened grated coconut for "fur". Use jelly beans for eyes and a nose and dried pasta for whiskers. Surround the bunny in the "grass" and sprinkle more jelly beans in the grass (bunny poop! Or Easter eggs. Whatever you prefer.)

Enjoy!