If you are looking for a festive and adorable treat to brighten up any gathering, the Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe is exactly what you need. This delightful dessert features a giant sugar cookie shaped like a bunny’s back, complete with frosted details and coconut fur that add texture and charm. Rich buttercream frosting combines with soft sugar cookie dough to create a cake-like experience that’s playful yet satisfying. Whether you’re baking for spring parties, Easter celebrations, or just because, this Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe is guaranteed to bring smiles and sweet memories to your table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering your ingredients for the Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe is simple but essential. Each component not only contributes to the flavor but also enhances the appearance and texture of this whimsical treat.
- Sugar cookie dough (16.5 oz tube): Provides a soft, buttery base that bakes into a sturdy cake shape.
- Unsalted butter (1 ¼ cups, room temperature): Creates a creamy, rich buttercream frosting that’s perfect for piping and spreading.
- Confectioners sugar (5 cups): Sweetens and thickens the frosting for smooth, fluffy coverage.
- Whole milk (3 tablespoons): Adds moisture and helps achieve the right buttercream consistency.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Infuses the buttercream with classic, comforting flavor.
- Pink food coloring: Gives a playful blush for the bunny’s details, adding adorable pops of color.
- Shredded coconut (½ cup): Mimics bunny fur texture on the cookie cake surface.
How to Make Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Pans
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 12-inch pizza pan along with a sheet pan to prevent sticking. This ensures your cookie cake and smaller pieces will bake evenly without any mess.
Step 2: Slice and Arrange the Cookie Dough
Cut your sugar cookie dough into twelve even slices. Use eight of these slices to form a large circle, pressing them into the pizza pan but leaving about one inch of empty space around the edges. This will be the bunny’s body shape.
Step 3: Shape the Oval Cookies
Take the remaining four slices and pair them up, pressing each pair into balls before flattening them into oval shapes on the sheet pan. These will become the bunny’s feet, so get ready to personalize!
Step 4: Bake Until Golden
Bake both the big cookie circle and the smaller oval cookies for roughly 12-14 minutes, or until their edges turn a lovely golden brown. After baking, give them time to cool completely before decorating to avoid melting the frosting.
Step 5: Whip Up the Buttercream Frosting
In your stand mixer bowl, beat the softened butter on low speed. Gradually add the confectioners sugar until fully blended. Pour in the milk and vanilla extract, then increase the speed and whip the buttercream for 3 to 4 minutes until it becomes light and fluffy—a dreamy texture perfect for spreading and piping.
Step 6: Add Color and Prepare for Decorating
Reserve about one-third of your buttercream and mix in a few drops of pink food coloring. Fill a piping bag fitted with a straight tip with this colored frosting, which you’ll use for the bunny’s adorable pink details.
Step 7: Frost the Cookie Bodies
Spread the plain white buttercream evenly over all the cookie surfaces. Arrange the oval-shaped cookies at the bottom of the large round cookie to form the bunny’s feet. Sprinkle the shredded coconut on top of the white buttercream on the big cookie circle to create fluffy fur.
Step 8: Pipe the Tail and Bunny Details
Transfer the remaining white buttercream to a piping bag with a large star tip and pipe a swirled bunny tail just above the feet section. Then, using the pink buttercream, pipe a large oval shape on the top half of each oval cookie to resemble paw pads, followed by three small circles near the bottom of each oval for added cuteness. Your Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe is truly coming to life!
How to Serve Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe
Garnishes
Enhance the visual appeal of your Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe by adding a sprinkle of edible glitter or pastel-colored sugar crystals over the coconut for a whimsical touch. Fresh edible flowers or a few small candy carrots strategically placed can also elevate your presentation without overwhelming the sweet simplicity of the cake.
Side Dishes
This treat pairs wonderfully with a light and fresh side, such as a fruit salad with berries or citrus segments to balance the rich sweetness. A mug of warm milk or a mild herbal tea also complements the dessert perfectly, creating a cozy and satisfying snack experience.
Creative Ways to Present
For gatherings, present the Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe on a rustic wooden board or a pastel-colored cake stand to match the playful theme. You could even wrap each slice of the oval “feet” cookies individually in clear bags tied with a ribbon—perfect for party favors or sweet take-home treats.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe covered in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. This helps maintain the buttercream’s moisture and keeps the cookie dough soft but firm.
Freezing
Although best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze portions of the cookie cake without frosting by wrapping tightly in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for up to one month. Thaw completely before frosting and decorating to preserve freshness and texture.
Reheating
If the cookie feels a bit firm after refrigeration or freezing, a brief 10-15 second zap in the microwave can soften it gently—just be cautious to avoid melting the buttercream. Let it sit at room temperature briefly before serving to regain optimal flavor.
FAQs
Can I use homemade sugar cookie dough instead of store-bought?
Absolutely! While the recipe uses tube sugar cookie dough for convenience, homemade dough works beautifully and allows you to customize flavors or use organic ingredients, adding your personal touch to the Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe.
Is there a dairy-free alternative for the buttercream?
Yes, you can substitute vegan butter and a dairy-free milk such as almond or oat milk to make the buttercream dairy-free. Just be sure to check that your confectioners sugar is also vegan-friendly to maintain the best texture.
How can I make the frosting more stable for hot climates?
Chilling the buttercream slightly before piping and adding a small amount of cornstarch can help stabilize the frosting. Refrigerate the decorated cookie cake until just before serving to keep it looking fresh in warmer conditions.
Can this Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe be made smaller or larger?
Definitely! You can scale the recipe up or down by adjusting dough amounts and pan sizes. Keep baking times in mind, as thicker cookie cakes may need a bit longer in the oven, while smaller ones will bake faster.
What’s the best way to transport this cookie cake?
Use a sturdy flat box or cake carrier with a non-slip mat underneath to keep your Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe secure during transport. Avoid stacking other items on top and carry it on a flat surface for the safest delivery.
Final Thoughts
The Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe is more than just a dessert; it’s a fun, heartwarming project that brings joy from the kitchen to your celebrations. Its sweet flavor and playful design make it a standout treat you’ll be eager to share again and again. So grab your ingredients, get baking, and enjoy every delightful bite of this charming cookie cake!
Print
Bunny Butt Cookie Cake Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Create a delightfully fun and whimsical Bunny Butt Cookie Cake perfect for celebrations or themed parties. This recipe features a large sugar cookie base with adorable bunny-shaped cookies decorated with fluffy buttercream and shredded coconut to resemble a bunny’s tail and body. The combination of soft sugar cookies and rich, creamy buttercream makes this cake a treat that’s both charming and delicious.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 16.5 oz tube sugar cookie dough
Buttercream Frosting
- 1 ¼ cups unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 5 cups confectioners sugar
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pink food coloring, as needed
Decoration
- ½ cup shredded coconut
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 12-inch pizza pan and a sheet pan with non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Cookie Dough Slices: Cut the sugar cookie dough tube into twelve equal slices.
- Form Cookie Base: Take eight slices and press them evenly into a circle on the pizza pan, leaving about an inch of space around the edge for spreading.
- Create Bunny Tail Cookies: Press two cookie dough slices together and roll into a ball, then flatten into an oval shape on the sheet pan. Repeat this process with the remaining two slices to make two oval cookies.
- Bake Cookies: Bake both pans in the oven for 12-14 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Remove and let cookies cool completely before decorating.
- Make Buttercream Frosting: In the bowl of a mixer, beat the room temperature butter on low speed, gradually adding the confectioners sugar until fully incorporated.
- Add Liquids: Mix in the whole milk and vanilla extract, then continue to beat for 3-4 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Prepare Pink Buttercream: Scoop approximately 1/3 cup of the buttercream and blend in a few drops of pink food coloring. Transfer this pink frosting to a piping bag fitted with a straight tip.
- Assemble Cake Base: Spread a smooth layer of white buttercream over all the cooled cookies. Arrange the oval-shaped cookies at the bottom of the large round cookie to represent bunny feet and legs. Sprinkle shredded coconut over the buttercream on the large cookie to mimic the bunny’s fluffy body.
- Pipe Bunny Tail: Place the remaining white buttercream in a piping bag with a large star tip. Pipe a swirl just above the bunny’s feet on the large cookie to create the tail.
- Decorate Oval Cookies: Using the pink buttercream, pipe a large oval in the top half of each oval cookie to simulate bunny paw pads, then pipe three small circular pads on the bottom half to complete the bunny feet detail.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is at room temperature for a smooth and creamy buttercream.
- Don’t over-bake the cookies to keep them soft and tender.
- Use a piping bag with different tips to create varied textures in the frosting decoration.
- The pink food coloring amount can be adjusted depending on the desired shade.
- Shredded coconut adds texture and a fluffy appearance to mimic bunny fur.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting the buttercream.
- This cake serves approximately 10 people.
