Easy, Gluten Free Easter Bunny Cake (with Vegan Option)

 

 

Hello hello, friends! We are finally getting some sunshine here in the Pacific Northwest, just in time for Easter weekend. 

Perfect timing, also, to share a quick post on a really easy Gluten Free Easter bunny cake, with a vegan option. 

 I made this cake last weekend for a group of boys aged 2.5-6 and I wish I'd gotten a pic of how big their eyes got when I brought this cake out! They were super excited, and of course everyone had an opinion on which part of the bunny they wanted to eat 😄

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Last week I reposted a very popular post on gluten free Easter treats so if you're looking for more gluten free Easter goodies, check out that post!

 

I do already have a vegan, gluten free Easter bunny pull apart cake on the blog, which is always a big hit with my son and niece and nephew. But the one I'm sharing today is even easier, since it really just requires smearing some icing over top, and piping a little bit for the ears and face.  

** This recipe can be made in 1 bowl if you are using a gluten free flour blend that already has xanthan gum mixed in. If you are adding xanthan gum separately, you should mix it into the dry ingredients first, then add the dry to the wet to avoid clumping.

To make it vegan: Replace the egg with an egg replacer like Bob's Red Mill and replace the butter with a stiff vegan butter 

A short pictorial to make this cake!

 

Mix wet and dry ingredients

Mix wet and dry, let thicken for 5 minutes for flour to absorb liquid

Pour into cake pans and bake until a toothpick comes out clean

 

 

Trim uneven tops and use cake pan to trace ears and bow tie

 

 Arrange cake pieces on serving dish or baking sheet

Decorate as desired

Decorate as desired

Ingredients for Gluten Free and Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes (makes 24 mini or 12 large)

1.5 cups water
2 eggs at room temperature (or equivalent egg replacer, like Bob's Red Mill )

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup refined sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract

2.5 cups gluten free flour mix with xanthan gum (OR 2 cup brown rice flour + 1/2 cup tapioca starch + 1.5 tsp xanthan gum) - (like Bob's Red Mill or Duinkerken in Canada from Well.ca or
1/2 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

2 chocolate chips (for bunny eyes)

Optional sprinkles for decoration. 

 

To make the bunny cake

Preheat oven to 350F and grease two 8" cake pans like these or these ones from Canadian Tire.

1. In a large bowl, whisk water, oil, brown sugar, and vanilla until sugar is mostly dissolved. Add all dry ingredients into the bowl and mix until smooth. Allow to rest for 5 minutes to thicken, then stir briefly. 

2. Divide the cake mix roughly in half and pour into two cake pans. Bake 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

3. Turn the cakes out onto a cooling rack and let cool completely before cutting. 

4. Trim the cakes so the tops are flat and remove excess. To cut into bunny shape, use one of the 8" cake pans to trace a 1/2 moon shape on either side of one of the cakes to make the ears and bow tie.   

5. Arrange the circle, ears, and bow tie on a serving dish or baking sheet.

Ingredients for Vegan Buttercream Icing

1/2 cup unsalted butter, or vegan butter like Earth Balance, at room temperature
2 cups powdered confectioners sugar
1 small shake of salt (eliminate if using salted butter)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-2 Tablespoons water, as needed

Food colouring as desired (like this natural food colouring from Watkins or for a Canadian source, Well.ca or Superstore carries Watkins )

To make the icing:

1. Cream the butter with a hand blender or spoon until smooth. Gradually add in sifted sugar until incorporated. Beat in vanilla, then add water as needed to make a  smooth icing that can be spread.

2. To make pink icing, remove approx. 3 Tbsp of icing and add a drop of red food colouring. Scoop pink icing into a piping bag, or make your own icing bag using a small sandwich bag with a tiny corner cut out to allow a thin thread of icing to be squeezed out. 

3. Spread the white icing over the bunny. Add 2 chocolate chips for eyes. Using pink icing, create inner ear, mouth, whiskers, and bowtie outline. Add decorations or sprinkles as desired.

* I've also seen people dye shredded coconut green and sprinkle that around the bunny to create grass. This is a super cute idea, and one I simply didn't have time for when I made this. 

 

How are you celebrating Easter this year? 

Do you have any traditional family meals?

 

For another similar, fun spring dessert, check out these sunflower cupcakes!