This chocolate funfetti hidden bunny cake is deceptively simple to make and is the perfect addition to an Easter brunch!
Here we go again, another Easter recipe coming at you! It’s pretty much my favorite holiday because it’s in the SPRING, when we get to shake off the sleepiness of winter and finally stay up past eight.
Tell me I’m not the only one who goes to bed super-early when the days are short!
And not only is Easter in such a glorious time of year, but it’s a food holiday. Food holidays are the best holidays of all, because no one can complain when you bake three different cakes for brunch even though there will be only four of you in attendance.
True story.
I saw this loaf cake from Food 52 on pinterest months ago that was pretty much exactly this. Let me tell you: that cake haunted my dreams. All I could think was I MUST MAKE THAT! Because how cute is it? How ingenious? How perfect an ending to Easter brunch?
And I was pleased beyond words to discover that this is a cake that not only looks adorable but also tastes really, really good. I mean, a chocolate and vanilla cake is probably going to be good but you never really know. It’s light and moist and not super-rich, which means you can have two pieces if you want. I fully support you in that.
This cake looks pretty complicated but it couldn’t be more simple. It takes a few steps but it’s way easier to put together than a layer cake. And it’s customizable! Change up the holiday—maybe a star with red, white, and blue jimmies. Or a tree for Christmas. The possibilities are endless.
Just be sure to find a cookie cutter that fits inside your loaf pan. The first three cookie cutters I wanted to use were all a little taller than the pan. A bunny isn’t a bunny if its ears are chopped off :(.
As always, I’m not in love with the photos I’m sharing in this post. They don’t do justice to this little hidden bunny cake. I hope that my words are enough to encourage you to bake this, because I can’t imagine the pictures have you running to the kitchen. Someday my photography will improve. . .I’m hopeful it will happen before I reach retirement age.
In the meantime, I’ll just keep baking cakes. Chocolate funfetti hidden bunny cakes.
Because, adorable :). Happy Easter (season)!
This chocolate funfetti hidden bunny cake is a sure crowd-pleaser!
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 5 large eggs at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons jimmies I used an Easter mix
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons espresso powder optional
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 9- by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray, then line with parchment paper, leaving an inch of paper hanging over the sides. Spray paper with cooking spray then dust with flour. Tap out excess flour and set pan aside.
- Sift the flour and salt together in a small bowl. Place butter, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stop to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl after each egg is incorporated.
- Turn mixer to low and gradually add the flour mixture until it’s just incorporated. Gently fold in jimmies.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 75 to 85 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then use parchment paper to remove the cake from the pan. Cool completely on a wire rack.
- Once cool, slice into 1-inch slices. Use your cookie cutter to cut out desired shapes. Set cut-outs on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze them for 1 hour. Leave them in the freezer while you prepare the chocolate loaf.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9- by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper, allowing a couple inches of excess to hang over the sides. Spray paper with cooking spray, then dust with flour. Tap out excess flour; set pan aside.
- Combine butter, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, espresso powder, salt, and baking powder in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until combined and smooth, about 30 seconds. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well and scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl after each addition.
- Turn the mixer to low and add half of the flour and mix until just incorporated. Add all of the milk, mixing until just incorporated, then add remaining flour. Mix on low until just incorporated.
- Pour just enough batter into the prepared pan to cover the bottom evenly. Remove funfetti bunnies from the freezer and line them up to form a bunny log that is a little shorter than your pan—you’ll probably have an extra bunny or two. Set log carefully on top of batter, then carefully pour remaining batter over them, to just under the rim of the pan. You’ll have excess batter; I recommend pouring it into a ramekin and baking yourself a cupcake. Bake bunny cake for 44 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then use parchment paper to remove the cake from the pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Serve, enjoy, and watch your friends’ faces light up when they see that little bunny hiding in their cake.
Funfetti loaf adapted from Myrecipes.com
Chocolate loaf adapted from King Arthur Flour
Method adapted from Food 52
Kelly says
Oh my goodness, this is the cutest cake ever!! It came out perfectly! Love the bunny and funfetti – so perfect for Easter! And yay for spring and staying up later haha 🙂
Kelsie says
Thank you Kelly! Haha–it’s 7:30 and I’m starting to feel like it’s bedtime. I need to get used to staying up past 8 :). Have a great week!
Maria Doss says
This is beyond amazing!!! Super cute and it’s my favorite thing all year:)
Kelsie says
Thank you so much Maria! This time of year is just the best :). Have a great week!
Cara Cifelli says
This is seriously the CUTEST IDEA EVER!
Kelsie says
Thank you Cara! Have a great week!
Laura Dembowski (@piesandplots) says
This is too cute! I am imagining everyone’s faces lighting up when they see the surprise inside.
Kelsie says
Thank you so much Laura! It’s so much fun to see people’s surprise when they see that bunny 🙂
harrietemilys says
This cake is soooo pretty! I love the little hidden bunny inside – its such a great idea, and perfect for easter. I can’t wait to try making this! <3
Kelsie says
Thank you so much! It’s so much fun to make (and you get to eat the scraps of funfetti cake so, winning)! Have a great week!
Megan says
This is SO cute!!! Thank you for the idea!!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much Megan! Have a wonderful week!
evolvewithmary says
OMG thata cute little hidden bunny, I made a cake with a hidden pumpkin and it turned out pretty good.I wonder if I would be as successful with this recipe. You make it look so easy… and delicious.
Kelsie says
Thank you Mary! I love the idea of a pumpkin–my favorite thing about this cake is how you can customize it for any holiday :). Have a great week!
heather (delicious not gorgeous) says
THIS IS SO CUTE. there’s a carrot and coconut bunny loaf cake on “i am a food blog” that i find equally awe-inspiring. and ugh, i feel you about the photography struggles; i know that my pics can be better, but the learning curve isn’t working fast enough!
Kelsie says
Thank you Heather! I haven’t seen the carrot and coconut cake but I’ll have to check it out. What a yummy combination! That learning curve needs to speed up right? UGH! Have a great week 🙂
Alisa says
So so so cute! My kids would LOVE this!
Kelsie says
Thank you Alisa! Have a great week!
Rachel (LittleChefBigAppetite) says
This is THE CUTEST cake ever!! Also, the bunny shapes came out PERFECTLY. Nice work!!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much Rachel! It’s such a fun cake 🙂
Patrick @looneyforfood.com says
This looks so cool and easy! I love things that look difficult but really aren’t!
Kelsie says
I do too, Patrick! That’s my favorite kind of dessert :). Thank you!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Lol, I totally agree! Any holiday that falls during the springtime is my favorite too… because SPRING! YES! This cake is too cute, girlfriend!!!!! I LOVE that hidden bunny! AND you made it funfetti?!? STAP IT! This is just too perfect! Cheers!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much Cheyanne! Honestly, spring is just the best isn’t it? All the produce, the pastels, the CHOCOLATE EGGS! Have a great week and a happy Easter!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After says
I LOVE THIS!!! Too cute! I’m going to make this for our family Easter dinner and I’m not going to tell anyone so they will think it’s just a regular ol’ chocolate loaf. heeheeehee 🙂 Happy Easter honey bunny 😉
Kelsie says
Haha! I would love to see their faces :). Thank you Karrie and have a happy Easter!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
This is too adorable!! I have got to give this one a try! And I think your pics are perfect! I basically want to grab a slice (the loaf) from the screen, so I think you’ve done a great job showing how delicious and fun this one is! Can’t wait to try! Pinned! Have a great week 🙂
Kelsie says
Awwww, thank you so much dear Dawn! I needed to hear that :). This is such a fun cake to make and I love how customizable it is! Have a great week!
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures says
This is such a cute idea! So fun!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much Laura! Happy Monday 🙂
eastofedencook says
Cute and scrumptious! Just fabulous, and screaming spring!
Kelsie says
Thank you Deb! Have a great week 🙂
Kelly @ Kelly Lynn's Sweets and Treats says
This is adorable!!! When I first opened up the email, I was like whoaaaaaa that looks complicated, but after reading your post, it looks easy! Gorgeous cake!! Xoxo
Kelsie says
Thank you Kelly! Right? It looks so complicated but is just simple as can be :). Have a great week, friend!
Lindsay | With Salt and Pepper says
How cute is this??? I’ve never seen this idea and I just love it! I know my kids would too. They love all things adorable…and funfetti. I agree with Allie, this is a clever process. I definitely thought it was some special mold pan. Awesome post!! XO
Kelsie says
Thank you Lindsay! I was totally shocked by how easy it was and how cute it turned out! Have an awesome week 🙂
Allie R Taylor says
KELSIE!!!! Calling all bunny lovers! This cake is so darn cute. I have always wondered how to get a shape inside a cake. Seriously, I wondered if it was a pan that you bake a long long bunny loaf in first and then remove and place in the center of another cake. Pampered Chef used to have a star pan like that. Anyhow, I’m delighted to see how easy this is and that you don’t need any special pan, just a cookie cutter. The process is very clever (freezing the bunnies) and this is a great tutorial, thank you! Wishing you a beautiful Easter w/your family. XO
Kelsie says
Thank you Allie! The first time I saw a cake like this I totally thought it was magic and there was no way I could ever recreate it. It’s so easy! You have a wonderful Easter too :).