easter-bunny-cookies.jpg|1

Bunny Cookies

Bunny Cookies
Kids and adults alike will have fun shaping and baking these colorful bunny cookies! The spring colors and free-form shapes look great tucked in Easter baskets or displayed on the Easter treats table. The recipe makes 12 cookies, 3 of each color.
  • Prep1 hr
  • Total Time2 hr 15 min
  • Skill LevelBeginner
    Amount12 cookies

Ingredients

    • Cookie Dough Ingredients

    • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

    • 1 cup granulated sugar

    • 1/2 teaspoon salt

    • 1 egg

    • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract (pure or imitation)

    • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (pure or imitation)

    • 3 cups all-purpose flour

    • Water (if needed)

    • Decorating Ingredients

    • White food coloring

    • Pink food coloring

    • Violet food coloring

    • Light green food coloring

    • Light blue food coloring

    • Pastel sprinkles

    • Tools

    • Large bowl

    • Electric mixer

    • Toothpick

    • Ruler

    • Cookie pan

    • Cooling rack

    Instructions

    Click to mark complete

    1. Make the dough. Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar and salt together with an electric mixer on medium speed until it’s light and fluffy. Next, beat in the egg and extracts.

      Add flour 1 cup at a time to the mixture, mixing well after each addition. If the dough becomes too stiff, add water, a teaspoon at a time.

    2. Color the dough. First, divide the dough into four equal portions. Next, color each dough portion one at a time. Start by adding white food coloring, then add in each of the four food colors; pink, violet, green and blue, until each portion is a unique color.
    3. Form the cookies. Pick one of the colored dough portions and break off a piece to make a 1 1/2 inch diameter ball.

      Roll that ball into a rope directly on an ungreased cookie sheet, making an 8-inch long rope, wider in the center and tapering the ends.

      Pick up both ends. Leaving the wider center on the cookie on the baking sheet, twist the rope once and then lay the ends up to form bunny ears.

      Then, shape a 1/2 inch diameter ball of the same color dough, roll in some pastel-colored nonpareils and place the ball in the center of the cookie base.

      Repeat these steps with the remaining dough. When done forming the cookies from dough, there should be three bunny cookies of each color (pink, violet, green and blue) to bake.

    4. Bake the cookies. Place the pan with the formed cookies in the center rack of the preheated oven. Bake for between 11 to 13 minutes, or until the cookies just start to brown. Remove from the oven and cool first on the pan on a cooling grid or wire rack for 2 to 3 minutes, before transferring the cookies to the wire rack or cooling grid to cool completely.

    Notes

    • Tips for coloring the cookie dough:

      Use a toothpick to add just a little bit of food coloring at a time. Stop to check the color often, if it is too light, add a little more color and continue blending until the desired shade is reached. Be sure to tint dough a little darker than you would tint icing, because once the cookies are baked they will be lighter in color than the dough appears before baking.

    How To

    • 30 Easter Cookies Every Bunny Will Love

      Celebrate Spring and get inspired with these cheerful Easter cookies. Cookies are perfect for baking for a crowd or impressing your friends. From cute little lamb-shaped sugar cookies to stunning meringue wreaths, we have your Easter cookie recipes covered.

    • 62 Easy Easter Desserts

      Make spring a little sweeter with this collection of fun and easy Easter desserts. From simple cakes and cupcakes to adorable candy-filled eggs and carrot cake donuts, these cute Easter dessert ideas have a little something for every-bunny!

    Reviews