Description
This Chocolate Bunny Cake is a delightful, soft chocolate sponge layered with rich chocolate buttercream frosting, topped with a charming chocolate bunny and mini eggs. Perfectly moist and flavorful, it’s an ideal festive treat for Easter celebrations or any special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 135 ml vegetable oil (or other neutral oil e.g. sunflower)
- 2 eggs
- 325 g caster sugar (golden or white)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 200 ml milk (semi-skimmed or whole)
- 85 g unsweetened cocoa powder
- 200 g plain / all-purpose flour
- 3 ½ tsp baking powder
- 100 ml hot coffee (or 2 tsp instant coffee dissolved into 100 ml / ½ cup hot water)
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- 200 g unsalted butter
- 450 g powdered icing sugar
- 45 g unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 ½ tbsp milk (semi-skimmed or whole)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅛ tsp salt (optional)
Decoration
- Chocolate bunny
- Mini eggs
Instructions
- Prepare Cake Batter: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease your cake pan. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, caster sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Gradually sift in the flour, baking powder, and cocoa powder into the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk and hot coffee. Stir gently until you achieve a smooth batter without lumps.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the prepared batter into the greased pan and place it in the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Once baked, allow the cake to cool completely in the pan before removing.
- Make the Chocolate Buttercream: In a large bowl, beat the unsalted butter until soft and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered icing sugar and cocoa powder, alternating with the milk, vanilla extract, and salt if using. Continue to beat until the frosting is smooth, creamy, and spreadable.
- Assemble the Cake: Slice the cooled cake horizontally if desired, and spread a generous layer of chocolate buttercream between the layers. Cover the entire cake with the remaining frosting smoothly and evenly.
- Decorate: Place the chocolate bunny on top of the frosted cake, arranging mini eggs around it to create the effect of a bunny burrowing into a hole. Chill the cake briefly if needed to set the frosting before serving.
Notes
- A deliciously soft chocolate cake with a chocolate buttercream frosting and topped with a chocolate bunny rabbit burrowing into a hole! Perfect for Easter!
- To make the cake self-raising, substitute plain flour and baking powder for 200 g self-raising flour and omit additional baking powder, but adjust the leavening accordingly.
- Ensure the cake is fully cooled before frosting to prevent the buttercream from melting.
- Use freshly brewed hot coffee or a high-quality instant coffee for the best chocolate flavor enhancement.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 568 kcal
- Sugar: 75 g
- Sodium: 186 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 95 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 67 mg
