Easter Treat ... Easter Bunny Bread (Made with Basic Bread Machine White Bread)

Next on our Easter list to make was a fun treat to take to the annual 1,000 Egg Egg Hunt my friend host.  I showed you the Bunny Nutter Butter Cookies last week I made for the party.  I saw this Easter Bunny Bread on Pinterest and I knew I had to give it a whirl.  Their's was super cute and I must say I was pretty happy with the one I created.  I must say I can bust out cookies or cakes, NOW molding a bread into a shape was a WHOLE new ballgame for me.

The recipe on Taste of Home called for Frozen Bread.  I decided that I rather make a homemade bread.  I found a Basic Bread Machine White Bread that I MUST say is the BEST bread I have ever made! 

What You Need:

1-POUND LOAF    INGREDIENTS2/3 cup                       water
4 teaspoons                sugar
3/4 teaspoon              salt
4 teaspoons                nonfat dry milk powder
4 teaspoons                butter OR margarine
2 cups                          bread flour
1-1/2 teaspoons         Bread Machine Yeast OR RapidRise Yeast
Directions
Add ingredients to bread machine pan in the order suggested by manufacturer. 

For the Bunny Bread I started with homemade bread, BUT you can use frozen if you would like.  If you want a great bread machine bread follow recipe above and just set for dough setting.  I doubled the recipe, since I was just doing the dough I knew my machine could handle the 2 lbs.  NOW if you're baking my would only handle 1 1/2 lbs.

What you Need for the Bunny:

Ingredients

• 2 loaves (1 pound each) frozen bread dough, thawed
• 2 raisins
• 2 sliced almonds
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• Dip of your choice

Directions

• Cut a fourth off of one loaf of dough; shape into a pear to form
• head. For body, flatten remaining portion into a 7-in. x 6-in. oval;
• place on a greased baking sheet. Place head above body. Make narrow
• cuts, about 3/4 in. deep, on each side of head for whiskers.
• Cut second loaf into four equal portions. For ears, shape two
• portions into 16-in. ropes; fold ropes in half. Arrange ears with
• open ends touching head. Cut a third portion of dough in half; shape
• each into a 3-1/2-in. oval for back paws. Cut two 1-in. slits on top
• edge for toes. Position on each side of body.
• Divide the fourth portion of dough into three pieces. Shape two
• pieces into 2-1/2-in. balls for front paws; shape the remaining
• piece into two 1-in. balls for cheeks and one 1/2-in. ball for nose.
• Place paws on each side of body; cut two 1-in. slits for toes. Place
• cheeks and nose on face. Add raisins for eyes and almonds for teeth.
• Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30-45
• minutes. Brush dough with egg. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes

For the Dip I just made a quick Ranch Dip.  I had a small dish that I cut a hole int he bunnies belly and placed it in there and added the Ranch dip inside.  I cut up celery and had mini carrots that I placed around the bunny.

Any Easter Parties or Plans?

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Easter Treat ... Bunny Nutter Butter Cookies

We have an annual egg hunt at my friends house this weekend.  It's so much fun, she does a huge brunch and then the 1000 egg hunt!  We each bring a dish to the event.  I of course have to find something fun and creative to bring.  I know Rick keeps telling me to go simple I just can't seem to do it .. lol.

I made these really cute Nutter Butter Bunnies last year and got so many compliments.  So I had to try another fun Nutter Butter Bunny that I found on Munchkin Munchies.  They take a little bit of time but I love how they turned out.

This is one I did on the Popsicle stick

What You Need:

Nutter Butter Cookies

1 16-24oz Almond Bark (I used Wilton White Candy Melts)

Pink Marshmallows (I found the Ice Cream Shaped ones)

Wilton Black Food Marker

Popsicles (if you want, I decided to skip less for the parents to clean up)

Ribbon (optional)

1. Melt the bark (in a deep bowl) according to package directions. Dip the end of a Popsicle stick into the melted bark and gently insert it into the middle of the Nutter Butter cookie (oriented horizontally).  Push bottom of stick into Styrofoam block and let dry (15 min. or so) before the next step. ALEXIS NOTES: I used Wilton melts, and did a few on Popsicle but it will be easier for clean up so I kept mine with out the sticks).

2.  Holding the end of the Popsicle stick, dip the cookie into the melted bark until completely covered. Let the excess drip off into the bowl. ALEXIS NOTES: Since I didn't do the sticks I skipped this.

3.  While it is still wet,  gently add a small,  pink marshmallow (you may cut it, to shape it into a more nose-like shape) or pink jelly bean onto the top, middle, curved part of the cookie.  Another option is to let the cookie dry first, and add the nose with a dab of melted bark later. Let cookie dry completely. ALEXIS NOTES: Now my first batch I forgot to add the marshmallow while it was still wet, lesson learned!

4.   After the cookie is dry, use a  food marker and add simple, bunny facial features…mouth, teeth, whiskers.

5.   Add a bow with a dab of melted bark, or tie a ribbon around the stick. ALEXIS NOTES: Skip if you don't do the sticks.

Any Easter Parties or Plans?

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Bunny Invasion for Egg Hunt ... "Cinnabunny" Rolls

For my friends Egg Hunt I wanted to bring two fun dishes first was the Nutter Butter Bunnies. So I go to old faithful Pinterest I went and came across Cinnabunny Rolls on Betty Crocker's Website.  These bunnies were just so freaking cute, ok when they puff up cooked not as cute but still!  

I followed the recipe using the pre-made cinnamon rolls this time, but next time I may just make my own and make them.  This is super easy recipe and so cute that the kids will love!

1

can (12.4 oz) Pillsbury® Grands!® Cinnamon Rolls with Icing

12

raisins, for decorating

8

sliced almonds, for decorating

Coarse sugar or sprinkles

• 1. Start by removing the cinnamon rolls from the package. Place 4 cinnamon rolls on large lightly greased cookie sheet about 3 inches apart. Unroll remaining 4 cinnamon rolls and place on cookie sheet touching one of the coiled cinnamon rolls and folding ends under to create the floppy bunny ears. Pinch the dough to secure the ears to the bunny head.
• 2. Firmly press 3 raisins on top of each roll to form the eyes and nose and the almonds for the teeth.
• 3. Bake according to package directions.
• 4. Cool completely, frost and decorate the ears.

Hope you all have a Hop a long day!  

Yes I have more fun Easter Recipes to come this week!

Do you have any Easter Items you'll be making?

Bunny Invasion for Egg Hunt ... Nutter Butter Bunnies

This weekend was my friends annual egg hunt, she puts on this amazing event and I like to bring something special.  Last year I did the Jello Egg Shots & Easter Bunny Cookies.  

Last Years Creations (link above)

This year I wanted to make bunnies but a different kind.  I found these super cute Nutter Bunnies  on Plain Chicken.  They were super easy to make and They were so CUTE!

1 pack Nutter Butter cookies
1 (24oz) package vanilla almond bark
large marshmallows
pink sanding sugar
sprinkles
edible marker

Cut marshmallows in half to make 2 rounds.  Cut each round in half and dip the cut side (sticky side) into pink sanding sugar.  Set aside. 

Roll out a large piece of wax paper to place the dipped cookies on.  Melt almond bark according to the package directions.  Dip 6 Nutter Butters in the almond bark, shake off excess almond bark.  Place on wax paper and attach ears.  Using tweezers, place nose sprinkle on the cookie.   

Repeat with remaining Nutter Butters.  Allow to set up completely (about 30 minutes to an hour).  Draw face on bunny with edible marker and enjoy.

** Alexis Notes - I found that I had to cut the marshmallows in 4th instead of just in half (they just looked too big the other way).  Safeway by the house was out of almond bark, so I just melted some white chocolates.  The edible markers I had on hand didn't seem to work.  So I ran to Michael's to find out there was Edible Marker's for Chocolate Melts (which works also on chocolates).  I used gel to make the eyes and the pink marker for the whiskers and nose (they didn't have a black marker in there). **

Just wait tomorrow will be Bunny Cinnamon Rolls I made.

Happy Easter!