Every Easter our family makes a bunny cake — the classic version where two round cakes become a rabbit with just a couple of cuts. It’s a warm tradition I grew up with, and this year I gave it a playful twist: a giant Peep-inspired bunny cake. It still starts with two round layers, but with a few extra cuts and fluffy marshmallow frosting you end up with a big, marshmallowy Peep cake that’s as eye-catching as it is delicious.
Supplies you’ll need:
Two round cake layers (I used 8″ rounds; use your favorite cake recipe and size)
Marshmallow frosting (a butter, powdered sugar and marshmallow fluff frosting works great)
Sanding sugar in your chosen color
Black cake decorating gel for eyes and nose
Wax paper and cooking spray
A sharp knife
How to assemble your Peep cake:
1. Chill your cakes. Pop both layers in the freezer for about 15 minutes to firm them up — it makes cutting cleaner and easier.
2. Shape the body and ears. Place one cake on your work surface and cut it into three pieces as shown in the photos. From the second cake, slice off the rounded top edge. Arrange the middle piece from the first cake on top of the second cake to form the Peep’s body. Trim the top corners of that middle piece so the head area is rounded. Round the top of the two remaining pieces and remove the bottom points to shape the ears.
3. Prepare the frosting. Make your marshmallow frosting (a simple recipe with fluff, butter and powdered sugar gives that authentic Peep texture and sweetness).
4. Position and crumb coat. Set the ears in place above the body shape. Apply a thin crumb coat of marshmallow frosting to lock in crumbs, then chill briefly if needed.
5. Frost fully and add sanding sugar. Cover the entire cake in a smooth, even layer of marshmallow frosting. To apply sanding sugar to the sides, spray a strip of wax paper with cooking spray, sprinkle sugar onto the wax paper, then press the paper gently against the cake sides so the sugar transfers without the paper sticking.
6. Add facial features. Pipe two black eyes and a small nose with decorating gel, and your giant Peep bunny is ready to wow the dessert table.
Photos by Studio DIY
This cake is undeniably sweet — and yes, it has a lot of sugar — but the result is worth it for how adorable it turns out. It’s a fun way to put a fresh spin on a beloved Easter tradition.
Do you have a tradition you look forward to each year or season? Whether it’s a holiday, birthday or simple weekly ritual, I’d love to hear about it. Share your traditions below or tag your photos with #studiodiytraditions — you might be featured in a future installment.