CAKE
Cooking spray
3/4 c. (160 g.) packed light brown sugar or dark brown sugar
1/2 c. neutral oil
1/4 c. (50 g.) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 c. (150 g.) all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 c. (110 g.) grated carrots (from about 2 large)
FROSTING & DECORATING
1 1/2 c. (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
6 c. (690 g.) confectioners’ sugar
1/4 c. (or more) heavy cream, room temperature
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
4 c. (340 g.) sweetened shredded coconut, divided, plus more if needed
2 store-bought or homemade Rice Krispies Treats
Pink sanding sugar, jelly beans, and green food coloring, for decorating
CAKE
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease an 8" cake pan with cooking spray; line bottom with parchment.
Step 2
In a large bowl, whisk brown sugar, oil, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla until combined and no lumps remain. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger, salt, and nutmeg. Add dry ingredients to brown sugar mixture and fold with a rubber spatula until just combined. Fold in carrots. Scrape batter into prepared pan.
Step 3
Bake cake until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely.
FROSTING & DECORATING
Step 1
In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on medium speed, beat butter until creamy, about 1 minute. Add confectioners’ sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt. Beat on low speed to just combine, about 30 seconds, then increase speed to high and beat, adding more cream if frosting looks dry, until very creamy and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Step 2
Remove cake from pan and transfer to a cutting board. Cut cake down the middle, creating 2 half-moons. Flip one half-moon round side down and frost flat side with buttercream. Top with second half-moon flat side down. Stand cakes upright to create bunny body. Transfer bunny body to a platter.
Step 3
Cut out a 3" wedge about one-third of the way up from bottom of body, forming the head. Trim head with a sharp or serrated knife to form a more rounded shape, if desired. Place wedge on opposite end of head and secure with 2 toothpicks, creating the tail and trimming, if desired.
Step 4
Frost entire bunny with a thin coat of buttercream (it doesn’t have to be perfect, as the coconut will hide any imperfections). Refrigerate to set, 15 to 30 minutes. Generously frost cake again with buttercream. Sprinkle entire bunny with 2 cups coconut, using more if needed, to cover and create fur.
Step 5
Carve out 2 ears from Rice Krispies Treats. Frost with buttercream and sprinkle inside of ears with sanding sugar. Sprinkle ears with 1 cup coconut for fur. Using toothpicks, press ears into head. Using jelly beans, create eyes and a nose.
Step 6
In a tightly covered jar or container, shake remaining 1 cup coconut with a drop of green food coloring, adding more food coloring if needed, until coated and desired color is reached. Sprinkle around bunny and decorate with more jelly beans.