Not only is Easter an awesome time to spend some quality time with the family, but it’s also a great time to flex your creativity in the kitchen! Much like Valentine’s Day, Easter gives us the opportunity to make foods in unique shapes and sizes to accommodate the traditions of the holiday. This year, I figured it’s as good a time as ever to research some Easter-related edible decorations to have out throughout the day. I honestly can’t believe that Easter is right around the corner. 2016 is already going by so fast! With daylight savings a couple of weeks back, the nights are getting a little bit longer, and it’s really starting to feel like spring. I for one am quite excited to get some family time and put together a fun filled Easter menu! Check out some of the cute ideas that I found:
Bunny Roll
Bunny Dinner Rolls (Source: Sprinklesomefun)
I’m sure we’ve all seen something like this on Pinterest, but one of the easiest foods to make into fun shapes is a dinner roll. I know they look a little intimidating in terms of making the intricate details but trust me when I say that this one is pretty easy! There are a lot of recipes out there that advise cutting slits in the tops of the rolls for the bunny ears, but that usually ends up looking less than ideal. I found a recipe that was adapted from a porcupine roll concept, but ends up actually working pretty well for cute little bunnies too!
Here’s what you’ll need.
- 1-1/2 cups bread flour
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons Yeast
- 1-1/4 teaspoons salt
- ½ Tsp. Cinnamon
- 1-1/3 cups water
- ¼ cup Light Corn Syrup
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 cups white whole wheat flour
- 1 skewer
- ¼ cup egg whites to stick on the ears and tail
Instructions:
- In a big bowl, add the flour, yeast, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, heat the water, butter and corn syrup until it’s quite warm and add it to the bowl with the flour mixture. With an electric mixer, beat the mixture for 2 minutes on medium speed. Stir in enough flour to make a light, soft dough. On a surface lightly sprinkled with flour, knead the dough for around 8 minutes, or until smooth and stretchy. Let it rest for about 10 minutes while covered in a paper towel.
- Cut the resulting dough into roughly 16 parts. With 12 of them, make small ovals and set them aside. With the rest of the dough, make 12 small balls for the little bunny tails, and 24 long bunny shaped ears. With the skewers, shape the ear and cut around the edges with kitchen shears. Stick the resulting ears onto the roll with a bit of egg whites, and repeat this process for the tails. Finally, poke holes just under the ears to make the eyeholes. Take a deep breath; it’s all downhill from here!
- Preheat the oven to about 350 degrees. Once ready, place the bunny-shaped dough rolls onto a greased baking sheet, and bake for around 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown! Remove from the pan and cool them on a wire rack. Voila! Bunny rolls!
Watermelon Bunny Centerpiece
Bunny Watermelon Centerpiece (Source: Watermelon)
There isn’t a more refreshing way to provide your table with some Easter pizzazz than cutting out a bunny shaped fruit bowl! This one will definitely test your inner artist, but the ooh’s and ahh’s will be well worth your time! You don’t need much here, but this all comes down to finesse and skill with the knife.
Ingredients:
- 1 large watermelon (preferably oblong in shape)
- A few boxes of assorted berries
- A pencil or marker
- A knife
- Toothpicks
Instructions:
Start by cutting a ¼ inch slice off of the bottom of the watermelon so that it can easily be set on a plate to put on the table. Using the pencil or marker, draw where the ears and upper body of the bunny will be. Much like carving a pumpkin, cut along your lines, and be sure to remove any excess rind. Set any extra rind aside for the whiskers and a tail!
Using a large spoon, hollow out the watermelon, being especially careful around the ears! With the excess rind, cut some small spears that will be used as whiskers, but trim off the outer rind to make it a lighter green and provide contrast.
Using a melon baller, use it to cut out small eyeholes and a hole for the nose, and plug the holes with the remaining melon balls or blueberries for the eyes. Use toothpicks to be sure they don’t fall out! What’s a bunny without the characteristic buckteeth! Cut out a rectangular shape below the nose, and trim a small line down the middle of the rectangle to make it look like two separate teeth. Using the toothpicks, attach the whisker pieces that have been set aside just below the nose.
Fill it on up with the berries, and there you have it! The most delicious, and darling, Easter centerpiece ever!
Peeps Cupcake
Peeps Cupcakes (Source: Lovefromtheoven)
For the finishing touch, there’s nothing that screams “EASTER” quite like a Peep. I’m sure we’ve all felt the chills of biting into these sugary, gooey marshmallow treats, so what a better way to have an Easter dessert than to put them on cupcakes! I know the previous two ideas have involved quite a bit of work, but rest easy. These are a breeze!
Depending on your family’s cake preference, make the mix in a muffin pan, and garnish with a spring colored frosting. Add some sprinkles on top, and finish with a Peep on top (a chick, or a bunny, it doesn’t matter since both are Easter themed!) Be sure to warn the eaters that the Peeps are attached with a toothpick so there are no accidental injuries while eating these delicious treats!
I so hope you found something that can make your Easter holiday just a bit more fun and festive!
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Courtney
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