Last year, I made little double-decker bunnies and thought this year needed some double-decker action as well. (That sounds weird.)
Anyway...I love the shape of this bunny cookie cutter. It's just perfect for a "chocolate" bunny. I do have three egg cookie cutters (everyone needs three, right?), but none larger than the bunny cutter. So, using the bunny cutter as a guide, I just cut large eggs with a paring knife:
These babies are big...the egg cookie is 6 & a half inches. Easter is for celebrating.
{Oh, PS. That edible Easter grass? Cute, but not exactly delicious.}
To make these double-decker bunny cookies, you'll need:
- sugar cookies cut with a bunny cookie cutter and hand-cut with a paring knife
- royal icing, divided and tinted with AmeriColor Sky Blue mixed with Ivory & Chocolate Brown, Bright White
- disposable icing bags
- coupler and tips: #2, #1
- squeeze bottles
- toothpicks
- small ramekin
- small, clean paintbrush
Thin the blue and brown icings with water, a bit at a time, stirring with a silicone spatula, until it is the consistency of a thick syrup. (Reserve some of the blue icing for piping details later.) You'll want to drop a "ribbon" of icing back into the bowl and have it disappear in a count of "one thousand one, one thousand two." Four is too thick, one is too thin. Count of 2-3 is good. Cover with a damp dishcloth and let sit for several minutes.
Stir gently with a silicone spatula to pop and large air bubbles that have formed. Pour into squeeze bottles as needed.
Fill in the outlines with the thinned icing, using a toothpick to guide to the edges and to pop large air bubbles.
Let the cookies dry at least one hour.
Add the details to the bunny cookie, using a #2 tip for the bow and #1 tip for the eye.
Let the cookies dry uncovered, 6-8 hours, or overnight.
The next day, add the "speckles" to the eggs. Mix equal(ish) parts water and chocolate brown food coloring. Dip a clean paintbrush into the mixture and flick over the cookies with a GLOVED finger.
(For more details and pictures of the speckling process, click over to this post.)
This will dry in about 15-30 minutes.
Apply piping consistency icing to the back of the bunny cookies...just a bit will do, we don't want oozing. Gently press in place on the egg cookie. Let dry for 30 minutes or more to set.
Double-decker, 6-inch tall, speckled eggs & bunnies. Just one placed in a treat bag and tied with a pretty ribbon makes the perfect Easter gift!
Happy Easter, bunnies!