My daughter couldn’t decide between a bunny or a bear for her birthday cake... so we made both! These Kawaii Animal Cakes are so simple and fun — just a basic round cake with ears, eyes, and a sweet face. You don’t need fancy tools, just a little imagination (and maybe some candy eyes!).

Choose Your Character:

🐻 Bear – light brown frosting, round ears
🐰 Bunny – pastel pink or white, long ears
🐼 Panda – white frosting with black fondant details

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 ½ tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 ¾ cups sugar

• 4 large eggs

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

• 1 cup milk

Shortcut: Use 1–2 boxes of vanilla or chocolate cake mix.

For the Frosting:

• 1 ½ cups butter, softened

• 5 cups powdered sugar

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

• 2–3 tbsp milk or cream

• Food coloring: brown, pink, white, black (depending on your animal)

Decorations:

• Ears: You can use small fondant pieces or even cookies to make animal ears. Choose any color that matches the animal theme you’re going for.
• Eyes: Candy eyes work great and are easy to find at most grocery or craft stores. You can also roll tiny black fondant circles if you want to make your own.
• Mouth: Use a little bit of black frosting or an edible marker to draw a simple smile or animal mouth—whatever feels easiest.
• Extra Fun (Optional): Add mini marshmallows, colorful sprinkles, or little bows to make it extra cute and playful. 

No need to be perfect—just have fun with it and get creative with what you have at home!

 Instructions Bake the Cake: 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Grease and line two 8-inch round pans.

3. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

4. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.

5. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla.

6. Add dry ingredients and milk, alternating slowly.

7. Pour into pans and bake for 25–30 minutes.

8. Cool completely before decorating.

Make the Frosting:

• Beat softened butter until creamy.

• Slowly add powdered sugar.

• Mix in vanilla and milk until fluffy.

• Tint frosting with your chosen colors:

• Bear: light brown

• Bunny: pastel pink or white

• Panda: keep white; use black fondant for eyes and ears

Frost the Cake:

1. Place the first cake layer on a plate.

2. Add frosting, then stack the second layer.

3. Frost the whole cake with your main color (brown, pink, or white).

4. Smooth it out or leave fluffy texture for a “furry” look.

Add the Face:

Eyes:

• Use candy eyes or black fondant circles.

• Place them toward the top half of the cake — big and wide for that kawaii look!

Mouth + Nose:

• Use black icing or edible marker to draw a small nose and a simple smile or dot mouth.

Ears:

• Make fondant or cookie ears and press gently into the top of the cake.

• Bunny: tall ears

• Bear: round ears

• Panda: black fondant circles

Extra Cuteness:

• Add mini bows, heart sprinkles, or blush dots with pink frosting.

Nutrition (Per Slice, Approximate):

Calories: 440
Protein: 3g
Carbs: 56g
Fat: 22g
Sugar: 45g
Fiber: 0.5g