Children of all ages can enjoy creating this easy to shape bunny bread. Grab your favorite bread recipe and start shaping.
Breads That Work
Bread shaping works best with yeast bread. To determine if your recipe is yeast bread that will work, do not just look for yeast as an ingredient. A few quick bread recipes also use yeast, so check for the following qualities. First, is the consistency; yeast breads have a stiff dough that is easy to shape whereas quick breads are created as a batter and are typically poured into a pan. Another is when the bread will rise since yeast breads rise before baking and quick breads rise in the oven while baking.
Choose any family favorite whether a white bread, wheat bread, sourdough or sweet bread. You will need to use the traditional rising and baking methods instead of a bread machine.
Directions
- Start your bread according to the recipe’s directions.
- Allow it to rise once and punch it down.
- If your recipe makes more than one loaf (many yeast bread recipes yield two loafs) it will direct you to divide the dough for each loaf. Each loaf will make two bunnies.
- After the dough rests, continue with the following steps.
Additional ingredients needed:
- egg whites
- 1 Tablespoon water
- raisins or other dried fruit (optional).
Steps
- Take the dough for one loaf and divide it in half. Put one to the side for the second bunny.
- Form one half into a ball and place it on a greased cookie sheet. Press it down lightly. This is the bunny’s body.
- Divide the other half into two pieces. Form one into a ball and place it at the top for the head. Pinch the dough to connect the head to the body; if it is not sticking well use some egg white as glue.
- Divide the other small piece into six pieces.
- Use your hands to roll four pieces into strips 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) long. Attach two to the head for ears and two to the bottom of the body for feet.
- Roll the remaining two small pieces into balls and attach to the body for arms.
- If desired, use a sharp knife to cut small slits for eyes and a belly button. Put a small amount of egg white in the holes and place a raisin or other small dried fruit into it.
- Repeat from Step 2 for the second bunny.
Once the bunnies are formed, cover them with a damp towel and allow it to rise in a warm place for 45 minutes or until double in size. Combine 1 Tablespoon of egg white and 1 Tablespoon of water and brush it on the bunnies just before baking.
Bake in a 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 30 minutes or until bunnies are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Immediately move them to a rack to cool.
