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These Easter Bunny Rolls are so easy to make and perfect for brunch or dinner! Made from fool-proof homemade yeast dough, these cute bunny-shaped rolls are buttery, fluffy, and so cute with their salty tails.

Bread shaped like a bunny, with a cottontail from dough on a grey dishtowel on a white plate next to a glass of water.

Soft and buttery Bunny rolls are an adorable and fun twist on traditional dinner rolls. They are perfect for adding a festive touch to your Easter or springtime meals, but can also be enjoyed year-round as a playful addition to any dinner table.

Made from scratch with simple beginner-friendly yeast dough just like our popular white bread recipe, these soft and fluffy rolls are shaped like cute bunnies with ears and tails. Once baked serve them warm with butter or use them for making festive sandwiches.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Bunny-shaped dinner rolls make a fun addition to your Easter dinner
  • Super easy to make from scratch
  • Soft and fluffy rolls that look and taste delicious
Dough shaped like a bunny, with a cottontail from dough on brown parchment paper.

Ingredient notes

Here is an overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for quantities.

  • Flour – Use all-purpose flour. Make sure to measure the flour correctly using a spoon to fill the measuring cup and level it off with a knife. You can also use bread flour if you have it on hand.
  • Yeast – You need Instant dry yeast for this recipe. Instant yeast can be added directly to the flour mixture, while active dry yeast needs to be activated first.
  • Water – The water should be lukewarm but not hot. Using warm water helps the dough rise faster. The ideal temperature is between 105° and 115°F.
  • Vegetable oil – A flavor-neutral oil like avocado oil works best for this recipe.
  • Egg – The egg is only needed for the egg wash. I prefer using an egg because it gives a nice color and sheen and helps the coarse salt stick.
  • Butter – Brushing the baked bunnies with butter adds flavor.

How to make this recipe 

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found at the bottom of the page on the printable recipe card.

Steps for making bunny-shaped rolls.

To make these rolls you need a stand mixer to knead the dough (or use your hands for a little workout) and a little bit of patience. After combining all the ingredients (Image 1) knead the dough until it pulls away from the side of the bowl and is smooth and elastic (Image 2).

The yeast dough needs to rise for about 1 to 2 hours until it has doubled in size (Images 3 and 4). That’s really important, the yeast needs time to do its work otherwise your rolls will taste like yeast.

When you shape the bunny rolls make sure to press down the overlapping ear to prevent it from rising too high during baking. To sprinkle the tails you can also use coarse sugar instead of coarse sea salt if you are aiming for sweeter bread.

These Easter Bunny Dinner Breadsticks are fluffy, buttery and so simple to make. And if it’s not the right time of the year for Bunnies then you could just make normal rolls from the dough!

Shaped bunny rolls on parchment paper.

Expert tips for success

  • The right type of yeast: Make sure to use instant dry yeast and check the date before adding it to the mixture.
  • Ingredients: When making yeast dough, make sure your ingredients are at room temperature. Warm ingredients will help activate the yeast and make the dough rise faster.
  • Kneading: Kneading the dough helps develop the gluten in the dough, which creates a chewy texture. Use a stand mixer with the dough hook or knead by hand for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
  • Let the dough rise: After kneading, let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size. This can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the temperature in your house and how yeast-friendly it is.
  • Don’t overwork the dough: Once the dough has risen, don’t overwork it. Gently punch it down with your hands and shape it before letting it rise again.
  • Baking: Make sure not to overbake the bunnies. Bake them until the tops are golden brown and the edges look cooked. Baking time might vary depending on your oven.

Recipe FAQs

Why did my rolls turn out dense?

Bread rolls may turn out dense if the dough was not allowed to rise properly. Give the dough enough time to rise in a warm, draft-free place.

Can I substitute active dry yeast for instant yeast?

Yes, active dry yeast can be substituted for instant yeast. However, you’ll need a bit more active dry yeast to produce the same results. You also need to activate the yeast in the warm water before adding the remaining ingredients.

Why is my yeast dough not rising?

There are several reasons why your yeast dough may not be rising properly, such as using old or expired yeast, not using warm enough water to activate the yeast, using water that is too hot, or not giving the dough enough time to rise. Make sure to follow the recipe instructions carefully and give the dough enough time to rise in a warm, draft-free place.

Bread shaped like a bunny, with a cottontail from dough on a stainless steel cooling rack.

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4.93 from 26 votes

Easter Bunny Rolls

These Easter Bunny Rolls are so easy to make and perfect for brunch or dinner! Made from fool-proof homemade yeast dough, these cute bunny-shaped rolls are buttery, fluffy, and so cute with their salty tails.
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ tsp Instant dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp coarse sea salt
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Instructions 

  • Pour lukewarm water into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Add yeast, sugar, salt, oil, and flour.
  • Knead on low-medium speed for about 4 minutes, until a smooth, elastic dough forms. The dough should be thick, yet soft and only slightly sticky. When it pulls away from the sides of the bowl it's ready.
  • Place the dough in a greased bowl and turn the dough over to coat all sides. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in a warm environment to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  • Once doubled in size, punch the dough down to release any air bubbles. Remove dough from the bowl and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces.
  • Heat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper, a silicone baking mat or lightly grease the cookie sheet.
  • Roll each ball of dough into a rope about 14 inches long. Cut a 1/2-inch piece off the end, and roll into a ball for the tail. Fold the dough rope in half, and loosely twist twice to form the body of the bunny. Place on cookie sheet and press down the overlapping ear a little bit to prevent it from rising too high. To make the bunny tail press ball of dough into folded end of the twist. Repeat with remaining dough to make 6 bunnies. Let the bunnies rise for 5-10 minutes.
  • Brush the tails with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
  • Bake the bunnies for 23-25 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the edges look cooked. Remove the rolls from the oven when they are done and brush butter onto each warm bunny.

Video

Notes

  • The right type of yeast: Make sure to use instant dry yeast and check the date before adding it to the mixture.
  • Ingredients: When making yeast dough, make sure your ingredients are at room temperature. Warm ingredients will help activate the yeast and make the dough rise faster.
  • Kneading: Kneading the dough helps develop the gluten in the dough, which creates a chewy texture. Use a stand mixer with the dough hook or knead by hand for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
  • Let the dough rise: After kneading, let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size. This can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the temperature in your house and how yeast-friendly it is.
  • Don’t overwork the dough: Once the dough has risen, don’t overwork it. Gently punch it down with your hands and shape it before letting it rise again.
  • Baking: Make sure not to overbake the bunnies. Bake them until the tops are golden brown and the edges look cooked. Baking time might vary depending on your oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 283kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 1595mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 156IU | Vitamin C: 0.003mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 3mg
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About Julia Foerster

Hi, I'm Julia! Born in Germany, I call Canada now my home and love to share my favorite dishes with you! Here you'll find hundreds of recipes, all made from scratch, with lots of tips and detailed step-by-step instructions.

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48 Comments

  1. I will make these for Easter lunch this year! Thank you for the cute recipe. Can I let rise, shape into Bunnies and let rise again and then cover with plastic wrap and put in fridge a day or two before Easter Sunday?

    1. Yes, you could refrigerate them after shaping the dough into bunnies. So the second rise would be overnight in the fridge.