If youโre looking for a really easy and super adorable Easter dessert option, then youโre going to love these bunny butt cookies. Theyโre so cute! Iโm using a sugar cookie base which Iโm baking in my air fryer since itโs so fast, but there are lots of other options you can use too.
Why Youโll Love This Recipe
These fun little bunny butt cookies are the perfect dessert for Easter and spring. Plus, the kids will love them and the adults will still enjoy them, so you canโt go wrong. Iโm definitely no professional decorator and I still had fun making them!
Thanks to the use of prepared sugar cookie dough, this recipe has just 5 ingredients. However, there are lots of alternative options that you can swap in based on what you have on hand or can find. Iโll make sure to give you plenty of choices!
Iโm baking my cookies in the air fryer because itโs fast and convenient (and leaves my big oven open for that Easter ham). However, you can use a regular oven or even buy pre-baked cookies if you prefer.
Ingredients List
- 16 ounce tube sugar cookie dough (such as Pillsbury)
- 16 ounce container ready to spread frosting (I have strawberry)
- 12 large marshmallows
- 12 mini marshmallows
- 7 ounce pouch cookie icing
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- You can also buy a dozen pre-baked sugar cookies at your grocery store and skip the baking altogether (just decorate only)
- Any flavor of frosting is fine. If you do vanilla (white) frosting, you can tint it any color you want with food coloring. Your cookie icing should match your frosting color
- The marshmallows should be an opposing color to your frosting. Since my store only has white marshmallows, I use pink frosting and icing. However, if you can find colored marshmallows, you can use white or another color of icing
- If you want to swap out the large marshmallows, grab an extra tube of cookie dough. Cut the slices into quarters, shape into ovals, and bake along with the other cookies. Adhere them on by using frosting or melted chocolate!
- Instead of the mini marshmallow for the tail, you can also use a tuft of cotton candy (would that make it a cotton tail bunny?) or some shredded coconut, or similar
- You can also add shredded coconut to the cookie icing, or sprinkle it with sanding sugar so that it gives it a more โfur-likeโ appearance
Step By Step Instructions
- Line your air fryer basket or rack with parchment or nonstick foil
- Slice the cookie dough into 12 slices approximately ยฝโ thick (you will have extra dough)
- Place the sliced cookie dough on top of the parchment or foil, approximately 2โ apart. Note: try to weigh down the paper or foil evenly, to prevent it from lifting at the sides and tossing the cookies around
- Cook on the air fry setting at 350ยฐF for 7-9 minutes, or until the edges are browned and fully set
- Rest for 5 minutes in the air fryer (to allow the cookies to set a bit) and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely
- Once cookies are fully cooled, spread prepared icing evenly over the tops. If you have any cookies that are rough or lumpy on top, this is your chance to hide it!
- Cut a large marshmallow in half, and press the cut sides into the icing near the bottom of the cookie to form bunny feet
- Add the mini marshmallow above the feet, pressing it into the icing to form the tail
- Use the cookie icing to add the โpawโ design (I usually do a foot pad and 3 โtoesโ)
- Enjoy!
Alternate Oven Directions
- Bake on a parchment lined cookie sheet in an oven preheated to 350ยฐF for 12-14 minutes. Rest for 3 minutes before transferring to cool
More Easter Recipes to Try
- Birdโs Nest Treats (Microwave)
- Peeps Martini
- Air Fryer Deviled Eggs
- Hasselback Carrots in the Air Fryer
- Jelly Belly Pomegranate Cosmo
- Air Fryer Egg Salad
Recipe FAQs
What Are Bunny Butt Cookies?
Bunny butt cookies are adorable Easter-themed treats featuring a sugar cookie base decorated to resemble the tail and feet of a bunny.
They are a fun and festive addition to any spring celebration, and popular with both kids and adults.
How Do I Make Bunny Butt Cookies?
To make bunny butt cookies, start by preparing a batch of sugar cookie dough and shaping it into rounds. Once baked and cooled, decorate the cookies with white frosting or royal icing.
Then, add marshmallows for the tail and base of the feet, and pink candies or frosting for the toes.
What Ingredients Do I Need to Make Bunny Butt Cookies?
The ingredients for bunny butt cookies typically include prepared sugar cookie or dough, frosting or royal icing, mini marshmallows, and pink candies or frosting for decoration.
If you make the cookie dough from scratch, you will likely need flour, sugar, butter, eggs, baking powder, and vanilla extract.
Can I Use Store Bought Cookie Dough for Bunny Butt Cookies?
Yes, you can use store bought cookie dough to save time when making bunny butt cookies.
Simply bake the cookies and allow them to cool, then proceed with decorating them as desired.
Are Bunny Butt Cookies Kid-Friendly to Make?
Yes, bunny butt cookies are a great baking project to involve children in. They can help shape the dough into rounds, decorate the cookies with frosting and candies, and assemble the bunny tails and feet, making it a fun and creative activity for kids of all ages.
That said, an adult should handle the actual baking process, whether in the oven or air fryer, as the cookies will be very hot.
How Should I Store Bunny Butt Cookies?
Bunny butt cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Itโs also fine to store them in the refrigerator, which can help keep the icing and marshmallows more firm and less sticky.
Can I Make Bunny Butt Cookies Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make bunny butt cookies ahead of time and store them in an airtight container until ready to serve.
They are a great make-ahead treat for Easter parties or other springtime gatherings. They generally keep fresh for 2-3 days, but are still enjoyable for up to a week.
Can I Customize the Decoration of Bunny Butt Cookies?
Absolutely! Feel free to get creative with the decoration of your bunny butt cookies. You can use different colors of frosting, sprinkles, or candies to personalize the cookies and make each one unique.
Try out different textures as well, like cotton candy, coconut, or sanding sugar to emulate fur for your cookies.
Recipe Pro Tips
- I do not preheat my air fryer for this recipe, so I usually cook the first batch for about 9 minutes and do 7 minutes on subsequent batches. I have a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer, other air fryers may vary slightly
- The tube of cookie dough should be enough for 20-24 cookies, depending exactly how thick you slice them. You can save and use the remaining half for another recipe, or make some extra cookies. Note: I always have at least a few that decide to blow around and come out extremely misshapen from my air fryer. They still taste great, but are not ideal for decorating, so it is a good idea to have some extras if you need a specific quantity
Storage Tips
- Bunny butt cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. However, I find them best for freshness within 2-3 days
- Feel free to refrigerate as well, as it keeps them fresh longer and the icing will be slightly stiffer this way
More Air Fryer Cookie Recipes
- Pillsbury Holiday Sugar Cookies in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza
- Red Velvet Air Fryer Cake Mix Cookies
- Air Fryer Gingerbread Cookies
- Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Air Fryer Cookie Cake
Final Thoughts
These bunny butt cookies are an adorable Easter dessert option thatโs fun to make and eat! I bake mine in the air fryer for convenience, but you can also use a traditional oven or start with store-baked cookies so all you have to do is decorate!
Using frosting and marshmallows, you can create the cute little bunny butts that adorn these sugar cookies. Itโs a fun recipe where the kids can help decorate, but everyone in the family will enjoy eating them!
Feel free to make them a day or two in advance (if they can last that long in your house) to make things easier for entertaining. Treat yourself to one while the kids are egg hunting!
Bunny Butt Cookies (Air Fryer or Oven)
Equipment
- Air Fryer (or oven)
- Parchment paper (or nonstick foil)
- Spatula (for spreading frosting)
Ingredients
- 16 ounce tube sugar cookie dough (such as Pillsbury)
- 16 ounce container ready to spread frosting (Pillsbury or similar)
- 12 large marshmallows
- 12 mini marshmallows
- 7 ounce pouch cookie icing (or similar)
Instructions
- Line your air fryer basket or rack with parchment or nonstick foil
- Slice the cookie dough into 12 slices approximately ยฝโ thick (you will have extra dough)16 ounce tube sugar cookie dough
- Place the sliced cookie dough on top of the parchment or foil, approximately 2โ apart. Note: try to weigh down the paper or foil evenly, to prevent it from lifting at the sides and tossing the cookies around
- Cook on the air fry setting at 350ยฐF for 7-9 minutes, or until the edges are browned and fully set
- Rest for 5 minutes in the air fryer (to allow the cookies to set a bit) and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely
- Once cookies are fully cooled, spread prepared icing evenly over the tops. If you have any cookies that are rough or lumpy on top, this is your chance to hide it!16 ounce container ready to spread frosting
- Cut a large marshmallow in half with a sharp knife, and press the cut sides into the icing near the bottom of the cookie to form bunny feet12 large marshmallows
- Add the mini marshmallow above the feet, pressing it into the icing to form the tail12 mini marshmallows
- Use the cookie icing to add the โpawโ design (I usually do a foot pad and 3 โtoesโ)7 ounce pouch cookie icing
- Enjoy!
Alternate Oven Baking Directions
- Bake cookies 2" apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet in an oven preheated to 350ยฐF for 12-14 minutes. Rest for 3 minutes before transferring to rack to cool
Notes
- You can also buy a dozen pre-baked sugar cookies at your grocery store and skip the baking altogether (just decorate only)
- Any flavor of frosting is fine. If you do vanilla (white) frosting, you can tint it any color you want with food coloring. Your cookie icing should match your frosting color
- The marshmallows should be an opposing color to your frosting. Since my store only has white marshmallows, I use pink frosting and icing. However, if you can find colored marshmallows, you can use white or another color of icing
- If you want to swap out the large marshmallows, grab an extra tube of cookie dough. Cut the slices into quarters, shape into ovals, and bake along with the other cookies. Adhere them on by using frosting or melted chocolate!
- Instead of the mini marshmallow for the tail, you can also use a tuft of cotton candy, some shredded coconut, or similar
- You can also add shredded coconut to the cookie icing, or sprinkle it with sanding sugar to give it a more โfur-likeโ appearance
- I do not preheat my air fryer for this recipe, so I usually cook the first batch for about 9 minutes and do 7 minutes on subsequent batches. I have a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer, other air fryers may vary slightly
- The tube of cookie dough should be enough for 20-24 cookies, depending exactly how thick you slice them. You can save and use the remaining half for another recipe, or make some extra cookies. Note: I always have at least a few that decide to blow around and come out extremely misshapen from my air fryer. They still taste great, but are not ideal for decorating, so it is a good idea to have some extras if you need a specific quantity
- Bunny butt cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. However, I find them best for freshness within 2-3 days
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, decorations added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
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