Easter Bunny Buns

You can turn these easy one-rise dinner rolls into bunny buns for Easter. Kids will love them and grown ups will enjoy the tasty bread rolls.

You’ll need two round cookie or biscuit cutters, 2 1/2 and 4 inches across as well as a tiny 1/2-inch cutter for the nose (I use the top from a lipstick). If butter is cold you can cut it up and warm it with the milk. For sweeter rolls feel free to increase the sugar up to 1/3 cup.

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour or bread flour
2 teaspoons (1 packet/7 grams) instant yeast
2 Tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup 1% low fat milk heated to 120° F
2 Tablespoons softened butter or trans fat-free margarine
1 egg at room temperature

additional 1/2 to 3/4 cup flour
16 raisins

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl combine flour, yeast, sugar & salt.
Stir in warmed milk & butter (or margarine), then egg.
Beat on high for 2 minutes.
Stir in enough additional flour to make a firm dough.
Remove to a floured surface and knead 100 turns until the dough is smooth and elastic. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
Meantime, line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and put aside 8 sets of matching size raisins for eyes.
Cut the dough in half and keep one half covered. On a floured board, roll the other half of the dough into a 6 x 12-inch oval about 1/2 inch thick.
Cut the 2 larger circles from each end and 4 smaller ones in the middle. Place smaller circles on the baking sheet, spaced well apart. They will be the faces.

Using the large cutter, cut four even shapes off the edges of both large circles to make 8 ears.
Cut four tiny 1/2-inch circles for the noses.

Slightly tuck 2 ears under the top of each bunny's head. Place the noses on each face and push in raisins for the eyes.

Cover with a dish towel and let rise in a warm place 30 minutes to an hour, until doubled in size. Repeat with second half of dough. (you can shape any remaining dough into 2-inch balls to rise and bake the same way for extra rolls)
Bake each sheet in a preheated 375° F oven for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
Enjoy!