Chocolate Mousse Bunny Cake

1 . Stage

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2 . Stage

Grease a 10-inch round cake pan and dust with unsweetened cocoa powder.

3 . Stage

Stir cake mix, 1 1/4 cup water, vegetable oil, and eggs in a large bowl until moistened. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until batter is smooth, 2 minutes.

4 . Stage

Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.

5 . Stage

Bake in preheated oven until the cake top springs back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.

6 . Stage

Place a stainless steel bowl and beaters in refrigerator until chilled, at least 20 minutes.

7 . Stage

Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes before removing to finish cooling completely.

8 . Stage

Place unsweetened baking chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl and heat in microwave on high power until chocolate is slightly warmed, about 1 minute. Continue to heat chocolate in 20-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until chocolate is melted and free of lumps.

9 . Stage

Stir melted chocolate with sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl until thoroughly combined; whisk in 1/4 cup water and instant chocolate pudding mix until thickened and smooth, about 1 minute. Cover bowl and chill pudding mixture until cold, at least 30 minutes.

10 . Stage

Whip cream in the chilled stainless steel bowl with chilled beaters until the cream holds stiff peaks, about 2 minutes. If necessary, use a cloth to touch the steel bowl to avoid warming the bowl.

11 . Stage

Remove chocolate pudding mixture from refrigerator and stir until smooth; gently fold whipped cream into pudding mixture to make a fluffy chocolate frosting.

12 . Stage

To assemble the cake, cut the cake into 2 equal halves and place the halves together on a cake serving platter with the cut sides down, and rounded sides up. If needed, glue the two cake halves together with a smear of frosting.

13 . Stage

Cut a small wedge out of the edge of the cake halves about 1/3 of the way up to form a head.

14 . Stage

Attach the cut-out wedge with toothpicks to the bottom of the cake opposite the head to make a tail.

15 . Stage

Generously frost the cake with the chocolate cream frosting.

16 . Stage

Sprinkle the whole cake with grated chocolate for fur. Place jelly beans on front of head to make eyes and nose.

17 . Stage

Cut 2 large ear shapes from brown construction paper. Cut 2 smaller ear shapes from pink construction paper for the insides of the ears. Fold together to make the ears and insert into top of the head.

18 . Stage

Refrigerate the cake until ready to serve.