Beatrix Potter's Easter: An Easter Gift Basket

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Little Benjamin took one
look, and then, in half a minute
less than no time, he hid himself
and Peter and the onions
underneath a large basket. . .

-Beatrix Potter, "The Tale of Benjamin Bunny"

There are no onions in this basket. That'd be a little weird.  But we made "Bunny Buns" This week, and I realized they'd be a perfect easter gift, wrapped up in a bunny napkin, nestled in a basket with flowers. 

The recipe for Bunny Buns is here, and it is fantastic. Like so fantastic, that it appeared in 1980, and they keep having to re-print it for all of us. But I always think I can improve on a classic, so here is a tiny twist on Bunny Buns.

Bunny Buns

1 pkt of Yeast, proofed in 1/4 c warm water,

1/2 C melted Shortening
1 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
1/3 C sugar

2 Eggs
1/4 C. Orange Juice Concentrate
2 Tsp. Orange Zest

5 C. Flour

Mix the Shortening, salt milk and sugar together. Making sure it's just warm, add in the eggs, yeast mixture, orange juice, and orange zest. Mix in your flour and knead about 6 minutes. Let rise til double, punch down, roll out to a 1/2 inch thick, 14 inch long rectangle. Cut into strips that are 1/2 inch wide, so you should have 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch by 14 inch dough pieces. Make a circle out of the center and twist the tops to create the bunny ears. Let rise again (1 hr) and bake at 375 for 12 minutes.

Glaze:

2 C Powdered Sugar
2 TBSP Soft Butter
3 TBSP Orange Juice Concentrate

Mix it all up and brush on rolls hot from the oven.

When cool, feel free to add some cream cheese to your leftover glaze, mix well, and fill the bunny tummies with it for dipping.


These are delicious and fun to decorate if you feel so inclined. My sweet little lady gave a personality to several of our sweet little bunnies. And in the interest of keeping it real out in blogland, I would like to introduce you to a little friend of mine:

Scary Bunny

Have a Happy Easter!

Linking Up:

I Heart Naptime - Funky Junk Interiors -Today's Creative Blog -Tip Junkie -At The Picket Fence (Bunny Blog Hop) - The 36th Avenue - The Shabby Creek Cottage - House of Hepworths -