Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups white sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
  • Buttercream Frosting:
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • Decoration:
  • 30 large marshmallows, cut in half lengthwise
  • 1 cup pink sugar sprinkles
  • 30 candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's(R))
  • 1 (1.5 ounce) tube black decorating gel

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 30 individual muffin cups or line cups with paper liners.
  • Beat 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter and white sugar in a large bowl with an electric blender until creamy. Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each addition. Beat in lemon zest and vanilla extract.
  • Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Add to butter mixture alternately with sour cream and mix well into a thick batter. Spoon 1/4 cup of batter into each muffin cup.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the tins for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool, about 20 minutes.
  • Prepare the frosting while cupcakes are cooling. Cream together 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter and vanilla extract with an electric blender. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Beat in milk and continue beating until frosting is light and fluffy.
  • Spread out marshmallow halves on a clean surface, cut-side down. Spread a little bit of frosting in the center of each marshmallow half. Sprinkle with pink decorating sugar to make the bunny ears.
  • Spread an even layer of frosting over each cooled cupcake. Place 2 of the prepared marshmallow halves on each cupcake for the ears. Place a chocolate piece in the middle of each cupcake for the nose and draw eyes and whiskers with black decorating gel.