Giant Filled Chocolate Easter Bunny Recipes

GIANT CHOCOLATE-COATED MARSHMALLOW COOKIE

Steps:

• For the marshmallow: Line a 10-inch heat-safe bowl with a large piece of plastic wrap, leaving a 5 inch overhang. Coat the plastic wrap with cooking spray and then add a large scoop of confectioners' sugar. Pat and rotate the bowl on an angle so that the plastic wrap is coated in sugar. Tap out any excess and set aside.
• Stir together the gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in the bowl of stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.
• Combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup, 1/2 cup water and salt in a small saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar completely dissolves. (If any granules of sugar stick to the side of the pan, brush them back into the sugar-water mixture with a wet pastry brush.) Attach a candy thermometer to the pan and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F.
• With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the softened gelatin. Once all the syrup is added, increase the speed to high and beat until the mixture is very thick and holds soft peaks, about 15 minutes. Beat in the vanilla.
• Coat a rubber spatula with cooking spray and scrape the marshmallow into the prepared bowl. Smooth out the top and dust with confectioners' sugar. Let sit at room temperature until the marshmallow is completely cool and set, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, for the crust: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat the inside of an 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
• Pulse the graham crackers, flour, baking powder and salt in a food processor until finely crushed. Add the butter and eggs and pulse until the mixture clumps together. Press into the prepared pan and bake until golden and no longer shiny, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely. Unlock and remove the side of the pan.
• For the chocolate coating: Microwave the chocolate and coconut oil together in a medium microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until the chocolate is smooth. Let cool at room temperature until the mixture coats a spoon and drips off slowly.
• Build the cookie: Line a baking sheet with a wire rack. Place the crust on the rack and pour about 1/3 cup of the chocolate coating onto the center of the crust. Using an offset spatula, spread the chocolate to the edges of the crust ensuring that the chocolate drips and coats the sides of the crust evenly. Use the sides of the plastic wrap to remove the marshmallow and invert onto the crust.
• Pour the remaining chocolate coating all over the top of the cookie and let it drip to coat completely. Let sit at room temperature until the coating is hard and set, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer to a cake stand or serving platter. Coat a knife with cooking spray and slice (this will help keep the marshmallow from sticking to the knife).

CANDY-FILLED CHOCOLATE EASTER EGG

Steps:

• Using a 2-pound plastic Easter egg chocolate candy mold as a guide, cut the cake to fit inside the base of the mold; set aside (discard the extra cake). Refrigerate the mold to chill, about 15 minutes.
• Put half the milk chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted, about 3 minutes. Add the remaining chocolate and continue to stir until smooth; this will result in a tempered chocolate that will set hard. Transfer 3/4 cup of the chocolate to a small bowl; set aside.
• Swirl half the remaining chocolate inside the mold to coat completely. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Repeat with the other half of the chocolate, swirling to create a thick layer; refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Fill the egg with the candy. Top with the cake cutout and press down firmly so the cake is flush with the mold (trim away any extra cake with a serrated knife).
• Microwave the reserved chocolate to remelt if needed, then measure out 1/2 cup. Spread the chocolate over the cake with a spatula to cover completely. Refrigerate until set, at least 30 minutes.
• Invert the egg onto a serving platter or cake stand; remove the mold. Microwave the remaining chocolate to remelt if needed, then transfer to a piping bag with a small round tip. Use the chocolate to attach candies to the outside of the egg. Chill until ready to serve.
• Serve the egg with a big spoon or meat mallet and encourage guests to crack it open and watch the candy pour out.

MARSHMALLOW CHICKS AND BUNNIES

Steps:

• Spread 3/4 cup of the pink sanding sugar in the bottom of an 8-inch square pan. Line a rimmed baking sheet with wax paper and cover it sparsely with 1/3 cup of the yellow sanding sugar. Prepare a piping bag with a 1/2-inch pastry tip.
• Pour 2/3 cup of cold water into the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the powdered gelatin on top. Let sit for 5 minutes.
• Put the granulated sugar and 1/2 cup cold water in a small pot over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved, about 4 minutes. Attach a candy thermometer to the pot, bring the mixture to a boil and boil until the thermometer registers 238 degrees F, about 8 minutes. Brush the sides of the pot with a wet pastry brush if sugar crystals stick to the sides as the syrup boils.
• Carefully pour the hot sugar syrup into the bowl with the gelatin and whisk the mixture by hand for a few minutes to cool it slightly. Then, using the whisk attachment, whisk the mixture on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, 9 to 11 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix for another 30 seconds.
• Put half of the mixture (about 2 cups) into a large bowl. Add about 5 drops of pink gel food coloring and gently fold with a rubber spatula to combine and until no streaks remain. Scrape into the prepared 8-inch square pan and spread into a smooth, even layer. Let sit at least 4 hours, uncovered, so the marshmallow stiffens.
• Add about 5 drops yellow gel food coloring to the remaining marshmallow in the stand mixer, gently folding with a rubber spatula to combine. Transfer the yellow marshmallow to the prepared piping bag. Pipe a chick shape (about 2 1/2-inches long) on the prepared baking sheet by beginning piping close to you, pulling away from you to begin making the chick's body, then doubling back toward yourself. When you reach the end of the body nearest you, double back a bit to make the head, pulling away to create the beak. Repeat, keeping about an inch between the chicks. Let sit at least 4 hours, uncovered, so the marshmallow chicks stiffen.
• To coat the bunnies in sugar: Put the remaining 1/2 cup pink sanding sugar in a medium bowl. Heat a saucepan filled with a couple inches of water to just under a boil, then turn off the heat. Dip the unrimmed edge of a 2 1/2-inch bunny-shaped cookie cutter into the warm water, then press the cutter into one corner of the marshmallow, creating a bunny marshmallow. Nudge the cut bunny out of the cutter and into the bowl filled with pink sanding sugar. Toss the cut bunny with a fork until well covered with sanding sugar. Repeat, dipping the cutter into the warm water each time you cut a bunny.
• To coat the chicks in sugar: Put the remaining 1 cup yellow sanding sugar in a medium bowl. Use an offset spatula to remove 1 chick from the wax paper. Place the chick in the bowl filled with yellow sanding sugar. Toss the chick with a fork until well covered with sanding sugar. Repeat with the remaining chicks.
• To make eyes and a nose for the bunnies, dip a toothpick or pointed skewer into the black gel food coloring and place 2 dots on each face for the eyes and 1 dot centered below the eyes for the nose. To create eyes on the chicks, dip a toothpick or pointed skewer into the black gel food coloring and place 1 dot on each side of each chick's head. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

GIANT FILLED CHOCOLATE EASTER BUNNY

Steps:

• Add half of the chocolate to a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, whisking in between each, until the chocolate is melted, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining chocolate and continue to whisk until smooth; this will result in a tempered chocolate that will appear glossy when set. Transfer 1/4 cup of the tempered chocolate to a small bowl; set aside.
• Divide the remaining chocolate between the 2 halves of a 10-inch-tall plastic bunny mold. Tilt the mold halves to swirl the chocolate around until each is coated entirely. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes.
• Add the marshmallow creme, chocolate-hazelnut spread and caramel syrup to a medium bowl and fold with a rubber spatula to combine. Coat 2 small rubber spatulas with nonstick spray and use them to divide the mixture between the mold halves. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Reheat the reserved 1/4 cup of chocolate in 15-second intervals, whisking in between each, until the chocolate is melted, about 45 seconds. Transfer to a piping bag; snip the tip off to make a 1/8- to 1/4-inch hole. Pipe the melted chocolate around the edge of one of the mold halves. Sandwich both halves together and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
• Carefully unmold and trim away any excess chocolate around the edges if needed.