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How to Make a Sugar-Cookie Easter Bunny House

This is a great project to do with kids: They can help mix the dough and cut out the cookies with cookie cutters. And since the roof is detachable, the house doubles as an Easter basket, which they'll love filling up with cookies and Easter candy.

Photo: Matt Armendariz ©

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Sugar-Cookie Easter Bunny House

This sweet bunny hutch is made from a buttery cookie that's hard to resist nibbling as you build.

get the recipe

Photo: Matt Armendariz ©

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Special Equipment

You will need parchment paper, ruler, scissors, rolling pin, pizza cutter, cookie cutters, disposable pastry bags, and small and medium decorating tips.

Photo: Matt Armendariz ©

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Cut Templates from Paper

1 base, 8 by 8 inches; 1 roof, 5 3/4 by 6 1/2 inches; 2 slanted side walls, both 5 inches wide, one 4 inches high on the left and 3 inches high on the right, the other 3 inches high on the left and 4 inches high on the right, with optional windows cut out; 1 front wall, 5 inches wide by 4 inches high, with a door cut out; 1 back wall, 5 by 3 inches.

Photo: Matt Armendariz ©

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Make the Cookies

Dust a piece of parchment with flour. Dust one square of dough with flour, and roll it out to about 1/4 inch thick (no thicker) and 9 to 10 inches square. Lift the dough occasionally to make sure it isn't sticking to the parchment. Cut out cookies with cutters; transfer to a prepared baking sheet, leaving 1 inch between them. Freeze while you cut the rest of the dough.

Photo: Matt Armendariz ©

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Cut Out the Base

Dust the parchment and the second piece of dough with flour. Roll the dough about 1/4 inch thick and 9 to 10 inches square. Lay the base template on top, and use a pizza cutter or a very sharp knife to cut out the base. Peel off the scraps from the sides and reserve.

Photo: Matt Armendariz ©

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Cut Out the Roof and Front Wall

Dust a third piece of parchment and the third piece of softened dough with flour. Roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick and 11 by 7 inches. Put the roof and the front wall templates on top, and use the pizza cutter to cut the pieces.

Photo: Matt Armendariz ©

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Cut Remaining Walls

Combine the scrap pieces with the reserved scraps, and gently knead together on the parchment; flour, roll to 1/4 inch thick and about 8 by 9 inches, and cut out the remaining walls.

Photo: Matt Armendariz ©

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Bake the House Pieces

Bake the house pieces until golden brown around the edges, about 20 minutes. Rotate the pans front to back and bottom to top halfway through the baking time. Let cool completely on the baking sheets on a cooling rack, about 30 minutes.

Photo: Matt Armendariz ©

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Start with the Roof

Put 1/3 cup royal icing in a pastry bag fitted with the larger pastry tip. Place the roof with the browned side up on a work surface with one of the short sides facing you. Pipe a thick 5-inch line of frosting along the short side 1 inch in from the edge. Let the icing harden while you build the rest of the house. (This will prevent the roof of the house from sliding off.)

Photo: Matt Armendariz ©

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Ice the Walls

Put the base on a large platter or board on which it will be displayed. Next, assemble the house using the royal icing as glue and making sure to turn the walls with the lighter sides out: Hold up one of the side walls and pipe a line of icing along the bottom and up both sides. Set it down while you hold up the back wall and pipe a line of icing along its bottom edge.

Photo: Matt Armendariz ©

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Assemble the Walls

Stick these two pieces together on the base with the icing, pressing them gently together so they adhere. Hold the pieces for a few seconds, until they can stand on their own. Repeat with the other side wall and the front wall, pressing all four walls together.

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Decorating Candies

Use Easter candy, such as pastel jelly beans, small foil-wrapped chocolate eggs and bunnies, small peanut butter cups, colored mini marshmallows, marshmallow chicks and sanding sugar to decorate your house. You'll also need royal icing and coconut grass.

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Decorate Your House

Use thin icing for piping lines and decorations, as well as for decorating the cookies. Use thick icing to glue heavy pieces of candy to the sides and roof of the house. To make a grassy yard, spread a thin layer of icing with a butter knife around the base of the house. Press some of the coconut grass into the icing. Put some coconut grass inside the house (you don't need to ice inside).