Save I'll never forget the Easter brunch when my sister asked me to bring something 'cheerful and different' for the table. I spent an hour at the farmers market gathering the most vibrant strawberries, creamy cheeses, and fresh vegetables I could find. That afternoon, as I arranged them into a playful bunny shape on a platter, my kids gathered around the kitchen counter, completely mesmerized. They didn't want to eat it—they wanted to admire it first. That's when I realized this wasn't just food; it was edible art that brought people together.
When I finally brought this bunny platter to that Easter table, the room went quiet for a moment—then erupted in laughter and delight. My nephew asked if it was 'too pretty to eat,' and my mom started snapping photos before anyone touched a thing. For the first time in years, everyone gathered around the same dish, picking thoughtfully, sharing stories. That's when I understood that presentation matters just as much as taste.
Ingredients
- 1 large sheet parchment paper or serving platter: This is your canvas. I've learned that a white or neutral background makes the colors absolutely pop—your bunny will practically glow.
- 1 cup black olives (whole or sliced, for outline): These create the defining edge of your bunny face and ears. Use pitted ones to save yourself the trouble later.
- 1 cup diced strawberries: Fresh, sweet, and vibrant pink—they're the star of the ear sections. Cut them just before assembly so they stay plump and glistening.
- 1 cup diced watermelon: Another soft pink that adds both color contrast and refreshing sweetness. The juiciness keeps everything lively.
- 1 cup pink beet hummus: This was my secret weapon—it brings richness, earthiness, and that gorgeous dusty pink color. Store-bought works perfectly fine.
- 1/2 cup radish slices: They add peppery brightness and that pretty pink-and-white marble effect when sliced thin.
- 1 cup mini mozzarella balls: Creamy, mild, and perfect little white spheres for building texture in the face. I always pat them dry first so they stay pristine.
- 1 cup cottage cheese, drained: This creates a soft, creamy base that holds everything together beautifully. Draining it really matters—soggy ingredients will slide around.
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced: Protein-rich, elegant, and they provide a lovely contrast in texture. I usually cook them the day before to save time.
- 1 cup cauliflower florets: Blanched lightly or raw, these provide structure and keep the 'white' sections crisp. They're the unsung hero of holding the platter together.
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped: For the whiskers—a detail that transforms the bunny from cute to absolutely whimsical.
- 1 small piece of carrot: A tiny orange nose. Choose a good-looking piece; it's the focal point of the face.
- 2 blueberries: Bright, cheerful eyes that bring the bunny to life. These are the last touch.
Instructions
- Set Your Stage:
- Place your parchment paper or serving platter in front of you in good lighting. Step back and imagine where your bunny will live. I like to work at eye level so I can see the composition as guests will see it.
- Outline the Bunny:
- Using your black olives, trace a confident outline of a rabbit head with two tall, proud ears. Don't worry about perfection—this is folk art on a plate. The olives should form a clear border that separates the pink ears from the white face. Take your time here; this is the skeleton of your creation.
- Build the Pink Ears:
- Now for the fun part. Fill the ear sections with your diced strawberries, watermelon, radish slices, and beet hummus in whatever pattern feels right. I like to alternate stripes or create a gentle gradient, but honestly, the beauty is in the variation. Think of it like watercolor painting with food—layer colors where they please your eye.
- Create the White Face:
- Fill the inner face section with your mini mozzarella balls, cottage cheese dollops, hard-boiled egg slices, and cauliflower florets. Use these ingredients to create gentle definition—maybe eggs around the edges, mozzarella in the center, cauliflower scattered throughout. This is where you can really express yourself.
- Add the Features:
- Place your two blueberries where the eyes should be, roughly where you'd expect them on a rabbit's face. Add your carrot nose below them. Now here's the magic moment: arrange your chive strips outward from the face like whiskers. This small detail makes the bunny unmistakably alive.
- Chill and Serve:
- Cover loosely and refrigerate until you're ready to serve. When you bring it to the table, do so with a little flourish—this deserves an entrance. Serve alongside crackers or vegetable sticks for those who want to add crunch, though honestly, many people just want to enjoy the vegetables as they are.
Save The real magic happened when my elderly grandmother leaned close to the platter and said, 'This is too beautiful to mess up.' Everyone laughed, but then my uncle gently picked up a strawberry, and suddenly it became this joyful thing—people were talking about which colors they were drawn to, which ingredients they wanted, having actual conversations over food. That's when a recipe becomes a memory.
Why This Works as a Party Centerpiece
This bunny isn't just food—it's conversation. Unlike a dish that disappears into a serving bowl, this lives on your table as art first, appetizer second. Guests feel special being served something that took thought and intention. It works year-round (not just Easter), and it adapts to whatever fresh ingredients you can find. I've made it with raspberries instead of strawberries, with goat cheese instead of cottage cheese, and it's always been the first thing to disappear and the last thing people mention when they text to thank me for hosting.
The Beautiful Thing About Food Without Heat
Every ingredient here is at its peak of freshness. There's no cooking to worry about, no timing to coordinate, no stress. You can assemble this while chatting with family, or put it together in complete silence and let your creativity flow. I've found that no-cook recipes give you permission to play in a way that cooking sometimes doesn't. You're not following precise instructions so much as creating—and that changes everything about how you feel while you're making it.
Variations and Seasonal Swaps
The beauty of this recipe is how it transforms with the seasons. In summer, I swap watermelon for peaches. In fall, I use pomegranate seeds and candied beets. In winter, I've even used roasted red pepper hummus instead of beet. The structure stays the same—pink ears, white face, olive outline—but the specific ingredients dance with what's available. I've also discovered that you can absolutely make this dairy-free (use cashew cream instead of cottage cheese, and vegan cheese alternatives), and it's been a hit at every table. The nose can be a roasted red pepper slice, a cherry tomato, or even a thin apple slice in the right light.
- Experiment with different hummus flavors—roasted red pepper, sun-dried tomato, or even garlic varieties all look and taste stunning.
- Don't skip the chive whiskers; they're the final detail that makes people smile and say 'oh, that's a bunny.'
- Assemble no more than an hour before serving to keep everything fresh and the colors vibrant.
Save This recipe taught me that the best dishes are the ones that feed more than just hunger—they feed joy, connection, and the quiet pride of knowing you created something beautiful with your own hands. Make this bunny for someone you love, and watch what happens.
Recipe Guide
- → How do I create the bunny outline?
Use whole or sliced black olives to form a clear shape of a bunny head with ears on a large platter or parchment paper.
- → What ingredients provide the pink coloring?
Diced strawberries, watermelon, radish slices, and beet hummus layer together to create vibrant pink hues in the ears.
- → Which elements make up the white sections?
Mini mozzarella balls, drained cottage cheese, sliced hard-boiled eggs, and cauliflower florets create the white face area.
- → Can I substitute any ingredients for dietary preferences?
Yes. Vegan cheese can replace dairy, and fruits like raspberries or pink grapefruit can swap in for strawberries and watermelon.
- → How should the platter be served?
Chill the assembled platter until ready, then serve alongside crackers or vegetable sticks for added texture.