Easter Bunny Twists

RECIPE DESCRIPTION:

A delightful treat for the spring season! These whimsical pastries combine flaky puff pastry with sweet cinnamon sugar and a touch of cream cheese. The result? Adorable bunny-shaped twists that are perfect for Easter celebrations. 🐰🥐

INGREDIENTS:

  • All-purpose flour, for surface
  • 1 17.3 oz package frozen puff pastry, thawed
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp cold water 
  • 3 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • Buddy Fruits Organic Mango Fruit Spread, for the tails

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each puff pastry sheet to a 10"-by-10" square.
  2. Brush one sheet with melted butter, leaving a 1/2" border on right and left sides. In a small bowl, stir granulated sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over buttered puff pastry, leaving unbuttered border bare. Brush border with cold water.
  3. Brush second pastry sheet with remaining melted butter, leaving a 1/2" border on right and left sides. Place on top of cinnamon-sugar sheet, buttered side down. Slightly press down to encourage sheets to stick together. Using a fork, crimp the 1/2" borders on either side to seal.
  4. Using a sharp knife, cut sheets in half horizontally, from crimped end to crimped end, to create 2 (10"-by-5") rectangles. Cut each rectangle horizontally into 8 long strips. Arrange one strip on a prepared baking sheet on its side in a U shape (so the stripe of cinnamon sugar is visible). Keeping the loop at the bottom, twist the 2 top strands around themselves twice. 
  5. Arrange ends of strips so they split away from top of twist in a V shape, creating bunny ears. Repeat with remaining strips, filling baking sheets with 8 twists each. Refrigerate bunny twists at least 15 minutes or up to 30.
  6. Meanwhile, arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 400°. Bake bunny twists, rotating sheets top and bottom after 10 minutes, until puffy and golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool.
  7. In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add confectioners sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until combined.
  8. Spoon buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe a swirling nickel-sized bunny tail into round center of each bunny twist.
  9. Dollop Buddy Fruits Organic Mango Fruit Spread on top of cream cheese. Enjoy!