Sweet Easter Bunnies

Thoroughly mix flour, dry yeast, sugar, vanilla sugar and salt in a large bowl.

Whisk the melted butter, egg and lukewarm milk in a measuring cup or bowl.

Add the liquids to the flour mixture and knead everything into a smooth, elastic dough.

Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for about 60 minutes, until noticeably increased in volume.

If you want to use raisins, knead them briefly into the dough now.

Shape the dough into a roll about 30 cm long, cut 8 slices (approx. 2.5 cm), round them into balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Form 16 ears from the remaining dough and attach two ears to each dough ball, pressing them on firmly.

Mix the egg yolk and cream and brush the bunnies evenly with it.

Let the bunnies rise again, covered, for about 30 minutes and meanwhile preheat the oven to 150 °C (fan).

Bake the bunnies for 12–15 minutes until golden, then let them cool on a wire rack.

Once cooled, decorate as desired with sugar colors.