One of the more endearing memories I have of when my kids were younger was decorating our Easter dessert. We have done some different desserts. This year I wanted to do a cake that was gluten-free and dairy-free. Years ago I heard of people using unsweetened applesauce instead of butter so I figured I would try it. The pineapple and the maraschino cherries would just add to the cake's moistness. Here's how I made this cute GF DF Teddy Bear Easter Egg Hunt Cake Recipe. Be sure to read the notes in the ingredients area also.

One year, we made flower cookies, and another year, we made this carrot cake bunny. (See below.) The best thing about making a recipe is that after you make it, you can then eat it. Last year, this carrot cake bunny cake was a huge success.

GF DF Teddy Bear Easter Egg Hunt Cake Recipe Ingredients:

One box Betty Crocker Gluten Free Vanilla Yellow Cake
⅔ cup water
2 teaspoon Gluten-Free Vanilla
Three eggs
½ cup of unsweetened apple sauce
One can of chopped pineapples
½ can of maraschino cherries - chopped if you want
½ cup of unsweetened apple sauce

GF DF Teddy Bear Easter Egg Hunt Cake Recipe Cake Top Ingredients:

One extra-large container of vanilla whipped icing - Look for Gluten Free Dairy Free type of you are staying away from both.
One container of green sprinkles or colored sugar (only use enough to cover the area you want to be grass)
One small container of yellow sprinkles or colored sugar (only use to cover the area you want to be yellow)
One container of white-colored sugar crystals (only use enough cover the edge of the baking pan)
¼ cup of fine coconut flakes
One green cookie icing - cut open and mixed with coconut to make the bushes
9-12 small teddy bear cookies (Look for Gluten free, dairy free)
Pearl candy (Affiliate Link) to represent the Easter eggs on the cake
14 toothpicks
14 mini flag labels (Affiliate Link) (I used decorative Post-it mini flags.)
Double-stick tape (if needed)

GF DF Teddy Bear Easter Egg Hunt Cake Recipe Instructions:

Make the cake as instructed on the back of the box. Instead of using butter, replace it with ½ cup of unsweetened apple sauce. Follow the packaging.

Let the cake completely cool.

Then, add the vanilla icing. Add the green and yellow crystals or sprinkles however you wish. Then, use a spoon to add the white crystals around the edges for more control.

In a small bowl, mix the coconut and the cookie icing until the coconut is green. With a small spoon, scoop out a little bit and add it to the top of the green or yellow areas of the cake.

Make the signs for the cake. Write one letter on each flag: H A P P Y E A S T E R. Make two flags that say Happy Easter on them. Fold the flat side around the toothpick (use double-stick tape to help it stick).