Bunny Buns

{Edit: I posted this recipe wrong! Sorry about that- it is now correct!}
Since Easter is tomorrow I thought I would post an Easter recipe. This has been seen all over Pinterest, but it originally came the The Friend in 1980. We made them for the first time in 2011 when the recipe was reprinted. We loved the tasty hint of orange and we have made them every Easter since. Enjoy!

Also if you need ideas for your Easter menu. I am using almost all my recipes from Mels Kitchen Cafe. She has a great round up of perfect Easter dinner recipes. It was hard to narrow my choices down. If I pick anything really great I will be sure to let you know what it was!

Bunny Buns
1 pkg yest (2 1/4 tsp)
1/4 cup warm water (about the temperature you would take a shower in)
1 cup milk, scalded (not boiled, but almost)
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp salt
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup orange juice
2 Tbl grated orange peel
5 1/2 cup flour

Glaze:
2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup hot water
1 tsp butter

Dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook, blend scalded milk, sugar, shortening and salt. Cool until lukewarm (about 5 minutes), then add eggs, water with yeast , orange juice and orange peel. Stir in flour a few cups at a time to make a soft dough. Let sit 10 minutes.
Knead dough 5 minutes. Place it in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface. Cover bowl with a clean towel and put it in a warm place. Let dough rise for 2 hours, or until double in size. Punch down and let stand for 10 minutes.
On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle 1/2 inch think. Cut dough into strips 1/2 inch wide and 14 inches long. Roll between hands into rounded snake shapes. Cut one strip into pieces 1/2 inch long, and roll into balls. Place one long piece of dough on a greased cookie sheet. Place one end of the strip over the other to make a loop; bring the end that is underneath up and cross it over the other end. Place a ball of dough on top of the bottom loop (check out the picture to see what it is supposed to look like).
Cover bunnies and let rise in a warm place for 45-60 minutes, until nearly double in size. Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes.
For the glaze, stir powdered sugar, water and butter together. Frost bunnies with the glaze while they are still warm.

Recipe source: The Friend