Duncan Hines Shield Logo
Recipes > Cupcakes > Duncan Hines Easter Basket and Egg Nest Cupcakes

Duncan Hines Easter Basket and Egg Nest Cupcakes

Print

Using only 1 box of Duncan Hines French Vanilla cake mix and 1 tub of Duncan Hines Cream Cheese frosting, I made 2 varieties of cupcakes using regular and small sizes of baking cup paper. The regular cupcakes are Easter baskets decorated with colourful marshmallow Easter shapes, mini jelly beans and licorice. The small cupcakes are decorated with green tinted shredded coconut and candied eggs.

Ingredients

  • 1 box of Duncan Hines French Vanilla cake mix
  • 1 tub of Duncan Hines Creamy Home-style Cream Cheese frosting
CUPCAKES:
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/3 cup water
  • 1/3 cup oil
  • 12 regular baking cup paper
  • 16 small size baking cup paper
DECORATIONS FOR EASTER BASKET CUPCAKES:
  • 1 tbsp. green sugar sprinkles
  • 12 mixed variety of colourful marshmallow Easter animal shapes
  • 4 tbsp. of mini jelly beans
  • 12 red flexible licorice sticks
DECORATIONS FOR EGG NEST CUPCAKES:
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 4-6 drops of green food colouring plus 4 drops of water
  • 1/3 cup of pastel coloured candied Easter eggs
EASTER DISPLAY DECORATIONS:
  • 2 Easter baskets lined with fake grass
  • 1 cake platter
  • Easter Bunny plush toy

Directions

CUPCAKES:
  1. 1. Line a regular cupcake pan with 12 decorative baking cup paper.
  2. 2. Line a small cupcake pan with 16 decorative baking cup paper.
  3. 3. Prepare the cake batter according to the instructions for cupcakes on the back of the box.
  4. 4. Bake for about 18-21 minutes and test with a toothpick until done.
  5. 5. Let cool on a wire rack.
  6. 6. Spread the cream cheese frosting with a small spatula on all cupcakes.
DECORATING EASTER BASKET CUPCAKES:
  1. 1. Cut about a third of the bottoms of each marshmallow Easter animal shapes.
  2. 2. Place a few (4-5) mini jelly beans on the front of some of the regular cupcakes.
  3. 3. Sprinkle some green sugar sprinkles on the rest.
  4. 4. Place a marshmallow Easter animal on each cupcake.
  5. 5. Stick the two ends of the licorice stick on either side of each cupcake to form the basket handle.
  6. 6. Place the decorated Easter Basket cupcakes on two small plates hidden within the Easter baskets. Hide the plates with fake grass.
DECORATING EGG NEST CUPCAKES:
  1. 1. In a plastic bag, place the shredded coconut inside.
  2. 2. Mix the green food colouring and water, and pour in bag. Mix until the green colour is fully incorporated with the coconut.
  3. 3. Place about a teaspoon of the green coconut "nest" on top of all of the small frosted cupcakes.
  4. 4. Place 3 different colours of candied Easter eggs on top of the coconut nests.
  5. 5. Place the decorated Egg Nest cupcakes on a cake platter. Do not overcrowd.
FUN EASTER DISPLAY:
  1. Place the completed Easter baskets on either side of table, and place the decorated cake platter with an Easter Bunny plush toy in the middle.
  2. Enjoy these moist and delicious Duncan Hines Easter Basket and Egg Nest Cupcakes! They're fun and easy to make with your entire family!