Easter chick cupcakes, Easter nests, and Easter fondant bunnies are just a few cupcakes you’ll want to whip up this year.
Easter is the perfect time to take your classic cupcake recipe and give it a seasonal twist with spring flowers, eggs, and baby chicks. Why not try our hot cross buns cupcakes, a traditional Easter food with a twist, or make your own Easter cupcake baskets with Mini Eggs on top?
"Cupcakes are such a fun bake to do over Easter. They’re so versatile. They’re great for bake sales, tea parties, afternoon teas, or giving as gifts. My favourites are the ones that take inspiration from traditional Easter foods, then give it a cupcake twist. Our simnel cupcakes and of course, our spiced hot cross bun cupcakes are both great examples," says Recipe Editor and Chef, Octavia Lillywhite.
"But if your skills are more artistic, you can keep the cake itself pretty plain and just let the decoration do the talking, like with these animal cupcakes or bouquet of flowers cupcakes. If you’re making these as a gift, don’t forget to consider how you’re going to present them.
Of course, you can arrange them in a basket or a box, but if you’ve spent ages creating a beautiful topping you need to know it’s not going to get squashed. If you’re traveling any distance with them, it’s worth investing in a cardboard cupcake box, which comes with a separator and makes transport much easier."
Easter cupcake recipes and ideas
1. Hot cross buns cupcakes
Skill level: Easy | Makes: 14 | Total time: 45 mins
Prefer a cake to a bun? Us too! That's why we can't get enough of these hot cross bun cupcakes that have all the flavour of the traditional Easter bakes but are lighter and softer in texture. You could even replace the currants in this recipe with chocolate chips if you're feeling especially in need of a treat.
Get the recipe: Hot cross bun cupcakes
2. Carrot cake cupcakes
Skill level: Medium | Makes: 12 | Total time: 1hr 5 mins
Make sure the Easter bunny is catered for too this year with these soft and moist carrot sponge cupcakes. This recipe is from the Primrose Bakery and includes instructions on how to make the most delicious orange cream cheese icing to finish them off with.
Get the recipe: Carrot cake cupcakes
3. Easter chick cupcakes
Skill level: Easy | Makes: 12| Total time: 1hr 20 mins
We can't get enough of this fun and creative Easter chick cupcakes. With an easy step-by-step guide by Victoria Threader, these do take a little bit of extra time but are straightforward and more than worth the effort. Present in a cupcake box tied with a matching yellow ribbon as an extra special food gift.
Get the recipe: Easter chick cupcakes
4. Easter vanilla cupcakes
Skill level: Easy | Makes: 12 | Total time: 45 mins
Classic flavours are used in these adorable mini cupcakes from Primrose Bakery to get a lovely bake that everyone will love. There are instructions in this recipe on how to make chocolate icing too if you prefer a good old chocolate treat rather than vanilla. Decorate with pretty, seasonal toppers for a fabulous Easter finish!
Get the recipe: Easter vanilla cupcakes
5. Chocolate and salted caramel cupcakes
Skill level: Medium | Makes: 12 | Total time: 1hr 25 mins
These salted caramel and chocolate cupcakes combined sweet with salty to make the perfect Easter treat. Don’t worry if you don’t have the ingredients to make caramel from scratch though – just use shop-bought.
Get the recipe: Chocolate and salted caramel cupcakes
6. The Hummingbird Bakery vanilla cupcakes
Skill level: Medium | Makes: 12 | Total time: 1hr 5 mins
Celebrate all those wonderful flowers in the garden this time of year in cake form - our preferable celebration method. With a spongy vanilla base, a jam center, and soft buttercream, these cupcakes tick all the boxes we need for a really good treat. Serve them up in the afternoon when you've got the family over to help you eat them all.
Get the recipe: The Hummingbird Bakery vanilla cupcakes
7. Easter bunny cupcakes
Skill level: Medium | Makes: 12 | Total time: 1hr 25 mins
The kids are going to love making these fondant Easter bunny faces to top your favourite cupcake recipe. Made by cupcake expert Victoria Threader, follow her step-by-step method and video guide to recreate these bunnies at home. These Easter cupcakes make perfect food gift ideas.
Get the recipe: Easter bunny cupcakes
8. Creme Egg cupcakes
Skill level: Medium | Makes: 12 | Total time: 45 mins
Love a Creme Egg? You'll love these cupcakes by our amazing baking queen Victoria Threader. Made with a rich chocolate sponge and topped with a pale yellow Swiss meringue buttercream, these are a deliciously sweet treat for Easter time when chocolate consumption is mandatory. And the best part? There's a melting Creme Egg hidden inside each sponge!
Get the recipe: Creme Egg cupcakes
9. Orange cupcakes
Skill level: Easy | Makes: 10 | Total time: 45 mins
These sweet orange and elderflower cupcakes provide a zing to this collection. Using fresh orange and elderflower flavourings, these cupcakes are a true burst of springtime in your kitchen.
Get the recipe: Orange cupcakes
10. Mini Egg cupcakes
Skill level: Medium | Makes: 12 | Total time: 50 mins
What's better than chocolate cake? Chocolate cake, topped with chocolate buttercream and extra chocolate decorations obviously! These muffin-like cupcakes are rich and fudgy so make a great hit of chocolate if you're having a bit of a craving. These are great if you're not the best baker in the world as the decoration conceals any lumps or bumps underneath.
Get the recipe: Mini Egg cupcakes
11. Simnel cupcakes
Skill level: Easy | Makes: 12 | Total time: 40 mins
This twist on a classic is sure to make you popular this Easter. These Simnel cupcakes come complete with the traditional 12 balls to represent the 12 apostles but are in cute bite-sized portions. With a fruity sponge that has a light and fluffy texture and a marzipan topping, these are one for the grown-ups to enjoy.
Get the recipe: Simnel cupcakes
12. Easter egg hunt cupcakes
Skill level: Medium | Makes: 12 | Total time: 1hr 30 mins
You might not get a chance to find the Easter eggs with clues like these, which are sure to be gobbled up in no time at all. If you don't have a grass piping nozzle then you can use a (really clean) garlic crusher to get a similar effect with the green buttercream.
Get the recipe: Easter egg hunt cupcakes
13. Easter basket cupcakes
Skill level: Medium | Makes: 12 | Total time: 1hr 30 mins
These impressive Easter egg baskets are actually a lot easier than you might think to make and are sure to wow your friends and family. A soft vanilla sponge is topped with smooth and sweet buttercream for the base of these pretty cupcakes, making sure that they taste just as delicious as they appear.
Get the recipe: Easter basket cupcakes
14. Cupcake bouquet
Skill level: Medium | Makes: 20 | Total time: 1hr 50 mins
Take your cupcakes to the next level by presenting your cupcakes as a bouquet of flowers - perfect if you're looking for an original and thoughtful gift for family or friends as there's plenty to share. This recipe carefully goes through the steps you'll need to take to get a beautiful and professional finish and if you need an extra little bit of help with the rose icing we have a video too.
Get the recipe: Cupcake bouquet
15. Farm animal cupcakes
Skill level: Easy | Makes: 12 | Total time: 1hr
Fancy baking with the kids while they're at home this Easter? These fun animal cupcakes are the perfect Easter project with their pretty colours and funny faces. This recipe comes from children's food expert Annabel Karmel so is really easy to follow for your mini chefs.
Get the recipe: Farm animal cupcakes
16. Bouquet of flowers cupcakes
Skill level: Medium | Makes: 12 | Total time: 1hr 30 mins
If you're visiting someone over the Easter holidays, you can't go wrong turning up with some homemade baking. These gorgeous detailed cupcakes will impress whoever you're making them for with their delicate flower decoration and fluffy lemon cake bases. If you are short on time you could always cheat and buy some readymade icing flowers too, we won't tell!
Get the recipe: Bouquet of flowers cupcakes
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