Easter Basket Cupcakes Coconut Grass (Printable Version)
Colorful cupcakes topped with green coconut grass and candy eggs for joyful spring celebrations.
# What You Need:
→ Cupcakes
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 1/2 cup whole milk
06 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Frosting
09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 2 cups powdered sugar
11 - 2–3 tablespoons milk
12 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt
→ Decorations
14 - 1 1/4 cups sweetened shredded coconut
15 - Green food coloring
16 - 36 mini candy-coated chocolate eggs
17 - 12 sour candy belts or licorice ropes
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
04 - Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture in three parts, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
06 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla, beating well. Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is achieved.
07 - In a zip-top bag, combine shredded coconut with a few drops of green food coloring. Seal the bag and shake until the coconut is evenly tinted.
08 - Frost each cupcake generously. Sprinkle or gently press the green coconut grass onto the frosting.
09 - Arrange 2–3 candy eggs in the center of each cupcake.
10 - Insert a sour candy belt or licorice rope into each cupcake to create a basket handle. Trim to fit as needed.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The grass trick is so simple it feels like cheating, yet everyone asks how you did it
- These bring this silly joy to Easter celebrations that storebought desserts never quite capture
02 -
- The basket handles work best if you insert them right before serving, otherwise they might soften and droop
- Greening the coconut the day before saves time and lets the color distribute more evenly
03 -
- Toast half the coconut before coloring it for this dimensional grass effect with different textures
- Use kitchen scissors to trim candy belt handles to the perfect curved shape for each basket