42 Easter Cupcakes That Are Easy to Make *and* Adorable
When it comes to Easter treats, you have a few options. You could fill a few pastel-colored baskets with bunny-shaped Peeps and call it a day, or you could put in a bit more effort and whip up a dozen bunny cupcakes that will make you look like Martha Stewart. The choice is yours, but in case you need some springtime inspo, we rounded up 42 ideas for Easter cupcakes that are as cute as they are attainable (and kid-friendly).
70 Easter Desserts That Are *Almost* Too Pretty to Eat
1. Angel Food Cupcakes with Chocolate Whipped Coconut Frosting and Crispy Phyllo Nests
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
This is what we like to call “spring in a cupcake,” just in case you weren’t already sold at the sight of Cadbury Mini Eggs. Every bite is equal parts soft and crisp, thanks to toasted coconut and strips of phyllo dough on top.
2. Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Finally, our darling strawberry is in season again. What better way to celebrate than with this dessert mashup? (The homemade brown-sugar strawberry filling is a total game-changer.)
3. 30-Minute Angel Food Cupcakes
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
They taste like strawberry clouds and take less time to make than an episode of The Great British Bake-Off. Need we say more? The frosting gets its blush hue from crushed, freeze-dried berries instead of food dye.
4. Bunny Butt Cupcakes
Spend with Pennies
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
We can’t decide what we love most: the chocolate cookie “dirt,” the bunny booties or the 20-minute baking time. This triple threat is one for the books—and your picky eaters will gobble them up.
5. Double-Chocolate Nutella-Carrot Cake Cups with Malted Cream Cheese Frosting
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, kid-friendly
We bet you never thought to stuff chocolate carrot cake with Nutella. Or to make chocolate carrot cake in the first place. (Or to bake cupcakes in terra-cotta pots...)
6. Adorable Easter Cupcakes
Cupcake Project
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Much like those goodie-filled plastic eggs your kids love so much, these Easter cupcakes have a secret. Cut one in half and they'll find a rabbit hopping out of its hiding spot.
7. Cheater’s Vegan Strawberry Shortcake Cups
Sterling Publishing Co.
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
No eggs, no dairy, no problem. Better yet, these fruity Easter cupcakes only require seven ingredients to come together. And no one will know they’re plant-based, promise.
8. Spring Flower Cupcakes
The Recipe Critic
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Green-dyed sweetened coconut shreds = the tastiest edible grass you'll ever see. The spring-colored peanut M&M's on top make these Easter cupcakes that much more festive.
9. Miffy Small-Batch Carrot Cupcakes
I Am a Food Blog
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, beginner-friendly
If you’re not familiar with Miffy the rabbit, we suggest blocking off a few hours to do an internet deep dive. You’ll be smitten—especially if you're noshing on these cream cheese icing-topped handhelds while you research.
10. Coconut Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Sally's Baking Addiction
Time Commitment: 2 hours (includes cooling)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
It’s Easter, so carrot cake is kind of a given. Kick these minis up a notch (without a ton of extra effort) by finishing them with a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes—or pastel sprinkles.
11. Coconut Banana 3-Milk Cupcakes with Nutella Buttercream
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Which would you rather eat: sad chocolate eggs or these decadent handhelds? In case you need help mulling it over, the Easter cupcakes are soaked in milk, coconut milk and sweetened condensed milk before being frosted, tres leches-style.
12. Lavender Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, beginner-friendly
The tangy frosting is just the thing to complement these lightly floral cakes, while the non-treated lavender sprigs are a pretty, timely garnish. (There's also lavender extract in the batter for good measure.)
13. Meyer Lemon Rosemary Cupcakes
A Classic Twist
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
A word to the wise: Soak a few fresh rosemary sprigs in the milk overnight—it adds a ton of herbal flavor to the batter. If you can't find Meyer lemons, simply substitute regular ones, as long as you don't mind the cupcakes turning out a bit more tart.
14. Easter Bunny Cupcakes
Broma Bakery
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
Consider these cuties like edible Easter baskets for adults. Each cupcake is topped with a Ghirardelli milk chocolate-caramel bunny, in case the buttermilk base and vanilla frosting aren't enticing enough.
15. Vegan and Gluten-Free Lemon Blueberry Pistachio Cupcakes
Ambitious Kitchen
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, vegan, beginner-friendly
If you’re not too into kitschy decorations, let the season's flavors inspire your menu instead. (Oh, and you'll want to make a double batch of the lemon buttercream for spreading on...well, everything.)
16. Hydrangea Flower Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
We wouldn’t mind finding a patch of these in our garden. And while they look totally fancy, the elegant mascarpone frosting design is totally within reach for newbies, as long as they have the right piping tip.
17. Brownie Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting
Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
We have a feeling the kids at your celebration will scarf these Easter cupcakes down in mere seconds after the egg hunt. Might we suggest using Peeps instead of regular marshmallows?
19. Easter Cupcakes Baked in Real Eggshells
Cupcake Project
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
If we can’t crack open a plastic egg and find a $20 bill inside, we’ll settle for cake. Store the leftover egg yolks and whites to use in homemade carbonara, hollandaise, homemade ice cream, mayonnaise and more.
19. Cupcake Bouquet
Sally's Baking Addiction
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
You can’t buy a bouquet like *this* at your local flower shop. And while it looks impressive, it’s quite doable with the right consistency of frosting and a rainbow of food gels. Finish the Easter cupcakes with white sugar pearls for a delicate aesthetic.
20. Banana-Carrot Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly
Use banana and carrot together in the batter for an ultra-moist Easter cupcake. Whether you opt for Cadbury Mini Eggs or malted chocolate eggs on top, you truly can’t go wrong with either. (The tangy frosting is the real star anyway.)
21. Marshmallow Flower Cupcakes
BitznGiggles
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
These Easter cupcakes will win over your kids, and the recipe is easy enough for them to help too. (It starts with boxed cake mix for minimal fuss.) Have lots of pastel sprinkles on deck for decorating.
22. Coconut Cream Easter Bunny Cupcakes
The Creative Bite
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, kid-friendly
The floppy ears are nothing but cookie-cutter slices of fresh fruit, like pineapple, mango, cantaloupe and apple. As for the Easter cupcakes' base, it's boxed white cake mix.
23. Fluffy Lemon Cupcakes with Whipped Coconut Cream
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
Simple, sophisticated and scrumptious, they're flavored with fresh lemon juice and lemon extract. For a low-maintenance dessert that’s still festive, pick up a pack of flower petal cupcake liners to serve these Easter cupcakes in.
24. Olive Oil Cupcakes with Rainbow Mascarpone Buttercream
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Dyeing eggs is traditional, sure, but we’re all about coloring our Easter cupcakes this year. (And we have a feeling your kids will want to get in on the fun too.)
25. Two-Toned Rose Cupcakes
Sally's Baking Addiction
Time Commitment: 5 minutes (plus baking time)
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
Feel free to start with your favorite boxed cake mix—these beauties are all about the gorgeous frosting toppers. (The roses are easier to make than you think, trust.)
26. Chocolate Cupcakes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead
You can never go wrong with chocolate, even in the spring. This ingenious recipe only makes four Easter cupcakes, so you'll have just enough for your intimate family gathering (and no leftovers to "accidentally" demolish before bed).
27. Blackberry Limeade Cupcakes
Grandbaby Cakes
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Sour cream and lime juice offer tang to the Easter cupcakes, while fresh blackberry purée infuses the frosting with sweet-tart splendor. Use coconut milk instead of whole milk in the batter to up the tropical ante.
28. Vegan Peach Cupcakes
Minimalist Baker
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
We're so down with the plant-based honey buttercream frosting, but we really fell hard for the crunchy addition of ice cream cones. They add texture to the dessert *and* save you the task of washing a few dirty bowls.
29. Samoa Cupcakes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
Your favorite Girl Scout cookie, in cupcake form. It's topped with vanilla frosting that gets coated in toasted coconut flakes, then drizzled with caramel and chocolate sauces. They'll disappear in one minute flat, FYI.
30. Gluten-Free Butterfly Cupcakes
Fork and Beans
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead
No celebration is complete without sprinkles, and this sweet-and-salty confection is just the ticket. Ring in spring with confetti Easter cupcakes topped with pink frosting and jelly bean-pretzel butterflies.
31. Vegan Beet Strawberry Cupcakes
Minimalist Baker
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, make ahead
How is dairy-free buttercream possible, you ask? Plant-based butter, powdered sugar and almond milk make an uncanny substitute. A dash of beet purée is the key to its vibrant color.
33. Lightened-Up Hummingbird Cupcakes with Toasted Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting
Ambitious Kitchen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, beginner-friendly
This Jamaican confection-turned-Southern delicacy is loaded with banana, pineapple, pecans and cinnamon. The tangy, tropical coconut frosting merely gilds the lily.
33. Cadbury Creme Cupcakes
Owlbbaking
Time Commitment: 2 hours (includes freezing time)
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, kid-friendly
Inspired by its delightfully sweet namesake, these Easter cupcakes are stuffed to the brim with buttery filling and crowned with two-ingredient chocolate ganache. They're uber-rich and decadent, but so worth it.
34. Honey Lemon Cupcakes
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Complete with honey-cream cheese frosting. These Easter cupcakes are proof that sometimes, less is more. But they're also a great blank canvas for a few edible flowers of your choice...just saying.
35. Key Lime Cupcakes
A Classic Twist
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Get in, we're going to Florida. There's key lime juice and zest in both the cake and frosting already, but you can also fill each cupcake with key lime curd for an extra punch of sweet-tart citrus flavor.
36. Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
Broma Bakery
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
All the sun-kissed splendor of pie, minus most of the heavy lifting. We won't tell if you opt for store-bought lemon curd filling instead of homemade—just don't skip the toasty meringue.
37. Easy, Gluten-Free Bunny Cupcakes
Lexi's Clean Kitchen
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Almond and coconut flours make these Easter cupcakes wheatless and delicious. The coconut-coated marshmallow bunny ears nestle neatly into the vanilla buttercream, which will hold them in place until they're devoured.
38. Hummingbird Cupcakes with Pineapple ‘Flowers’
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 4 hours
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
Don't be spooked by the time commitment: Most of it is dedicated to drying the pineapple flower garnish. Prepare the fruity blooms ahead to save you time on Easter Sunday.
39. Easter Cupcakes
A Cookie Named Desire
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Malt cupcakes, vanilla frosting, egg candies, chocolate bunnies and edible grass unite to create these supremely festive (and moist) treats that your kids will be delighted to find in their Easter baskets. Chalk their irresistible texture up to buttermilk in the batter.
40. Chocolate Mousse Cupcakes with Whipped Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
Well Plated by Erin
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead
Espresso powder is the secret to these boldly flavored Easter cupcakes that will satisfy any chocolate stan at your holiday party. Substitute crushed, freeze-dried strawberries for food coloring in the frosting if you'd prefer.
41. Birthday Cupcakes with White Wine Buttercream
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 55 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
It doesn't need to be someone's birthday for the celebration to call for vino-infused frosting and rainbow sprinkles. If you're feeling extra lazy, forego making these Easter cupcakes from scratch and use boxed confetti cake mix instead.
42. Cupcake Bouquet with Frosting Flowers
Cupcake Project
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Even newbies should feel confident tackling this spring-inspired dessert. All you'll need to assemble it (besides colored frosting, icing bags and frosting tips) is a ceramic pot and green tissue paper. Consider it a delicious centerpiece.
