Easter Basket Cupcakes: A Fun & Easy DIY Project!

Years ago, Gina Clowes of Allergy Moms shared some fun Easter treat ideas with Go Dairy Free. We decided it was time to feature her ideas again with some new photos. The first Easter treat to share is Easter Basket Cupcakes.

You can use your favorite dairy-free cupcake and frosting recipe for these cupcakes. Here, I’m using Alisa’s Carrot Cupcakes with Dairy-Free Cream Cheese recipe from her upcoming cookbook! Carrot cupcakes just seemed appropriate for Easter, but feel free to use any dairy-free cupcake and frosting combination. If you’re short on time, you can even use store-bought safe cupcakes, such as Katz’s Frosted Cupcakes with Colored Sprinkles.

These Easter Basket Cupcakes make a special treat for an Easter party or for Easter dinner dessert. An adult or teen can bake and frost the cupcakes, then set out a decorating station for the kids to decorate the cupcakes as a party activity or as something to do while they wait for Easter dinner to be served. They also make a fun centerpiece!

Candy Options

Peeps are a natural dairy-free go-to for topping these Easter Basket Cupcakes. But if you are dealing with a severe milk allergy, take note that some of the Peeps now have a “may contain milk” warning as they now make dairy-containing chocolate-dipped Peeps, too. They do adhere to strict a strict allergen program, but contact them directly if concerned. And of course, there are other options! Sweet & Sara makes cute marshmallow bunnies & chicks that are dairy-free and vegan.

For the decorations, Surf Sweets makes allergy-friendly jelly beans and gummies, including a Spring Mix and Vegan varieties. YumEarth also makes vegan, gluten-free and allergy-friendly sour beans. For gluten-free licorice, Candy Tree has ropes / laces that will do the trick! And don’t forget to order some natural food coloring for the perfect green “grass”.

Special Diet Notes: Easter Basket Cupcakes

This how-to depends on the ingredients that you source! It is dairy-free / non-dairy, and optionally egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and/or vegetarian.

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Easter Basket Cupcakes (How To)

Prep time

20 mins

Total time

20 mins

This how-to is expanded on from an idea shared with us by Gina Clowes. See the post above for dairy-free, vegan, and allergen-safe Candy Options.

Author: Sarah Hatfield

Serves: As many as you need

Ingredients

Dairy-free cupcakes
Dairy-free frosting
Coconut shreds (can mix with food coloring for different colors), colored sugar, or sprinkles (optional)
Licorice rope
Toothpicks or uncooked spaghetti noodles, for structural support
Marshmallow Bunnies or Chicks (see post above)
Jelly beans, other safe candies, and/or orange Mike & Ikes topped with green coconut for carrots

Instructions

Bake or buy your favorite dairy-free cupcakes.
Frost the cupcakes with dairy-free frosting.
Sprinkle the tops with dairy-free sprinkles, colored sugar, or colored coconut shreds, if desired.
Cut a licorice rope to the desired length for the basket handle.
Use a toothpick to poke two holes in opposite sides of the cupcake top.
Use the toothpick to push the licorice ends into the holes.
Place a marshmallow bunny (or marshmallow chick) on the top of the cupcake in front of the licorice basket handle.
Use a toothpick or broken spaghetti noodle to support the bunny and prop up the handle.
Place dairy-free jelly beans and/or other candies around the bunny.