Nothing says Easter like these Cute Easter Cupcakes that look like baby chicks! They couldn't be easier because they're made from a box of cake mix and canned frosting.
This year wow your family and friends with these cupcakes for dessert. These farm-cute cupcakes are not only perfect for Easter Sunday, but can be added to an animal-themed birthday party!
Explore a variety of Easter desserts to add that extra special touch to your holiday celebration!
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Easter is just around the corner and that means it’s time to start planning for dessert!
Cupcakes are a great addition to any Easter celebration. Especially when there are kids included. You can easily prep these cute Easter cupcakes ahead of time by baking the cupcakes a day or two earlier.
And if you're pressed for time, you could purchase plain cupcakes and then have a cupcake decorating activity with the family after dinner or the egg hunt.
Looking for more Easy Cake Mix Recipes? Try my Easter Bunny Cake or my Easter Egg Cake. Both would go great with these cute cupcakes on the dessert table.
Table of Contents
- Recipe Tips
- 🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
- 📋Ingredients
- What is the secret to moist cupcakes?
- 🥣Step-by-Step Instructions
- How to Decorate Easter Cupcakes
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- Recipe Variations
- Storage Tips
- ❄️Can you Freeze Decorated Cupcakes?
- Top Tip
- Recipe FAQ
- More Recipes to Love
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Recipe Tips
- Read the instructions on the box carefully and follow them precisely for baking cupcakes.
- Ensure that all your ingredients, particularly the eggs, are fresh. Fresh ingredients will enhance the flavor and texture of your cupcakes.
- Stir the batter until it's just blended. Excessive mixing can result in dense and tough cupcakes. Gently combine the ingredients until they are evenly incorporated.
- Coat the paper muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray before filling them with batter. This will prevent the cupcakes from sticking to the paper liners after baking.
- Fill the cupcake liners about two-thirds full with batter to allow room for rising. Use an ice cream scoop or a spoon to portion the batter evenly.
- Insert a toothpick into the center of a cupcake; if it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, they're done. Avoid overbaking, as it can lead to dry cupcakes.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting. This prevents the frosting from melting and ensures a neat presentation.
🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
Disposable Piping Bags
Cupcake and Muffin Pan for Baking, Nonstick Cupcake Tin 12 Cup, 2 PackIcing Spatulas, Set of 3Wilton Bakecups, Multicolor
📋Ingredients
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
- Cake Mix - or try your favorite homemade recipe.
- Food Coloring - to help you get the proper color of the chicks.
- Writing Icing/Gel - you could use orange, white and black fondant to create the eyes, nose and feet. Fondant comes in different colors and it's like working with Playdough.
- Sanding Sugar or Sparkling Sugar - using sanding sugar gives a fuzzy look to the cupcakes.
Yellow Colored SugarCookie Icing - Black White OrangeDuncan Hines Creamy Vanilla FrostingDuncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake MixMcCormick Yellow Food Color
What is the secret to moist cupcakes?
The secret to moist cupcakes from a cake mix lies in correctly following the instructions on the back of the cake mix box. You could add milk in place of the water.
Milk will add more flavor to the cupcakes and help the batter to rise more effectively. Make sure you don't over-mix the batter so the cupcakes are not only moist, but are light and fluffy.
🥣Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Follow the directions provided on the back of the cake mix box to prepare the cupcakes. Bake according to the directions as well.
Step 2: Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before decorating. You can bake the cupcakes up to two days before decorating.
How to Decorate Easter Cupcakes
Step 3: Mix in a few drops of golden food coloring into the frosting until you achieve your desired shade of yellow. Spread the frosting evenly on top of the cupcakes, ensuring a smooth coating.
Step 4: Gently dip the cupcake into the sanding sugar, then shake off any excess sugar.
Step 5: Place some frosting into a piping bag fitted with a #103 tip. Pipe the wings onto the sides of the cupcakes. Use black gel icing for the eyes' black circles, and white icing to pipe small dollops for the white eye parts.
Step 6: Lastly, use the orange icing to pipe on the beak and feet. Allow the cupcakes to sit for approximately 30 minutes before serving.
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Recipe Variations
If you wanted to, you could use inverted chocolate chips for the eyes. Press the pointy top side into the cupcake leaving the flat side showing. Then you can add a little dab of the white gel icing to complete the eyes.
I used vanilla cake mix, but you could use a chocolate flavor, carrot cake flavor or even spice cake!
If you're looking for a homemade vanilla cupcake recipe, try the recipe I use to make my Reindeer Cupcakes.
A great homemade frosting is this Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting recipe.
Storage Tips
Layer the cupcakes in an airtight container in a single layer. If you stack the cupcakes, you will ruin the designs.
❄️Can you Freeze Decorated Cupcakes?
I wouldn't freeze decorated Cute Easter Cupcakes, however, you can freeze the cupcakes before decorating.
Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before placing them on a baking tray and then place the tray in the freezer to flash freeze for about 30 minutes.
Once the cupcakes are frozen, place them either in an airtight container or plastic bag and then place in the freezer.
Undecorated cupcakes should last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Top Tip
Make sure the cupcakes are cooled completely before adding the frosting or the frosting will begin to melt.
Recipe FAQ
Is it better to make cupcakes with water or milk?
Most boxed cake mixes call for water to be added as the liquid. However, you can substitute milk in place of water. It will make the cupcakes flavorful and fluffy due to the added fat content in the milk.
Let’s Do Brunch Easter Spring Celebration Printable eBookClick HERE to SAVE!
More Recipes to Love
📖 Recipe Card
Cute Easter Cupcakes from a Cake Mix
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix; 16.25 ounce size plus the ingredients listed on the back of the box
- 1 container vanilla frosting; 16 ounce size
- Yellow colored sugar or sanding sugar
- Black white and orange icing writing gel.
- Yellow food coloring.
Method
- Bake the cupcakes using the ingredients and instructions listed on the back of the cake mix box.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before decorating.
- Open the can of vanilla frosting and add a few drops of the yellow food coloring.
- Spread the frosting on top of the cupcakes. Smooth out the frosting using a clean knife or offset spatula. You want a smooth surface before dipping in the sanding sugar.
- Place the sanding sugar in a plate. Dip the tops of the cupcakes into the sanding sugar and lightly shake the excess off.
- Add the remaining yellow frosting to a piping bag with the #103 tip attached.
- Pipe the wings on the sides of the cupcakes.
- Use the black gel icing for the black circle of the eyes.
- Then use the white icing to pipe on a small dollop for the white part of the eyes.
- Finally use the orange icing to pipe on the beak and feet.
- Let the cupcakes sit for 30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
- You could use orange, white and black fondant to create the eyes, nose and feet. Fondant comes in different colors and it's like working with Playdough.
- Store the cupccakes in an air-tight container in a single layer. Do not stack them on top of each other.
Julie Briones says
When did you get a new logo? Or have I just been 'not all there' and missed it? We've been missing you at Tuesday Turn About! You one of my fave recipe bloggers to feature! Hope to see you back soon!
Lois says
Hi Julie! The logo is about 2 years old! I'll have to check with my VA regarding your parties. I know they're still on my list to do weekly! Thanks for the visit and the great comment!