Bird’s Nest Cupcakes are super easy to make and perfect for a quick Easter dessert that everyone will love. You can get the kids to help and maybe even share some of their candy!
My kids are absolutely crazy about cupcakes. In fact, they probably like cupcakes better than cake. Who can blame them? And really, cupcakes aren’t just for kids — adultls love them too! So when I was planning our Easter menu, I decided to include cupcakes this year along with whatever else we decided to have.
Desserts are never set in stone around here, and sometimes, something gets added at the last minute. We have a large family, so I usually end up making more than one just so that we have some variety, and everyone can find something to enjoy. People can be picky!
Instead of making regular cupcakes, I thought it would be fun to try something different, so I decided to make a small bird’s nest with mini eggs on each cupcake. How fun is that?!
This is kind of a cheater recipe because it uses a cake mix and canned frosting. I was going to make everything from scratch, but then I thought about it. Honestly, if I’m making something that I’m topping with candy and edible Easter grass, I know people will focus on the topping more than the cupcake. Plus, I’m making the rest of the meal, so an easy dessert is exactly what I need!
I did make a few a changes, just to make these cupcakes-from-a-mix taste even better. I used milk instead of water, and I used coconut oil and added some vanilla extract. The family definitely approved! Now, if you happen to have favorite cupcake recipe, you can definitely use that.
When the cupcakes were cool, I tinted some vanilla frosting with green food coloring and spread a thin layer on each cupcake. The kids helped with this part.
Then, I topped them with edible Easter grass so that the cupcakes would appear to have grass nests on top. I found it easier to chop the grass up into smaller pieces and then place them in different directions on the frosting.
Then, I the kids and I placed different candy eggs into the little nests. Not all of the eggs made it onto the cupcakes, but we had enough to go around.
And that’s all there is to it!
How to Make Bird’s Nest Cupcakes for Easter or Spring
Bird's Nest Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 box of white cake mix
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 can vanilla frosting
- 3 drops green food coloring
- Edible Easter grass
- Miniature candy eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Combine the cake mix, milk, eggs, coconut oil and vanilla in a large bowl, and mix well.
- Pour batter into lined muffin tin
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of cupcake is clean
- Let cool completely
- Add food coloring to frosting, and mix well
- Spread a thin layer of frosting on each cupcake
- Top with Easter grass and candy eggs
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
If you can’t find the Easter grass, you could always use tinted coconut. My kids hate coconut, so I went with the grass, instead.
I think these bird’s nest cupcakes turned are super cute, and they taste good too! I can’t wait to make them again and serve them for Easter dessert.
Happy Munching,
Sharing At
The Scoop, Wow Us Wednesday, Weekend Potluck, TT&J, Met Monday
carol says
March 7, 2016 at 7:46 amThese are so cute, Dee, and remind me of some I use to make when my kiddos were little! I haven’t heard of or seen the Edible Grass (I didn’t know to look for it), but I use to make my nests out of chocolate & shredded wheat. I may have to resurrect that recipe and make some for the neighbor kids! I just love hearing how you get your children involved in the kitchen. I always did that, too; and did it with the Grands until they all either moved away or got too old and busy. Anyway, keep on doing what you are doing, because it sounds wonderful.
Are you on Spring Break? It starts today here in Gilbert. I love having the windows open and hearing children voices having fun outside!
Hugs,
Carol
Dee says
March 7, 2016 at 8:58 amThanks, Carol! My kids are usually happy to help in the kitchen, especially if we’re making dessert! 😉
Pamela-FromMyFrontPorchToYours says
March 8, 2016 at 5:40 pmThese are darling Dee!
Dee says
March 8, 2016 at 8:02 pmThanks, Pamela. It was almost a little hard to eat them! 🙂
Marie says
March 9, 2016 at 7:20 pmThese are absolutely adorable! I would have never thought to use edible Easter grass in such a way (though I’m totally having a “DUH” moment now, lol). These will be a great addition to our family Easter gathering.
Dee says
March 9, 2016 at 8:03 pmThanks! I had never used it either, but when I saw it in the store, it made sense! 🙂
Lisa says
March 10, 2016 at 9:18 amThese are so precious! Can you believe I’ve never seen edible Easter grass? How cute is that?
Dee says
March 10, 2016 at 11:57 amThanks, Lisa! I’ve never used it before, but I’m glad I gave it a try. 🙂
Stacey says
March 11, 2016 at 7:44 pmWell blow me down! I’ve never even heard of edible Easter grass. Where do you get it? Michaels maybe? I’ve seen something similar using flaked coconut before but that Easter grass would make anyone smile. 🙂
Dee says
March 11, 2016 at 10:48 pmI found the grass in Target with the Easter baking things. I just had to try it! 🙂
Stacey says
March 17, 2016 at 12:43 pmFeatured on Poofing the Pillows today. 🙂
Miz Helen says
March 12, 2016 at 1:12 pmI love your Birds Nest Cupcakes! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Julie says
March 13, 2016 at 12:26 pmI love your cute cupcakes Dee. These are just perfect for Easter! I co-host a blog party on Monday’s called Cooking and Crafting with J & J at Julie’s Lifestyle. I would love to have you come and share this with us. Thanks.
Julie xo
Dee says
March 13, 2016 at 1:44 pmThanks so much, Julie. I would love to stop by the party! 🙂
Debra Pugh says
March 17, 2016 at 4:18 amOh DEE these are too pretty to eat, lol!
Dee says
March 17, 2016 at 6:24 amThanks, Deb! My kids had no problem scarfing them down, LOL! 🙂
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life says
March 17, 2016 at 11:19 amThese are absolutely adorable, Dee! What a fun idea for Easter and spring! My daughter loves to bake with her little cousins when they visit…this would be a great project!
Mary says
March 17, 2016 at 11:30 amYour Bird’s Nest Cupcakes are so adorable, Dee! Thank you so much for sharing them at Weekend Potluck! Hope to see you at the party tomorrow!
Dee says
March 17, 2016 at 2:09 pmThanks so much for stopping by, Mary. I’m glad you liked them! 🙂
Beverly @ My Sew Sweet Studio says
March 17, 2016 at 11:58 amI used to make these all the time with coconut. They were so cute but the kids wouldn’t eat them. Edible grass is the perfect solution. Thanks for the idea and inspiration.
Dee says
March 17, 2016 at 2:08 pmThanks, Beverly. I don’t know why my kids hate coconut so much, but the edible grass worked!
Jess says
March 19, 2016 at 12:00 pmOh these are just too cute!
I would LOVE for you join and share this at my DIY and Recipes FB Group
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Dee says
March 19, 2016 at 5:29 pmThanks so much for stopping by, Jess! 🙂
Christie says
March 21, 2016 at 1:18 amEdible easter grass?? I have to look for this!! These are so adorable and fun. Sounds you had a good time with the kids making these.
Dee says
March 21, 2016 at 10:01 amThanks so much, Christie! They were fun to make and even more fun to eat! 🙂
Sara | Life's Little Sweets says
March 30, 2016 at 8:21 amThese are too cute! Pinning and sharing, they are perfect for Spring!
Dee says
March 30, 2016 at 8:31 amThank you so much, Sara! The kids made another batch the other day, and they’re almost gone! 🙂
Barbara Karr says
March 28, 2018 at 11:04 pmFoul! Call in the referees. You are not really going to show us something as great as Easter grass and then leave us hanging are you? Only one store that carries it? At least give us the manufacturers name so we can track it down. If you are doing this project with kids the grass is a MUST. This is the cutest thing I´ve seen in forever. Excellent job! Can you imagine taking these to a nursing home? WOW. We are waiting. I said they were cute, but the more I look at them the more I think they are small works of art. Beautiful work.
Hoppy Easter! Barb