Easter, a joyous celebration of renewal and hope, marks the arrival of spring with its vibrant blooms and warmer days. It’s a time for family gatherings, festive decorations, and delightful treats. From colorful Easter eggs to fluffy bunnies, this holiday brings a sense of joy and new beginnings to people of all ages. Moist and fluffy, coconut cupcakes are a delightful treat that captures the essence of tropical indulgence. With their rich coconut flavor and tender crumb, these cupcakes are a perfect balance of sweetness and texture. Topped with creamy buttercream frosting and shredded coconut, they are a heavenly delight for coconut lovers and dessert enthusiasts alike. Bird’s nest cupcakes with candy eggs are a whimsical and delightful treat that adds a touch of magic to any Easter celebration. The nest-shaped frosting, made with green-tinted coconut, creates a charmingly rustic look, while the colorful candy eggs nestled within evoke the joy and wonder of a springtime garden. These cupcakes are not only adorable but also a delicious and fun way to celebrate the season.
Coconut Easter birds nest cupcakes
Oven/ Pan – Preheat the oven to 324°F/ 165°C/ Gas Mark 3. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. Dry ingredients – In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt – set aside.
Wet ingredients – In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the eggs for a minute. Then, gradually add the sugar and continue to whip until light and fluffy. Next, gradually add the oil followed by the vanilla extract.Pro tip – Adding the sugar gradually will whip more volume in the eggs and adding the oil gradually will prevent the eggs from separating. Combine – Next add the flour and sour cream in three batches. Finally, add the coconut and combine well but do not overmix. Bake – Divide the batter between the cupcake liners in the muffin pan. Then, transfer to the oven and bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool – Take the cupcakes out of the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Buttercream frosting – In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until smooth. Then, add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Once all the sugar is in, add the liquid and vanilla extract. Continue to whip until light and fluffy.Pro tip – Avoid adding too much liquid otherwise the piping will be too soft.
Frost – You can transfer the piping to a piping bag and frost on the cupcakes. Or, you can divide it into three piping bags, as I did in the video. 1 & 2 Chocolate frosting – To two parts add the cocoa powder and combine until smooth. Then, divide the frosting into two and transfer to two piping bags, one with a star piping tip and the other with a grass piping tip. 3. Ivory – In the third one add ivory food color with the number 3 round piping tip. Top – Chill the cupcakes for 30 minutes then top with candy Easter eggs.
Creative variations
Toasted Coconut: Toast shredded coconut in the oven until golden brown and sprinkle it on top of the frosted cupcakes for a nutty flavor and crunchy texture. Coconut and Lime: Add lime zest to the cupcake batter and a splash of lime juice to the buttercream frosting for a refreshing twist. Pina Colada: Add crushed pineapple to the cupcake batter and coconut extract to the buttercream frosting for a tropical flavor reminiscent of a pina colada. Chocolate Coconut: Fold in chocolate chips or chunks into the cupcake batter for a chocolatey surprise, and sprinkle some on top of the frosting along with shredded coconut. Coconut Cream Pie: For a delightful coconut cream pie flavor, fill the cupcakes with a dollop of coconut pastry cream before frosting them. Almond Coconut: Add almond extract to the cupcake batter and top the frosted cupcakes with sliced almonds for an almond coconut flavor combination. Mango Coconut: Fold diced mango into the cupcake batter for a fruity twist, and top the frosted cupcakes with toasted coconut and a mango slice. Raspberry Coconut: Fill the cupcakes with raspberry preserves before frosting them, and garnish with fresh raspberries and shredded coconut. Coffee Coconut: Add espresso powder to the cupcake batter for a subtle coffee flavor, and top the frosted cupcakes with a sprinkle of coffee-infused shredded coconut. Lemon Coconut: Add lemon zest to the cupcake batter and lemon juice to the buttercream frosting for a bright and citrusy flavor profile.
Creative ways to serve Easter cupcakes
Nest Cupcakes: Frost the cupcakes with green-tinted buttercream to resemble grass. Place a few chocolate candy eggs in the center to create a nest. Bunny Ear Cupcakes: Decorate the cupcakes with white frosting and add bunny ear-shaped cookies or marshmallows on top. Use pink frosting or candy for the inner ear. Easter Basket Cupcakes: Frost the cupcakes with green-tinted coconut flakes to resemble grass. Place a small edible Easter egg or bunny in the center to create a mini Easter basket. Cross Cupcakes: Frost the cupcakes with white buttercream and sprinkle shredded coconut on top to resemble a cross. Add colorful sprinkles or edible flowers for decoration. Easter Chick Cupcakes: Frost the cupcakes with yellow buttercream and add candy eyes, an orange candy beak, and feet to create a chick. Use shredded coconut for added texture. Flower Garden Cupcakes: Frost the cupcakes with pastel-colored buttercream and add flower-shaped candies or fondant decorations on top. Use green frosting or coconut for leaves and stems. Easter Egg Hunt Cupcakes: Frost the cupcakes with green buttercream and decorate them with mini chocolate eggs or candies. Place a small sign or figure to indicate an Easter egg hunt theme. Easter Bunny Butt Cupcakes: Frost the cupcakes with white buttercream and add a bunny tail made of a small cotton candy puff or frosting. Place bunny feet made of fondant or candy on top. Rainbow Cupcakes: Frost the cupcakes with white buttercream and arrange colorful rainbow candy strips or fondant arcs on top. Add a small cloud made of frosting or cotton candy.
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Frequently asked questions
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