These Mini Egg cupcakes are one of our cutest Easter bakes - topped with Mini Eggs and little yellow chicks.
The cupcakes are perfect for an Easter spread because they look so impressive - but they're not difficult to make. Each cake is topped with a layer of buttercream, then a swirl over the top to look like a nest. They're perfect for taking along to a bake sale or laying out at an Easter afternoon tea buffet. They only take 10 minutes to prepare, another 20 to bake, and another 20 or so to decorate. We've used vanilla cupcakes for this recipe, but if you wanted to double up the chocolate, you could use this chocolate cupcake recipe (opens in new tab) instead.
Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper muffin cases.
To make the muffins, sift the flour, sugar, cocoa and baking powder into a large bowl. Mix the butter, milk, eggs and vanilla together and stir into the flour mixture. Beat until the mixture is just smooth - do not overbeat.
Spoon the mixture into the paper cases and bake for 20-25 mins or until risen and firm to the touch. Cool on a wire rack.
To decorate, beat the icing sugar and butter together. Blend the cocoa and water to a smooth paste and beat into the butter mix. Divide the mixture into two equal portions. Spread one portion in a smooth layer over the top of each of the 12 cupcakes.
Put the remaining buttercream icing into an icing bag with a thin, round nozzle. Pipe the icing onto the cupcakes in rough circles so it looks like a twiggy nest. Crumble a little crushed Flake chocolate over the top to look like more twigs. Place two or three Mini eggs and one little yellow chick in the centre of each 'nest', and serve.
Top tips for making Mini Egg cupcakes
Swap the Mini Eggs for other Easter themed chocolates instead like Creme Eggs or hollow mini eggs instead. If you want to make these cupcakes extra chocolatey, push a Mini Egg or two into the cupcake mixture before baking.
Jessica Dady is Senior Content Editor at Goodto.com and has over 10 years of experience as a digital journalist, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the best food hampers to cookbooks, from the best cake stands to baking sets, Jessica has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to must-have food products. A passionate baker, she spends much of her time creating celebration cakes for friends and family - particularly for her two lucky children.
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