Easy cake mix cupcakes with homemade buttercream frosting, decorated to look like bird’s nests with eggs! Perfect for spring and Easter!
Follow along on Pinterest to easily view all the blog recipes!
Shifting gears into more Easter stuff (although I may revert back to St. Patrick’s Day for one last recipe!), I’m sharing these super cute Bird’s Nest Cupcakes. They are quite adorable and very easy. They’re so simple and fun that I really think that making and decorating these cupcakes would be a great activity to do with kids too.
You can make a whole Easter-themed night of it – dye eggs and make Bird’s Nest Cupcakes. I don’t actually have kids so I can’t confirm that they would find this fun, but these cupcakes seem super kid-friendly!
My friend Natalie was the source of inspiration for these Bird’s Nest Cupcakes. Natalie and I work together, and I consider her to be my career buddha. If I need career advice, I usually go to her first.
Anyway, I actually think she would be mortified if I share the following story on the Internet. Therefore, I must.
So, a few weeks ago, we met downtown to get some work done together. We were calling it a day and heading home when I got a call from Natalie that she’d left her wallet at home that morning and had no money to pay for parking to exit the parking garage. I was parked in a different building, and I had to drive over to the building where she parked to give her money to pay for parking.
Not enormously embarrassing, I suppose, but I did enjoy loaning my mentor $20. 😉 When she paid me back, she gave me a bag of Reese’s pieces eggs and a Snickers egg as ‘interest’ for the loan. Initially, I rejected her candy gifts because I said that we already had so many sweets in the house, but then I realized that I’m a dessert blogger, and that declining her gift was totally stupid!
Maybe this story is actually more embarrassing for me. I accepted the Reese’s pieces eggs and put them to good use in these Bird’s Nest Cupcakes!
I found the Snickers egg stashed in a side pocket of my laptop bag a few days later when I was rummaging for a snack. It was all I had, and I was hungry, so I ate it for breakfast, along with a nice big cup of coffee. Breakfast of champions right there. But I’m not myself when I’m hungry. #hadtodoit
I hope you enjoy these simple, delicious, and adorable Bird’s Nest Cupcakes!!
Bird's Nest Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes:
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 c. water
- 1/3 c. vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 tsp. almond extract
Buttercream:
- 1 c. unsalted butter softened
- 3 1/2 c. powdered sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 1-2 tbsp. milk
- Gel paste food coloring I used Americolor in Leaf Green
Topping:
- 1/2 c. shredded coconut
- 1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 package Reese's pieces eggs
Instructions
For cupcakes:
-
Place paper cupcake liners in each of 24 regular-sized muffin cups.
-
Prepare yellow cake mix according to package instructions. (For me, this included 1 c. water, 1/3 c. vegetable oil, and 3 eggs)
-
Add almond extract to batter.
-
Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling about 2/3 full.
-
Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, or until cupcakes are golden brown on top.
-
Cool in pan on wire racks for about 10 minutes, then remove cupcakes from pan, and cool completely.
For buttercream:
-
In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, sugar, vanilla, and milk.
-
Beat on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, adding more milk if needed to achieve a thick and fluffy consistency.
-
Add green food coloring to desired color.
-
Pipe onto cooled cupcakes using a grass piping tip, if available. (I used Ateco #133). If you don't have that piping tip, just spread the frosting on the cupcakes! It won't impact the decorations much!
To assemble bird's nests:
-
In a small bowl, combine shredded coconut and cocoa. Toss until coconut is thoroughly dusted with cocoa.
-
Place approximately 1 tsp. of the coconut onto the tops of the cupcakes.
-
Arrange 3 Reese's pieces eggs on top of the coconut, pushing the bottoms into the frosting so that they stay in place. Enjoy!
For other awesome Easter recipes, you must take a peek at these ultra-cute Easter Chicks Lemon Cookies and Easter Chick Cookies!
And some of my personal favorite spring recipes include this Coconut Pistachio Bundt Cake, this Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake with Lemon Glaze, and these Pistachio Sugar Cookie Bars!
Also, these Amish Sugar Cookies are THE BEST sugar cookies of all time. Soft, puffy, melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and they’re unbelievably easy.
I’ve got a few variations that are fabulous for spring: Iced Orange Amish Sugar Cookies, and of course… lemon cookies, Lemon Amish Sugar Cookies. 🙂
Related Posts
Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies with Rum Cream Cheese Buttercream
Brown Butter Coconut Rum Pound Cake with Pineapple Sauce
Grapefruit Angel Food Cupcakes with Grapefruit Curd Filling and Coconut Frosting
White Chocolate Macadamia Coconut Bundt Cake with Raspberry Syrup
Baked Carrot Cake Donuts with Honey Butter Glaze
mira says
March 11, 2015 at 7:38 pmThese look beautiful Sarah! So cute, need to make them this weekend!!! Pinned of course!
Sarah says
March 11, 2015 at 10:31 pmThank you so much, Mira! They were so fun to make!
Blair @ The Seasoned Mom says
March 11, 2015 at 9:32 pmSo festive and so fun, Sarah! Love the colors, and I LOVE how you just fancied up a boxed cake mix. My kids would go nuts if I made these!
Sarah says
March 11, 2015 at 10:32 pmI do think these would be really fun to make with kids!! I’m so glad you like them! I really enjoyed making them!
Rachelle says
March 12, 2015 at 12:03 pmThese are adorable, Sarah! And I really enjoyed the story about your mentor!
Sarah says
March 12, 2015 at 4:52 pmThank you so much, Rachelle! 🙂
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
March 12, 2015 at 12:16 pmThese are super cute!! I need to get on board with Easter, it’s coming up fast. Pinned!
Sarah says
March 12, 2015 at 4:52 pmIt really is coming up so fast! I will never get done all the things I want to, but I will certainly try, I suppose!! Thanks, Dorothy! 🙂
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says
March 12, 2015 at 12:56 pmThese are just adorable! I couldn’t wait to stop by after I saw these on Facebook!
Sarah says
March 12, 2015 at 4:53 pmOh thank you! You are too sweet!! Thanks, Jen! 🙂
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
March 12, 2015 at 5:19 pmWhat cute little easter & spring time cupcakes! These look perfect and I love your decoration of them.
Sarah says
March 12, 2015 at 10:07 pmThank you so much, Thalia!!! 🙂 So glad to have you stop by!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says
March 12, 2015 at 10:17 pmThose are completely adorable, and yes kids would love to make them, I can totally vouch for that! Love the “nests” – too cute!
Sarah says
March 13, 2015 at 8:32 amThank you, Stacey!!! I thought this would be a fun activity with kids, but I’m not around any so I really couldn’t say that for sure. Haha! Hope you have a great weekend!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
March 12, 2015 at 10:44 pmThese are so cute and creative! So fun for Easter, and I love how easy they are. I’d totally eat all of the “eggs” though – those are my fave!
Sarah says
March 13, 2015 at 8:33 amYES!!! The Reese’s eggs are awesome!! So good. I agree! But the frosting…. it’s quite good too! 😉
Amanda says
March 12, 2015 at 11:59 pmThese are adorable!!!
Sarah says
March 13, 2015 at 8:33 amThank you!!
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says
March 13, 2015 at 3:17 amSuch cute cupcakes! They turned out great! Pinned!
Sarah says
March 13, 2015 at 8:33 amThank you so much! They were so easy to do!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
March 13, 2015 at 3:45 amThese are so adorable! Love how festive they are! So fun for Easter!
Sarah says
March 13, 2015 at 8:33 amThank you so much, Kelly!
[email protected] Whole and Heavenly Oven says
March 13, 2015 at 8:23 amThese cupcakes are beyond adorable, Sarah! Seriously, any kid I know would freak out over how cute these are! Pinning and definitely adding this one to the to-do list with my 4-year old sister! I know she’s going to love these. 🙂
Sarah says
March 13, 2015 at 8:34 amOh that sounds so fun!! You should definitely make these for Easter with your lil sis. That sounds like such a great time! Thanks, girl!
Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says
March 13, 2015 at 3:24 pmCute story Sarah!! I love have friends and mentors like that. Makes life so much more awesome. These cupcakes look so darn cute and delicious! I’m going to make them with my daughter. She would love these. Thanks and happy friday! Pinned!
Sarah says
March 15, 2015 at 5:11 pmYay, so glad you like them! I hope you and your daughter have a great time making them together! 🙂
Manali @ CookWithManali says
March 13, 2015 at 4:10 pmWhatt! I pinned these and forgot to comment lol! These are adorable Sarah! I am sure they will be a big hit with the kids during Easter 🙂
Sarah says
March 15, 2015 at 5:11 pmThanks, Manali!
Wendi @ H2OBungalow says
March 16, 2015 at 9:26 pmThese are just adorable! Thanks so much for sharing your talents at the DIY Sunday Showcase this week! Pinning and sharing:)
Sarah says
March 17, 2015 at 9:59 amThanks so much for the party!
Julie {Lilacs & Longhorns} says
March 18, 2015 at 10:52 pmI LOVE these cute cupcakes! This looks like the perfect baking activity for my 10-year-old daughter and me. She’s going to love them!
Sarah says
March 19, 2015 at 1:43 pmI think kids would have so much fun decorating these! Thanks, Julie!
Penny Zeller says
March 19, 2015 at 12:22 amAdorable!
Stopping by from the Katherine’s Corner Blog Hop. Have a great week!
Sarah says
March 19, 2015 at 1:42 pmThank you, Penny!
Nikki @ Tikkido says
March 19, 2015 at 4:52 pmThese cupcakes are so darling–and so easy! Perfect for Easter. I’d love to have you link your tutorial up to our Party Time Link party, if you have a chance!
Sarah says
March 19, 2015 at 10:03 pmThank you so much, Nikki!
Julie says
March 20, 2015 at 7:37 amSuper cute cakes,
Julie
Natalie says
March 22, 2015 at 8:57 pmHysterical! I’ve learned more from you….and now I have your baking expertise. Cupcakes are adorable and so are you!
Desiree @The36thAvenue says
March 26, 2015 at 12:40 amSo yummy! Thank you so much for linking up with us… Featuring you this Friday!
Sarah says
March 26, 2015 at 2:04 pmThank you so much!!! That’s awesome news!
Theresa says
March 26, 2015 at 3:08 pmThese are adorable. Pinned & shared. Thanks for linkup with us at the Inspiration Spotlight party!
[email protected] Cooking on the Front Burner says
March 27, 2015 at 12:24 pmSarah – these are super cute! Thanks for sharing with us at Best of the Weekend – these will be featured on my blog tonight!
Sarah says
March 29, 2015 at 7:25 pmAwesome! Thanks so much, Deb!! Thanks for the party, as always! 🙂
Izabela Kumar says
March 27, 2015 at 9:32 pmSo cute Sarah! Wow, Easter is almost here! Loved the way you decorated the cupcakes 🙂
Saying Hi from The Creative Collection Link Party!
Sarah says
March 29, 2015 at 7:26 pmThank you so much, Izabela! I’m so glad you like them. 🙂
Duck life says
September 4, 2018 at 9:29 pmThe cakes you make are very attractive and lively, looking like birds nest.
Alisha Ross says
August 23, 2020 at 11:41 pmHello my family member! I want to say that this article is awesome, great written and include almost all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this.