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Bird’s Nest Cupcakes

March 11, 2015

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!

birds egg nest cupcakes 12 pin

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!

birds egg nest cupcakes 6

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.

birds egg nest cupcakes 5

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.

birds egg nest cupcakes 7

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!

birds egg nest cupcakes 9

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!!
birds egg nest cupcakes 10

5 from 2 votes
Print

Bird's Nest Cupcakes

Easy cake mix cupcakes with homemade buttercream frosting, decorated to look like bird's nests with eggs! Perfect for spring and Easter!
Course Dessert
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 24 cupcakes
Author Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl

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:

  1. Place paper cupcake liners in each of 24 regular-sized muffin cups.
  2. Prepare yellow cake mix according to package instructions. (For me, this included 1 c. water, 1/3 c. vegetable oil, and 3 eggs)
  3. Add almond extract to batter.
  4. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling about 2/3 full.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, or until cupcakes are golden brown on top.
  6. Cool in pan on wire racks for about 10 minutes, then remove cupcakes from pan, and cool completely.

For buttercream:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, sugar, vanilla, and milk.
  2. Beat on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, adding more milk if needed to achieve a thick and fluffy consistency.
  3. Add green food coloring to desired color.
  4. 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:

  1. In a small bowl, combine shredded coconut and cocoa. Toss until coconut is thoroughly dusted with cocoa.
  2. Place approximately 1 tsp. of the coconut onto the tops of the cupcakes.
  3. Arrange 3 Reese's pieces eggs on top of the coconut, pushing the bottoms into the frosting so that they stay in place. Enjoy!

birds egg nest cupcakes 17

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. 🙂

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  • White Chocolate Macadamia Coconut Bundt Cake with Raspberry SyrupWhite Chocolate Macadamia Coconut Bundt Cake with Raspberry Syrup
  • Baked Carrot Cake Donuts with Honey Butter GlazeBaked Carrot Cake Donuts with Honey Butter Glaze

Filed Under: Cakes & Cupcakes, Easter, Holidays, Recipes 73 Comments

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Lovely comments

  1. mira says

    March 11, 2015 at 7:38 pm


    These look beautiful Sarah! So cute, need to make them this weekend!!! Pinned of course!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 11, 2015 at 10:31 pm

      Thank you so much, Mira! They were so fun to make!

      Reply
  2. Blair @ The Seasoned Mom says

    March 11, 2015 at 9:32 pm

    So 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!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 11, 2015 at 10:32 pm

      I do think these would be really fun to make with kids!! I’m so glad you like them! I really enjoyed making them!

      Reply
  3. Rachelle says

    March 12, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    These are adorable, Sarah! And I really enjoyed the story about your mentor!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 12, 2015 at 4:52 pm

      Thank you so much, Rachelle! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says

    March 12, 2015 at 12:16 pm

    These are super cute!! I need to get on board with Easter, it’s coming up fast. Pinned!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 12, 2015 at 4:52 pm

      It 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! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says

    March 12, 2015 at 12:56 pm

    These are just adorable! I couldn’t wait to stop by after I saw these on Facebook!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 12, 2015 at 4:53 pm

      Oh thank you! You are too sweet!! Thanks, Jen! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

    March 12, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    What cute little easter & spring time cupcakes! These look perfect and I love your decoration of them.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 12, 2015 at 10:07 pm

      Thank you so much, Thalia!!! 🙂 So glad to have you stop by!

      Reply
  7. Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says

    March 12, 2015 at 10:17 pm

    Those are completely adorable, and yes kids would love to make them, I can totally vouch for that! Love the “nests” – too cute!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 13, 2015 at 8:32 am

      Thank 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!

      Reply
  8. Rachel @ Bakerita says

    March 12, 2015 at 10:44 pm

    These 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!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 13, 2015 at 8:33 am

      YES!!! The Reese’s eggs are awesome!! So good. I agree! But the frosting…. it’s quite good too! 😉

      Reply
  9. Amanda says

    March 12, 2015 at 11:59 pm

    These are adorable!!!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 13, 2015 at 8:33 am

      Thank you!!

      Reply
  10. Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says

    March 13, 2015 at 3:17 am

    Such cute cupcakes! They turned out great! Pinned!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 13, 2015 at 8:33 am

      Thank you so much! They were so easy to do!

      Reply
  11. Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says

    March 13, 2015 at 3:45 am

    These are so adorable! Love how festive they are! So fun for Easter!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 13, 2015 at 8:33 am

      Thank you so much, Kelly!

      Reply
  12. Sarah@ Whole and Heavenly Oven says

    March 13, 2015 at 8:23 am

    These 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. 🙂

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 13, 2015 at 8:34 am

      Oh that sounds so fun!! You should definitely make these for Easter with your lil sis. That sounds like such a great time! Thanks, girl!

      Reply
  13. Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says

    March 13, 2015 at 3:24 pm

    Cute 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!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 15, 2015 at 5:11 pm

      Yay, so glad you like them! I hope you and your daughter have a great time making them together! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Manali @ CookWithManali says

    March 13, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    Whatt! 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 🙂

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 15, 2015 at 5:11 pm

      Thanks, Manali!

      Reply
  15. Wendi @ H2OBungalow says

    March 16, 2015 at 9:26 pm

    These are just adorable! Thanks so much for sharing your talents at the DIY Sunday Showcase this week! Pinning and sharing:)

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 17, 2015 at 9:59 am

      Thanks so much for the party!

      Reply
  16. Julie {Lilacs & Longhorns} says

    March 18, 2015 at 10:52 pm

    I 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!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 19, 2015 at 1:43 pm

      I think kids would have so much fun decorating these! Thanks, Julie!

      Reply
  17. Penny Zeller says

    March 19, 2015 at 12:22 am

    Adorable!

    Stopping by from the Katherine’s Corner Blog Hop. Have a great week!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 19, 2015 at 1:42 pm

      Thank you, Penny!

      Reply
  18. Nikki @ Tikkido says

    March 19, 2015 at 4:52 pm

    These 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!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 19, 2015 at 10:03 pm

      Thank you so much, Nikki!

      Reply
  19. Julie says

    March 20, 2015 at 7:37 am

    Super cute cakes,
    Julie

    Reply
  20. Natalie says

    March 22, 2015 at 8:57 pm

    Hysterical! I’ve learned more from you….and now I have your baking expertise. Cupcakes are adorable and so are you!

    Reply
  21. Desiree @The36thAvenue says

    March 26, 2015 at 12:40 am

    So yummy! Thank you so much for linking up with us… Featuring you this Friday!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 26, 2015 at 2:04 pm

      Thank you so much!!! That’s awesome news!

      Reply
  22. Theresa says

    March 26, 2015 at 3:08 pm

    These are adorable. Pinned & shared. Thanks for linkup with us at the Inspiration Spotlight party!

    Reply
  23. Deb@ Cooking on the Front Burner says

    March 27, 2015 at 12:24 pm

    Sarah – these are super cute! Thanks for sharing with us at Best of the Weekend – these will be featured on my blog tonight!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 29, 2015 at 7:25 pm

      Awesome! Thanks so much, Deb!! Thanks for the party, as always! 🙂

      Reply
  24. Izabela Kumar says

    March 27, 2015 at 9:32 pm

    So cute Sarah! Wow, Easter is almost here! Loved the way you decorated the cupcakes 🙂
    Saying Hi from The Creative Collection Link Party!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 29, 2015 at 7:26 pm

      Thank you so much, Izabela! I’m so glad you like them. 🙂

      Reply
  25. Duck life says

    September 4, 2018 at 9:29 pm


    The cakes you make are very attractive and lively, looking like birds nest.

    Reply

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Hello, It’s Nice to Meet you!

I'm Sarah! A baker and dessert maker, craft addict, beauty product hoarder, and fitness enthusiast. I have a special affinity for shiny gold objects. I get distracted by glitter and sequins. If it's gleaming and lustrous, I need it. Welcome! Please stay awhile! Read More…

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