Easter Chick Cupcakes (Printable)
Festive yellow cupcakes decorated as adorable Easter chicks with buttercream frosting and candy details.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Cupcake Batter
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 - 1/2 cup whole milk
→ Buttercream Frosting
10 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 2 cups powdered sugar
12 - 2 tablespoons milk
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - Yellow gel food coloring
→ Decorations
15 - 24 mini chocolate chips
16 - 12 orange candy-coated chocolates or mini orange jelly beans
17 - 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
# Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
03 - In a separate large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla.
04 - Add half the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, followed by the milk, then the remaining dry mix. Mix just until combined.
05 - Divide the batter evenly among cupcake liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool completely.
06 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with milk. Mix in vanilla and yellow food coloring until the desired shade is reached.
07 - Frost the cooled cupcakes generously with yellow buttercream. For a feathery effect, dip frosted tops in shredded coconut.
08 - Decorate each cupcake with two mini chocolate chips for eyes and an orange candy for the beak. Use extra frosting to help pieces adhere if necessary.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These cupcakes transform basic vanilla and yellow frosting into something that makes people actually gasp when they see them
- The decorating process is forgiving enough that even clumsy hands end up with adorable chicks that look intentionally charming
02 -
- Completely cool cupcakes before frosting or your buttercream will melt into a sad puddle
- Warm cupcakes will cause the coconut to slide right off, so patience pays off here
- These are best eaten the same day because the coconut starts to weep into the frosting overnight
03 -
- Wear latex gloves when working with food coloring to avoid yellow-stained hands that last for days
- Place your decorations while the frosting is still fresh so they stick without additional help