Food and Recipes 17 Easter Cupcakes To Get Everyone Hopping To The Dessert Table By Mary Alice Russell Mary Alice Russell Mary Alice Russell is a Southern Living fellow who is starting her career in lifestyle journalism. Primarily focused on social media and digital production, Mary Alice is excited to hone her skills and dedicate her professional life to beautiful things, from homes to hearts.A recent graduate of Washington and Lee University, Mary Alice majored in journalism and art history. At W&L, she was co-editor-in-chief of her school paper, The Ring-tum Phi, with her best friend and interned for The Welcome Home Podcast. Now based in Birmingham, Alabama, Mary Alice is a Virginia native who is proud to hail from the land of ham and peanuts. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 17, 2024 Close Photo: Photographer and props: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Easter is one of the most important days on the Christian calendar, but it also marks the official start of spring for many. The pastel filled celebration is full of some of our favorite traditions from finding the perfect dress to going on an egg hunt, but the sweetest memory for most Southerners is most likely the dessert spread enjoyed after Easter lunch. While some of us enjoyed a Bunny Cake or lemon bars, no one can resist a pretty cupcake display on the sideboard. It’s just the treat to polish off a ham or lamb filled meal without being a decadent as a slice of cake. We’ve pulled some of our most festive cupcakes together for this list from Sunflower Cupcakes to Easter Birds’ Nest Coconut Cupcakes. Regardless of how old you and your guests are, you are sure to appreciate the sweet details on these cakes that are almost too pretty to eat. If you're intimidated by icing a large cake, these miniature cakes are the perfect place to start mastering the technique. While tiny, cupcakes will make a dramatic impact as a dessert centerpiece. 01 of 17 Camellia Cupcakes Emily Mingledorff The sweet Southern Camellia is the perfect inspiration for a cupcake. Everyone will be impressed by the cheery decorations on this two-bite sweets. Get The Recipe 02 of 17 Carrot Cake Cupcakes Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster These cream-cheese frosting-topped carrot cake cupcakes are the perfect dessert to serve alongside your Easter spread. Make both the cupcakes and frosting up to three days ahead—just wait to frost them until you're ready to serve. Get The Recipe 03 of 17 Honeybee Cupcakes Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Everyone will be buzzing about these adorable treats. Honey is the star ingredient, from the batter to the buttercream. It’s used in the cake for both sweetness and the nice golden brown color it lends the sponge. Get The Recipe 04 of 17 Black Bottom Cupcakes Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox For those of us who are too busy to do a lot of elaborate decorating this Easter, these are a delicious, easy option. They are sure to satisfy adults and children alike with their combination of chocolate cake and cheesecake. Get The Recipe 05 of 17 Strawberry-Lemonade Cupcakes Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas The recipe for these pretty-in-pink cupcakes starts with a box of cake mix, but the results are so spectacular, no one will be the wiser. Garnish with freshly sliced strawberries. Get The Recipe 06 of 17 Key Lime Cupcakes Photographer and props: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Sunshine takes on a rare and true from in these sand (graham cracker) covered treats. The bright pop of Key Lime adds a lovely touch to this confection. Get The Recipe 07 of 17 Mixed Berry Cheesecake Cupcakes Photographer: Alison Miksch Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Believe it or not, these cheesecake bites only take 25 minutes of hands on time, which means you have plenty of time to hide Easter eggs and fill those baskets. For topping these treats, you can choose whatever fruit your heart desires. Get The Recipe 08 of 17 Sunflower Cupcakes Photographer: Alison Miksch Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee For families all about the frosting, these cupcakes are the perfect choice. Just like the flowers, we'll pick the prettiest dessert first, and these are a clear winner. Get The Recipe 09 of 17 Lemon Cupcakes With Raspberry Buttercream Jennifer Causey Raspberry and lemon are always a winning combination, and our Lemon Cupcakes With Raspberry Buttercream are no exception. The lemon zest in the batter and the fresh raspberry in the frosting make this recipe a new holiday favorite. Get The Recipe 10 of 17 Hummingbird Cupcakes With Candied Pineapple Wedges Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Instead of making a whole Hummingbird Cake, you might want to try these small bites instead. The candied pineapple wedges add a finishing touch that's sure to impress your guests. Get The Recipe 11 of 17 Easter Birds' Nest Coconut Cupcakes Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Coconut and Easter go together like eggs in a basket. The decoration of a coconut nest brushed with luster dust and some mini chocolate eggs make this treat especially festive. Get The Recipe 12 of 17 Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes Micah Leal Full of fresh and freeze dried strawberries, these treats show just how good going au naturel can look if you're a cupcake. Get The Recipe 13 of 17 Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes With Buttercream Frosting Hector Sanchez Styling: Heather Chadduck Serve these little beauties next to a bowl of your favorite punch. There's a reason it's been a winning springtime combination for generations. Get The Recipe 14 of 17 Pineapple-Coconut Cupcakes With Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting Iain Bagwell; Styling: Vanessa McNeil Rocchio Boxed cake mix plus a few add-ins make these bite-sized desserts came together in a snap. For a variation try our Pineapple-Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting. Get The Recipe 15 of 17 Coconut-Lime Cupcakes Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis The batter is a wonder all on its own, but add a swirl of the Coconut-Lime Frosting and everyone will be getting up for seconds. Cake flour is the secret ingredient that makes these miniature cakes oh-so tender. Get The Recipe 16 of 17 Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes With Cherry-Swirl Frosting Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Cheerwine, just like Coca-Cola, is excellent in baked goods. The pale pink crumb and the light cherry flavor make these treats a delightful addition to the sideboard this season. Get The Recipe 17 of 17 German Chocolate Cupcakes Photographer: Alison Miksch Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee German Chocolate Cake is a timeless favorite layer cake recipe, but when it comes to the dessert after an elaborate Easter meal, sometimes an easier cupcake is in order. 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