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What’s better than the cutest easter basket filled with goodies from the Easter Bunny? A sweet, coconut Easter Basket Cake.
My 4 year old son Dash Bakes The Greats was so excited to see all of the colorful candies and marshmallow peeps we would get to use for this Easter Basket Cake, and taste test each of course. Although this cake has several different steps, the best part is decorating it with all of the spring and Easter candies. Well, to be honest, the best part is always eating, but decorating a close second.
Can you make any substitutions to the Easter Basket Cake or decorations?
You could easily use your favorite Betty Crocker cake mix, rainbow chip, strawberry, yellow, chocolate or even marble. Although we highly recommend the coconut grass, you could substitute edible candy easter grass, or even just green frosting. The decorations we chose are absolutely sweet and a special treat, but you could use chocolate bunnies as a substitute for the marshmallow peeps, especially if your cake is a chocolate cake. Another option of easter candy egg in place of the robin eggs is another favorite of ours, Cadbury candy milk chocolate mini eggs.
How do I make the Easter Basket Cake?
Heat oven to 350 degrees for shiny metal or glass pans, 325 degrees for nonstick pans. Grease 2 round 8″ cake pans. We used spray oil.
Mix cake mix, water (or use milk as a substitute as we did), oil and and eggs in a large bowl with mixer on medium speed or beat vigorously by hand 2 minutes. Pour evenly into 2 round cake pans. Tap on counter to settle before baking.
Bake as directed according to directions, 29-34 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan. Cool completely before frosting.
While the cake is cooling, in a plastic ziplock bag or bowl, mix coconut flakes and a few drops of green food coloring to resemble grass. Add drops of water to help spread the coloring if needed.
Place bottom layer of cake on cake stand and frost the top.
Cut partially into the top layer of cake, about a 5″ circle in the center and place on top of frosted bottom layer.
Frost sides of the cake all the way around and top except where the coconut grass will be in the center.
Fill the center of cake with green coconut “grass”.
Place 3 marshmallow bunny peeps and 3 chick peeps on the coconut grass.
Add robin chocolate eggs on top of the coconut grass.
Starting on the sides, place pastel m&m candies in a row all the way around the sides of the cake. One row at a time, about 3 rows. Place 2 circle rows of pastel m&m’s all the way around the top of the cake.
Roll enough tinfoil in a long shape, depending on how long you want your basket handle to be. Wrap your favorite ribbon around tinfoil to cover. Make a bow with the ribbon and tie onto top of your basket handle. Insert handle lightly into top of cake. You may need a dab of glue on both ends of the ribbon to secure so it doesn’t unravel.
When you cut into the cake, you’ll be delighted to see the grass fall into each slice. Slice, serve and enjoy with your family this Easter.
Easter Basket Cake – Ingredients
CAKE:
Yellow Cake Mix (we used Betty Crocker)
1 Cup Water (we substituted milk)
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
3 Whole Eggs
FROSTING:
1 Tub of Betty Crocker Vanilla Frosting
COCONUT TOPPING:
1-2 Cups Coconut Flakes
Green Food Coloring
Water to dilute
DECORATIONS:
Marshmallow Peeps, Bunnies and Chicks
Whoppers Robin Eggs
Pastel M&M’s Chocolate Candies
BASKET HANDLE:
Tinfoil
Ribbon
Be sure to check out Dash’s baking Instagram @DashBakesTheGreats for more kids baking ideas and inspiration and all his archived recipes here!

Easter Basket Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Cake
- Yellow Cake Mix we used Betty Crocker
- 1 Cup Water (we substituted milk)
- 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 3 Whole Eggs
- 1 Tub of Vanilla Frosting we used Betty Crocker
Coconut Grass
- 1-2 Cups Coconut Flakes
- Green Food Coloring
- Water to dilute and help blend the color
Decorations
- Marshmallow Peeps, Bunnies and Chicks
- Whoppers Robin EggsPastel
- Pastel M&M's Chocolate Candies
Basket Handle
- Tinfoil
- Ribbon
- Hot glue gun
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees for shiny metal or glass pans, 325 degrees for nonstick pans. Grease 2 round 8" cake pans. We used spray oil. Mix cake mix, water (or use milk as a substitute as we did), oil, and eggs in a large bowl with mixer on medium speed or beat vigorously by hand 2 minutes. Pour batter evenly into 2 round cake pans. Tap on counter to settle before baking. Bake as directed according to directions, 29-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan. Cool completely before frosting. While the cake is cooling, in a plastic ziplock bag or bowl, mix coconut flakes and a few drops of green food coloring to resemble grass. Add drops of water to help spread the coloring if needed. Place bottom layer of cake on cake stand and frost the top.Cut partially into the top layer of cake, about a 5" circle in the center (remove excess cake) and place cake layer on top of frosted bottom layer. Frost sides of the cake all the way around and top except where the coconut grass will be in the center. Fill the center of cake with green coconut "grass."Place 3 marshmallow bunny peeps and 3 chick peeps on the coconut grass. Add robin chocolate eggs on top of the coconut grass. Starting on the sides, place pastel m&m candies in a row all the way around the sides of the cake. One row at a time, about 3 rows. Place 2 circle rows of pastel m&m's all the way around the top of the cake. Roll enough tinfoil in a long shape, depending on how long you want your basket handle to be. Wrap your favorite ribbon around tinfoil to cover. Make a bow with the ribbon and tie onto top of your basket handle (or hot glue). Insert handle lightly into top of cake. You may need a dab of glue on both ends of the ribbon to secure so it doesn't unravel. When you cut into the cake, you'll be delighted to see the grass fall into each slice. Slice, serve and enjoy with your family this Easter.
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