Do you need ideas for creative Easter cupcakes? Cupcakes are both a delicious dessert or snack and a fun family activity. Easter cupcakes should reflect spring, frosted in pastels, and decorated with symbols of the season. This guide to how to make Easter cupcakes will help you add to the joy of the holiday.

When you're looking for a dessert that is simple to serve, can be made ahead of time, and can be customized to individual tastes, cupcakes are a great solution! They can be elegant, time-consuming works of art, or just a fun and simple project taken on alongside your toddler. You're in control—there are no rules when it comes to decorating Easter cupcakes.

There are no complicated supplies needed for Easter cupcakes, just items you may already have in your kitchen or can easily find at most grocery stores:

1. Cupcakes
2. Frosting
3. Food coloring
4. A pastry bag, or seal-able bag to pipe frosting onto cupcakes
5. A spoon, spatula or knife to spread the frosting
6. A large, flat work surface, such as a table
7. Your choice of decorations

1. There are endless possibilities for your Easter cupcakes recipes. Here are the ingredients for one simple recipe for a great tasting cupcake:

• 2 cups flour (all purpose)
• 3 eggs (large)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup butter (1-1/2 sticks), softened
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups sugar

2. A variety of frosting choices exist to choose from to add color and flavor for your Easter cupcakes. Here are the ingredients for a basic frosting:

• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 stick butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 cups confectioner's sugar
• 4 tablespoons milk

3. Decide on what decorations you want for your cupcakes.

1. Preheat the oven at 350 degrees
2. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk on low for about 2 minutes.
3. Combine butter, vanilla, eggs, milk to the mix in a large bowl. Beat using the standard blending attachment on your blender on medium.
4. Gradually increase the blender's speed to high. Beat for approximately 2 minutes. When ready, mixture will be creamy.
5. Scoop batter into cupcake liners. Bake the cupcakes for approximately 25 minutes (or until the cupcakes have a golden hue). Test with a toothpick.
6. Remove and allow cupcakes to cool.

Let your imagination run wild in decorating your cupcakes. Bunnies, chicks, eggs, grass and flowers are popular Easter cupcake decorations. Here are some clever and tasty ideas:

1. Chick cupcakes - Start with a cupcake with white or yellow frosting. Tint some coconut in a bowl or baggie by adding yellow food dye and mixing it up. Place the coconut on top of the cupcake. Use a gummy orange slice cut to look like a beak. Place chocolate chips on the cupcake to be the chick's eyes.
2. Sheep cupcakes - Cut miniature cupcakes in half (so they won't protrude too far from the top of the cupcakes). Top the cupcakes with a white frosting. Place two brown M&Ms on the cupcake to represent the sheep's eyes. Place the cut marshmallows on the cupcake. Use two black candy licorice pieces to represent the sheep's legs and a cut red licorice piece as the eyes.

• Cupcakes can be turned into Easter baskets, sheep, chicks, bunnies, or other symbols of the season. Use your imagination and you'll have an assortment of seasonal delights in no time!