These Easter Cupcakes are cute, chocolatey and ridiculously easy. Soft chocolate cupcakes, creamy (not-too-sweet) chocolate buttercream, and a cheeky little mini bunny on top. They look impressive but take just 35 minutes to make.
If you're building an Easter dessert table, add my Creme Egg Cheesecake or Easter Brownies and you're officially winning Easter.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Easter Cupcakes
🕒 Ready In: 35 minutes
👪 Serves: 12 cupcakes
🍽 Calories: 554 per cupcake
🥣 Main Ingredients: butter, sugar, eggs, self-raising flour, cocoa, milk, icing sugar and mini chocolate bunnies
📖 Dietary Info: nut-free | can be made gluten-free with GF flour
⭐ Why You'll Love It: Soft, fluffy chocolate cupcakes topped with creamy chocolate buttercream and a mini Easter bunny - quick to make, kid-friendly and guaranteed to disappear fast.
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Amazing cupcakes! Super delicious! My daughter made some tonight and they are the best cupcakes I've ever eaten.
- Hannah
Let's be honest - some novelty cupcakes look cute but taste… meh. Not these.
These sweet cupcakes are rich, soft and properly chocolatey, topped with a creamy cocoa buttercream that's smooth but not sickly sweet - and SO much better than store-bought!
Press a mini bunny on top (Maltesers, KitKat - whatever you love) and suddenly you've got the ultimate Easter treat. Perfect for school parties, Easter lunch or a fun bake with the kids.
Adding to your Easter table? Pair them with my Easter Chocolate Birds Nests or Easter Chocolate Caramel Tart and you're sorted.
Why You're Going To Love This Recipe
- 🐰 Super cute but super easy - They look fancy, but they're so simple to make.
- 🍫 Proper chocolate flavour - Rich and soft, not bland or too sweet.
- ⏱ Ready in 35 minutes - Perfect for last-minute Easter baking, Easter baskets or sweet treats for guests.
- 👩👧 Kid-approved decorating - Let the kids press the bunnies on top.
- 🧁 Bake ahead friendly - Freeze the cupcakes and decorate later.
- ⚡ Conventional + Thermomix - Both methods included.
Jump to:
Cupcake Ingredients
You likely have everything you need for these Easter Cupcakes already - just grab your favourite mini chocolate bunnies and you're set.
- Self-raising flour - Or make your own with plain flour and baking powder.
- Cocoa powder - Choose a good-quality cocoa for a rich chocolate flavour.
- Icing sugar mixture - Use icing sugar mixture for soft, creamy buttercream.
- Mini chocolate bunnies - Maltesers, KitKat or any small Easter bunny works perfectly.
Variations
- Gluten-Free - Swap the self-raising flour for a good gluten-free self-raising blend. Check your mini bunnies are gluten-free too.
- Vanilla Version - Skip the cocoa in the cupcakes and frosting for classic vanilla Easter cupcakes.
- Hidden Egg Centre - Looking for even more Easter cupcake ideas? Try pressing mini chocolate eggs into the batter before baking for a surprise inside.
- Colourful Buttercream - Leave out the cocoa in the frosting and tint with pastel food colouring for a bright Easter look.
- Frosting Swap - Replace the chocolate buttercream with classic vanilla frosting or a smooth cream cheese frosting for a lighter, tangy twist.
How To Make Easter Bunny Cupcakes
These sweet Easter cupcakes are so easy to make - just mix, bake and decorate.
- Cream butter & sugar: Beat the softened butter and caster sugar together until pale and fluffy.
- Add eggs & vanilla: Add the eggs and vanilla gradually, beating well between each addition.
- Sift flour & cocoa: Sift together the self-raising flour and cocoa. Add a little of the dry ingredients to the wet mix.
- Add dry with milk: Alternate adding milk and the rest of the dry ingredients, each time mixing until just combined.
- Gently beat: Once all ingredients added, beat until just combined. It's important not to overmix.
- Bake: Divide the mixture evenly between cupcake cases. Bake for 15 minutes or until the tops spring back when lightly pressed.
- Make buttercream: Beat butter until pale and creamy (4-5 minutes). Gradually add sifted icing sugar and cocoa. Add milk a tablespoon at a time until smooth and spreadable.
- Decorate: Spread or pipe the buttercream over cooled cupcakes. Gently press a mini chocolate bunny into the top and finish with sprinkles (optional).
Recipe Tips
- Use room temperature ingredients for a smooth, even batter.
- Don't overmix once you add the flour - this keeps the cupcakes light and fluffy.
- Fill cases only two-thirds full so they don't overflow.
- They're ready when the tops spring back lightly when pressed.
- Let them cool completely before frosting or the buttercream will melt.
- If the buttercream is too thick, add milk a teaspoon at a time until smooth.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Freeze undecorated cupcakes for up to 3 months and thaw before decorating.
Easter Bunny Cupcakes FAQs
Yes. Bake the cupcakes a day ahead and store in an airtight container. Frost and decorate on the day for best results.
Absolutely. Use a large star tip for a bakery-style swirl.
Maltesers and mini KitKat bunnies hold their shape well and look super cute on top.
They may have been underbaked, overmixed, or the oven door was opened too early. Make sure the tops spring back before removing from the oven.
More Easter Recipes
For more super cute Easter recipes, check out these fun favourites:
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Easter Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
- 125 g butter softened
- 165 g (¾ cup) caster sugar
- 2 eggs lightly beaten, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 190 g (1 ¼ cups) self raising flour
- 35 g (⅓ cup) cocoa
- 160 g (⅔ cup) milk
For the buttercream
- 300 g (2 cups) icing sugar mixture
- 2 tbs cocoa powder
- 115 g butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tbs milk
- 12 mini Easter bunnies see notes
- sprinkles optional
Instructions
To Make The Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 170 degrees celsius. Line 12 muffin holes with cupcake liners.
- Using hand-held beaters or a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.If using a Thermomix: Insert the butterfly into the Thermomix bowl and mix the butter and sugar for 30 seconds on Speed 5. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and repeat for a further 20 seconds or until pale and creamy.
- Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined.If using a Thermomix: Add the eggs and vanilla and mix for 10 seconds on Speed 4, or until combined. Remove the butterfly.
- Alternate folding through the sifted flour and cocoa with the milk until combined.If using a Thermomix: With the blades turning on Speed 2, slowly alternate adding the sifted flour, cocoa and the milk. Increase to Speed 4 for 5 seconds.
- Spoon the mixture into the cupcake liners. Bake for 15 minutes or until cooked when tested.
- Leave in the pan to cool for 10 minutes before placing on a wire rack to cool completely.
To Make The Frosting
- Sift the icing sugar and cocoa powder into a large bowl. Set aside.If using a Thermomix: To make the icing, place the icing sugar and cocoa powder into the Thermomix bowl and mix for 10 seconds, Speed 9.
- Beat the butter and vanilla extract in a bowl until pale and fluffy (approximately 5 minutes). Slowly add the icing sugar/cocoa powder mixture, beating until smooth and creamy.If using a Thermomix: Add the butter, 1 tablespoon of milk and vanilla extract. Mix for 30 seconds on Speed 4. If needed, mix through an extra tablespoon of milk.
- Add 1 tablespoon of milk and beat through.If needed, beat through an extra tablespoon of milk.If using a Thermomix: Add an extra tbs of milk and mix for 10 seconds, Speed 4, if needed.
- Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled cupcakes.
- Gently press a mini Easter bunny into the top of the buttercream and cupcake. Decorate with sprinkles (optional).
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients and don't overmix the batter.
- Fill cases two-thirds full and bake until the tops spring back.
- Cool completely before frosting.
- If buttercream is too thick, add milk a teaspoon at a time.
Hannah Verghese says
Amazing cupcakes! Super delicious! My daughter made some tonight and they are the best cupcakes I’ve ever eaten.
Lucy says
I'm so happy to hear that!
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life says
Malteser Bunnies are my brother-in-law's favourite too! I just know he is going to love these super cute cupcakes. Sending the recipe to my little sister right now!
Bake Play Smile says
Oh thank you! I hope he enjoys them!