Easter Basket Cupcakes Recipe

Skill Level: Beginner
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
1 can (16 oz.) creamy vanilla ready-to-spread frosting
3-3/4 cups MOUNDS Sweetened Coconut Flakes, (tinted) *
Assorted HERSHEY'S Easter Candies (JOLLY RANCHER Jelly Beans, CADBURY'S Mini Eggs Candy, HERSHEY'S Candy-Coated Milk Chocolate Eggs, HERSHEY'S Mini Robin Eggs, HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates)(optional)
33 TWIZZLERS Strawberry Twists
Directions

1
Heat oven to 350°F. Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups.
2
Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of electric mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter.
3
Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.
4
To make Easter baskets, frost each cupcake with vanilla frosting. Immediately make "nest" on top of each cupcake with tinted coconut; place assorted candy in nests.
5
For handle, insert wooden pick in each end of strawberry twists; press down into each side of each cupcake, bending to form handle.** About 30 cupcakes.
*NOTE: To tint coconut, combine several drops green food color with 3/4 teaspoon water; add to 1-1/2 cups coconut. Stir until evenly tinted. Repeat using blue, pink or yellow food color.
** Adults should supervise children when preparing this recipe. Remove wooden picks before serving.
Courtesy of hersheys.com