Easter Basket Candy Cake Food

RAINBOW RING EASTER BASKET CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Generously grease 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make cake mix as directed on box, using water, oil and egg whites.
• Divide batter among 3 small bowls. Add few drops yellow food color to 1 bowl; mix well. Add red food color to second bowl to make pink. Add red and blue food color to third bowl to make purple. Pour half of the yellow batter into cake pan. Carefully pour half of the pink batter over yellow batter. Carefully pour half of the purple batter over pink batter. Repeat layers (do not mix colors).
• Bake as directed on box until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Place cake on serving plate.
• Divide frosting among 3 small microwavable bowls. Microwave 1 bowl on High about 5 to 10 seconds; add few drops yellow food color and stir until frosting is smooth enough to drizzle. With spoon, drizzle yellow frosting back and forth over cake in striping pattern until all frosting is used (allow some frosting to drip down onto plate in middle of cake, if desired). Microwave second bowl of frosting; add red and blue food color to make purple. Drizzle frosting over cake in same striping pattern. Repeat with last bowl, adding red food color to make pink frosting. Decorate cake with sprinkles.
• Place coconut in resealable food-storage plastic bag; add few drops green food color. Seal bag and toss until coconut is evenly tinted. Sprinkle coconut on serving plate around cake and in center for "Easter grass."

EASTER BASKET CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Make and cool cake as directed on box for two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans.
• Place 1 cake layer, rounded side down, on serving plate. Spread with about 1/3 cup frosting. Top with second layer, rounded side up. Frost side of cake and spread a thin layer of frosting on top of cake. Make a basket weave pattern in frosting on side of cake by drawing inch-long horizontal and vertical lines with tines of fork.
• Shake coconut and 3 or 4 drops food color in tightly covered jar until evenly tinted; sprinkle on top of cake. Place candy eggs on coconut. Store loosely covered.

EASTER BASKET CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare the cake mix and bake the cake in two 8 inch rounds according to package directions. Cool completely.
• Cut a circle out of the center of one of the layers, leaving a ring that measures 1 1/2 inches from the outer to the inner edge. Place the uncut layer on a serving platter and frost the top. Place the ring layer on top of the frosted layer, and frost the sides and top of the basket. Decorate the sides and top by pressing candy pieces into the frosting.
• To tint the coconut, combine water and green food coloring in a medium bowl. Stir in coconut with a fork until evenly tinted. Place green coconut grass in center of cake basket.
• To make a handle, cut a piece of aluminum foil 8x16 inches. Fold in half lengthwise 4 times. Wrap with ribbon, securing the ends with tape. Insert ends of the handle into the cake top. Fill basket with Easter candy and goodies, if desired.

CUPCAKE EASTER BASKETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in the egg and orange zest. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. , Fill 18 paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small bowl, beat butter, cream cheese and vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar; spread over cupcakes. Combine water and food coloring in a large bowl; add coconut. Stir to coat. Sprinkle over cupcakes., Using a metal or wooden skewer, poke 2 holes in the top of each cupcake, 1 hole on each side. Cut licorice into 6-in. strips for handles; insert each end of a licorice piece into a hole. Decorate with candy eggs.

SURPRISE-INSIDE EASTER CANDY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Spray bottoms and sides of two 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat 1 box cake mix and ingredients called for on box with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide evenly between pans.
• Bake 28 to 33 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, repeat mixing and baking with second box of cake mix to make 2 more layers.
• Flatten cake layers by trimming off round tops. In 2 layers, cut small round out of center, using 4-inch round cutter. In small bowl, mix chocolate candies, mini eggs, baking chips and 1/2 cup of the sprinkles; set aside.
• To assemble cake: Place 1 uncut cake layer on serving plate; spread 1/3 cup frosting on top. Top with 1 layer with center removed; spread 1/3 cup frosting on top. Top with second layer with center removed; spread 1/3 cup frosting on top.
• Fill cake with candies and sprinkles mixture. Gently press candies to level; top with full cake layer. Frost top and side of cake with 1 1/2 cups frosting. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• In medium bowl, place 1 1/2 cups of the frosting; stir in pink food color until blended. Fit decorating bag with 1/2-inch round piping tip; fill with 3/4 cup pink frosting. Set decorating bag and pink frosting aside. In 1 small bowl, place 1/4 cup of the frosting; stir in yellow food color until blended. In another small bowl, place 1/4 cup frosting, stir in green food color until blended.
• Using photo as a guide, spread 1/2 cup of the pink frosting on top of cake, reserving remaining pink frosting for top third of cake. Starting on side, spread yellow frosting on bottom third of cake. In middle third of cake, spread green frosting so green frosting overlaps yellow frosting. On upper third of cake, spread remaining pink frosting so pink frosting overlaps green frosting.
• To blend colors together on side of cake: Using an icing spatula, starting at bottom edge of cake, lightly blend and barely smooth colors in an upward motion toward top edge of cake; wipe spatula clean with paper towel. Repeat blending of frosting and wiping off spatula. Smooth top if needed. Pipe frosting mounds around top edge of cake. Sprinkle remaining 3 tablespoons candy sprinkles in center.
• Store loosely covered at room temperature.