I still remember the year my niece “taste-tested” three cupcakes before brunch even started. That chaos is exactly why I love easter peeps cupcakes—they look festive, take minimal effort, and always get squeals from kids and side-eye approval from the grown-ups who pretend they don’t like marshmallows. I keep a box mix and a bag of Peeps on standby, and when spring hits, these cupcakes basically frost themselves.
What Makes Easter Peeps Cupcakes So Fun (And So Easy)?
First, they’re adorable without a pastry degree. A swirl of buttercream, a sprinkle of “grass,” and a marshmallow chick or bunny on top turns a plain cupcake into a centerpiece. Second, you can go full scratch or “semi-homemade” with a boxed mix and canned frosting.
I’ve done both, and no one noticed because the Peeps steal the show. Many top bakers and food bloggers lean into simple builds—box mix plus buttercream—then style with edible grass, dyed coconut, sprinkles, or mini eggs for texture.
I also like the flexibility. Lemon cupcakes with vanilla buttercream taste bright and springy. Chocolate with vanilla frosting gives that classic candy-shop vibe. Vanilla on vanilla with pastel sanding sugar? That’s your Instagram moment.
How Do I Make Easter Peeps Cupcakes Step-By-Step?
Start with 24 cupcakes, baked and cooled. If you’re using a boxed mix, follow the package, but swap water for milk and add an extra egg for a more bakery-style crumb. While they cool, whip up buttercream: beat softened butter until fluffy, add powdered sugar in batches, splash in vanilla and a tablespoon or two of heavy cream, and keep beating until it stands up in soft peaks.
For the “grass,” you’ve got options. Pipe with a grass tip for shaggy turf, or press the frosted tops into shredded coconut tinted green with a drop of food coloring. Both give dimension and a playful nest for your Peeps. Many popular versions add mini chocolate eggs or edible Easter grass to finish.
Set a Peep on each cupcake and press gently so it sticks. If you want a sturdier hold for travel, dot a tiny bit of melted white chocolate under each Peep and let it set.
Can I Add A Surprise Filling To Easter Peeps Cupcakes?
Absolutely, and it’s a party trick worth doing. Use a small round cutter or apple corer to remove a bit of the center after baking. Spoon in sprinkles, mini eggs, or colored buttercream, then cap the hole with the cut-out, frost, and top with a Peep. Hidden candy centers pop up in several fan-favorite variations and always get a “whoa” when someone takes the first bite.
If you’re baking with kids, assign them the “candy crew.” They’ll love filling the cores and choosing which Peeps color goes on each cupcake.
What Are Smart Flavor And Topping Combos For Easter Peeps Cupcakes?
I rotate three pairings:
- Lemon cupcake + vanilla buttercream + blue sprinkles + yellow chicks. Zesty, bright, picture-perfect.
- Chocolate cupcake + marshmallow buttercream + pastel sanding sugar + pink bunnies. Think s’mores meets Easter basket. (Some bakers even coat frosting with colored sugar to mimic the Peeps look.)
- Vanilla cupcake + cream cheese frosting + green coconut “grass” + bunny Peeps + mini eggs. This one looks like a tiny garden scene and photographs beautifully.
If you want maximum speed, frost store-bought cupcakes and crown with Peeps—yes, people do this and it works for last-minute brunch.
How Do I Make Easter Peeps Cupcakes Ahead (Without Drying Them Out)?
Bake the cupcakes up to two days ahead and store them (unfrosted) in an airtight container at room temperature. Make the buttercream the day before; bring it to room temp and rewhip for 30–60 seconds before piping. Add the Peeps and any edible grass or coconut within 3–4 hours of serving, so colors stay vivid and textures stay perky. If you’re transporting, chill frosted cupcakes for 20–30 minutes to firm up the swirl, then top with Peeps on site.
Quick Recipe Card: Easter Peeps Cupcakes
Yield: 24 cupcakes | Time: ~60 minutes
You’ll need:
- 24 baked cupcakes (vanilla, lemon, or chocolate)
- 1½ cups unsalted butter, softened
- 5–6 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 Tbsp heavy cream or milk
- 1–2 tsp vanilla
- Green food coloring (optional)
- 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut (optional)
- Pastel sprinkles or mini eggs
- 24 Peeps (chicks or bunnies)
Make it:
- Beat butter until pale and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
- Add powdered sugar in batches, beating on low, then medium-high until smooth.
- Beat in vanilla and cream to a pipeable consistency.
- For coconut grass, tint coconut with green coloring in a bag and shake.
- Pipe frosting (grass tip or open star).
- Dip into coconut (optional). Sprinkle on decor.
- Press a Peep on top of each cupcake.
FAQs About Easter Peeps Cupcakes
1. Can I use canned frosting?
Yes, and your sanity may thank you. Canned frosting works fine when you’re short on time. Rewhip it for a minute to add air, and if it’s too thick for piping, loosen with a teaspoon of milk at a time. For better structure—especially if you’re making tall grass swirls—homemade buttercream holds its shape longer.
2. Do Peeps melt or bleed color on frosting?
At room temperature, Peeps hold up great for several hours. If you refrigerate decorated cupcakes overnight, condensation can cause a little color transfer when you bring them out. To avoid that, add Peeps the day of serving, or let chilled cupcakes come to room temp (20–30 minutes) before topping.
3. What flavors pair best with Peeps?
Peeps are marshmallow-sweet, so they play well with bright, citrusy cakes like lemon and with cocoa-rich chocolate for contrast. Vanilla is the universal crowd-pleaser and the best blank canvas for colorful toppings. Cream cheese frosting adds tang that balances sweetness nicely.
4. Any fun presentation ideas for a dessert table?
Try a “pastel parade”: line up rows by Peep color—yellow, pink, blue, purple—for instant eye candy. Build “nests” with edible Easter grass or green coconut and tuck in a mini egg beside each Peep. Surprise-center cupcakes look extra cute when one is sliced open so guests can see the candy core.
Ready To Hop To It? (Yes, That’s Your Sassy Nudge.)
Make easter peeps cupcakes your spring shortcut: quick base, plush frosting, playful toppings, and a topper that makes everyone grin. Keep it simple with box mix and canned frosting on weeknights or go full bakery with lemon cake and marshmallow buttercream on the weekend. Either way, you’ll plate a tray that looks like you spent hours—without actually doing that.
And if you’re feeling bold in the kitchen, try pairing these sweet, fluffy creations with something dramatic like death by cupcakes—a rich, indulgent chocolate dessert that balances out the sugary lightness of Peeps. Serving both side by side at your Easter gathering creates that perfect mix of playful and decadent. Now go claim that dessert table with the cutest cupcakes in the room, and happy baking!
