There’s just something about Easter that says “cupcakes” - especially when they’re this easy to decorate. Yesterday, we warbled on about coconut and marshmallow bedecked bunny cupcakes. Today it’s on to the chickies… or is that a ducky? Here’s how…

CHICKY CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS
1 cupcake
1 donut hole
Vanilla frosting
Yellow food coloring
Flaked coconut
1 piece candy corn or an orange jelly bean
2 miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS
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OK, I’ve dyed countless eggs with those little pellet colors and vinegar. I’ve wrapped rubber bands around eggs before submerging them to get that cool striped effect, stuck on (and then removed, post-dying) sticker dots to get white polka dots, and dipped first one side and then the other for a two-toned masterpiece. But these ideas from McCormick, the vanilla extract and food coloring folks? Very cool. Here’s a sneak peek, but follow the link to find two video how-tos to help too. (And that may be a too/to/two record for us. Five in one sentence!)

Sponge Painted Eggs: In separate bowls, add food color to a few drops of plain white vinegar. Dip different sponges into each bowl and lightly pat the colors on your hard-boiled eggs for a speckled look. (May we suggest that you wear plastic gloves when you do this? We’re still trying to get our colorful fingers back to normal.)

Tie-Dyed Eggs: Place a hard-boiled egg in a colander in the kitchen sink. Splash it with some vinegar and then drop a few drops of, for example, light yellow food coloring onto it. Shake the colander gently for a few seconds to help spread the color. After 30 seconds, do it again with a spring green or other colors. Then, splash the egg with some water to soften the colors and let it dry.
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Ever wondered how those creative bakers turn plain old cupcakes into wondrous little creatures? Family Fun Magazine sent us this adorable photo of bunny cupcakes and these instructions, just for you:

BUNNY CUPCAKE EMBELLISHMENTS
A cupcake (baked from your favorite recipe)
White icing, pink decorating gel
Shredded coconut
Pink decorators’ sugar
Jelly bean nose
Chewable Sweet Tart eyes
Marshmallows - 1 large and 2 miniature

INSTRUCTIONS
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1. Oakland’s Dunmuir Historic Estate is hosting an old-fashioned egg hunt, complete with Bunny and games this Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Bring a basket to collect colored eggs in the great meadow, play games, enjoy tap dancing bunnies & puppet shows while you picnic on the grounds. ($2 kids, $5 adults, $12 families) Also in Oakland: The city and Mosswood Park Recreation Center are hosting an Easter Egg Hunt at Mosswood Park this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Free)

2. Bring your basket to Walnut Creek’s Heather Farm for the annual scrumptious Pancake Breakfast this Saturday from 8 to 9:45 a.m. followed by Egg Hunts at both Heather Farm Park and Larkey Park at 10 a.m. (Breakfast is $5. Pose for pics with the Spring Bunny for $1 - bring a camera and a basket to collect eggs. Need more info? Call 925-943-5849.)
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Yesterday, we reveled in chickies and other Easter icons. Today, we’re giggling over the sheer brilliance of this chocolate-alternative for Easter. Don’t know why we never thought of this before, as we’ve shoved still-warm Rice Krispie Treat goo into just about every other sort of mold! But those smart cookies over at BHG.com lightly greased the interior of those ubiquitous plastic Easter eggs and used them to mold Krispie egg treats. (Click here for more great ideas.)

We’re counting down the days till Easter. Join us for this week’s round-up of spring and Easter-themed crafts, recipes and activities. We’re starting with this adorable tree of nesting chickies - fantastic centerpiece, don’t you think? - courtesy of those clever folks at Family Fun magazine. Here’s how to do it!

ROCK-A-BYE BIRDIE MATERIALS:
Egg carton
Hole punch
1/4-inch-wide ribbon
Colored tissue paper
Colored card stock
Pinking shears or decorative-edge craft scissors
Blown eggs
Glue stick, markers
Colored feathers
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