For a festive cake all of your guests will be impressed with at your Easter gathering, try this. It’s deceptively easy! Enjoy stocking the basket with your favorite springtime goodies.
—MARY KAY MORRIS COKATO, MN
PREP: 1 HOUR • BAKE: 30 MIN. • MAKES: 10-12 SERVINGS
1package yellow cake mix (regular size)
3cups of white frosting
3drops of green food coloring
1/2teaspoon of water
2cups of flaked coconut
Jelly beans, marshmallow Peeps and chocolate kisses (or the candy of your choice)
1. Cover a serving board with gift wrap, taping the wrap on the back side of the board. Cover wrapped board with clear cellophane in the same way. Set the board aside.
2. Using two 9-in. round baking pans, prepare and bake the cake according to package directions. Cool cakes for 10 minutes before removing from the pans to wire racks to cool completely.
3. Place one cake in the center of the covered serving board. Spread the top of the cake with frosting.
4. Cut a 6-in. circle from the center of the second cake. Remove the center circle and set aside for another use. Place the cake ring on top of the frosted cake layer, creating the basket. Frost top and sides of basket.
5. For the handle, cover a 14-in. x 3/4-in. strip of lightweight cardboard with plastic wrap. Bend the cardboard strip into an upside-down “U” shape and insert the ends into the top of the cake about 1 in. from the outside edge. Frost the handle.
6. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine three drops of the green food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of water. Add the coconut; seal the bag and shake until coconut is evenly tinted. Sprinkle a portion of the green coconut inside the basket. Reserve remaining coconut to sprinkle around the bottom of basket later.
7. Fill the basket with candy of your choice. Press candy pieces onto the top of the handle where shown in the photo or as desired.
8. When the frosting on the cake is firm, press the tines of a fork into the frosting on the sides of the cake to create a basket-weave pattern, alternating vertical and horizontal designs.
9. Sprinkle the remaining tinted coconut around the bottom of the basket.