Showstopper Easter basket cake recipe

Name: Showstopper Easter basket cake recipe
Prep time: 1 h 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 20 serving(s)
Ingredients: Hamilworth paper-covered floral wire, 24 gauge; 600 g cream Mexican modelling paste; 175 mL sunflower oil, plus extra to grease; 4 medium eggs, beaten; 275 g caster sugar; 300 g plain flour; 2 tsp. baking powder; 1 tsp. bicarbonate of soda; 2 tsp. cinnamon; 1/2 tsp. salt; 350 g carrots, peeled and grated; 275 g unsalted butter, softened; 375 g icing sugar, sifted; 275 g full-fat cream cheese at room temperature; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; White chocolate pencils, about 500g, or use chocolate fingers; Ribbons and mini eggs

This deliciously moist carrot cake is too good to share with the Easter bunny.

By The Good Housekeeping Cookery TeamUpdated: 08 April 2025

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best mini egg recipes easter basket cake

This adorable Easter cake isn't as difficult as it looks - we promise! It's a tiered carrot cake covered in a cream cheese frosting and decorated with white chocolate pencils and mini eggs. It's the perfect bake to impress your guests with over Easter.

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Yields:

20 serving(s)

Prep Time:

1 hr 30 mins

Cook Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs

Cal/Serv:

484

Ingredients

For the handle

Hamilworth paper-covered floral wire, 24 gauge
600 g
cream Mexican modelling paste

For the cake

175 ml
sunflower oil, plus extra to grease
4
medium eggs, beaten
275 g
caster sugar
300 g
plain flour
2 tsp.
baking powder
1 tsp.
bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp.
cinnamon
1/2 tsp.
salt
350 g
carrots, peeled and grated

For the icing

275 g
unsalted butter, softened
375 g
icing sugar, sifted
275 g
full-fat cream cheese at room temperature
1 tsp.
vanilla extract

To decorate

White chocolate pencils, about 500g, or use chocolate fingers
Ribbons and mini eggs

Directions

1. Step 1To make the basket handle twist three pieces of floral wire together to make one long piece longer than 70 cm. Repeat with two more and set all three aside. Break off 50g Mexican paste (wrap the remainder well to avoid drying out) and knead until pliable. Roll it into a thin strand about long. Press one of the long pieces of wire all along the length of the strand and pinch the Mexican paste over it to enclose. Roll to even it out and wrap the wire-filled strand in cling film to avoid drying. Repeat with two more pieces of Mexican paste so you have three wire-filed strands. Starting at one end, plait the strands together. On a flat surface curve into an arc with the ends exactly 18cm apart. Leave to dry uncovered by an open window overnight.
2. Step 2Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Lightly grease and line base and sides of 2 x 20.5cm loose-bottomed cake tins, with a collar of baking parchment at least 10cm high. In a large mixing bowl, beat the oil, eggs and sugar together until smooth. In a separate bowl sift the flour, salt, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon together then stir in salt. Add this to the egg mixture and mix to combine. Fold in the carrots. Spoon into the tin, level the surface and bake for 25 - 30 min or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
3. Step 3Remove from the oven, leave to cool in the tin for 10min before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Step 4To make the icing beat the butter and icing sugar together in a large mixing bowl until it is stiff. Add the cream cheese and vanilla extract and mix to combine until smooth.
5. Step 5Put one cake on a board of exactly the same size, spread with a third of the cream cheese icing. Put the second cake on top. Cover with another third of icing. Spread the remaining icing all over the sides of the cake. Press white chocolate pencils onto the sides of the cake closely next to each other. Chill for 30 min. Tie a ribbon around the cake, press the dried basket ‘handle’ into the top and tie with bowls either side. Fill with Easter eggs.

To store: remove basket handle and store cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Find floral wire and modelling paste at squires-shop.com. Buy chocolate pencils at chocolatetradingco.com – or use white chocolate fingers.

If you don’t like carrot cake but still fancy giving the decoration a go, then use a cake recipe that also uses 2 x 20.5cm springform tins and a cake that is similarly covered all over in buttercream in order for the chocolate pencils to stick on the outside. A great alternative would be our White Velvet Cake (minus the chocolate shards and truffles).

For other Easter chocolate cake recipes, take a look at our best chocolate cake recipes for Easter.