(Family Features) Little ones (and big ones too) will have fun making these adorable Easter Lamb Carrot Cupcakes. Easter is a special time for bringing families together. Make memories happen in the kitchen when you get hands on with these sweet cupcakes made with Dixie Crystals Sugar. Marshmallow lambs sitting atop moist carrot cupcakes on a bed of green coconut grass are a sure way to sweeten any family gathering.

For more recipes to add fun and flavor to your Easter festivities, visit www.dixiecrystals.com.

Easter Lamb Carrot Cupcakes

Servings: 12-16

• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups Dixie Crystals Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups finely shredded carrots
• 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Frosting:

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
• 1 stick or 1/2 cup unsalted butter, very soft
• 4 cups Dixie Crystals Confectioners Powdered Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Royal icing:

• 1 cup Dixie Crystals Confectioners Powdered Sugar
• 2 1/4 teaspoons dried egg whites
• 2 tablespoons warm water
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Decoration:

• 1 cup sweetened coconut
• Green food coloring
• Black food coloring
• 1 bag regular size marshmallows
• 1 bag miniature marshmallows
• 24-36 pink jelly beans
• 24 black jelly beans
• 12-16 hard candy caramels

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. Place 16 cupcake liners in cupcake or muffin tin and set aside.
3. Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and ginger and set aside.
4. In large bowl, whisk together eggs and vegetable oil until well blended. Add sugar, salt and vanilla; mix well.
5. Add carrots, pineapple and nuts and combine well. Stir in flour mixture.
6. Scoop into paper cups about 2/3 full. (May make more depending on size.)
7. Bake until center of cupcakes bounce back when lightly pressed or inserted toothpick comes out clean, about 23 minutes. Allow to cool before frosting.
8. For frosting, mix cream cheese and soft butter on low speed until blended. Add one cup powdered sugar and mix on low speed. Gradually add remaining powdered sugar and mix on low to medium speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and mix well. Set aside covered in refrigerator.
9. Place coconut in bowl and add drop of green food color, mix by gloved hand until color is well distributed. (Add touch of yellow if color is too harsh.)
10. Fill piping bag or food storage bag fitted with medium round decorating tip with cream cheese frosting.
11. Prepare 2 small paper piping bags; set aside to prepare icing.
12. To make royal icing, sift together powdered sugar with dried egg whites and place in bowl. Add water and lemon juice and whip several minutes to stiff mixture. Thin mixture with water if necessary.
13. Place 3 – 4 tablespoons of royal icing in a small bowl and tint with black food coloring.
14. Fill 2 small piping bags; one with white and the other with black royal icing. Set aside.
15. Using cream cheese frosting pipe generous circle of frosting onto cupcake.
16. Cut large marshmallow crosswise in half. Lay one and a half large marshmallows horizontally onto cupcake. Pipe thin layer of cream cheese frosting onto marshmallows.
17. Starting at bottom surround large marshmallows with miniature marshmallows. Pipe a little cream cheese frosting onto first layer of mini marshmallow and stack another layer of mini marshmallows. Continue until completely covered.
18. Press green coconut onto edges of cupcake.
19. Position cupcake so circle side of large marshmallow faces you.
20. For head, place hard caramel onto top edge of large marshmallow and ensure it is resting onto miniature marshmallows. (Remove some marshmallows to fit if necessary.)
21. For ears, cut pink jelly bean lengthwise in half. Pinch beans to make pointy. Place next to head and use a little cream cheese frosting to make them stick.
22. Cut black jelly beans in fours to create feet. Cut black jelly bean lengthwise to create tail. Attach with cream cheese frosting.
23. Using white royal icing pipe eyes, followed by black. Pipe with black royal icing for nostrils.

Notes: When measuring flour, avoid firmly packing measuring cup. Mixing frosting on high will make it runny and too soft.

Source: Dixie Crystals Sugar

(Family Features) For most, it’s not Easter without the classic ham centerpiece. This year, add a flavorful twist to everyone’s favorite holiday main dish with a glaze, chutney or sauce.

Ham pairs well with many flavors, making it easy to create a unique dish every time. From sweet to savory and oh-so succulent, these ham combinations can bring easy elegance and flavor to the table. Serve a decadent ham recipe to ensure your Easter feast is as memorable as it is delicious with a recipe like this Ham with Honey, Fennel and Mustard Glaze.

With this recipe, the traditional ham is now elevated with fresh spring flavors and a crowd-pleasing glaze. Served with bright, seasonal asparagus, this dish brings together unexpected flavors creating a soon-to-be family favorite.

For more Easter inspiration and ways to transform more or leftover ham into tasty baguettes, crepes, quesadillas and more, visit PorkBeinspired.com.

Ham with Honey, Fennel and Mustard Glaze

Servings: 15

• 1 7- to 8-pound spiral-sliced smoked ham, bone-in
• 6 tablespoons fennel seeds
• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup Dijon-style mustard
• 1 tablespoon pepper
• 3 pounds asparagus, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat the oven to 325° F. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven.
2. Meanwhile, use a mortar and pestle or spice grinder to coarsely crush the fennel seeds. Set aside 1 tablespoon, then transfer the remaining fennel to a medium bowl and add the honey, mustard, and pepper. Set 1 1/2 cups of the mixture aside.
3. Place the ham flat side down in a large shallow roasting pan and brush with about 1/2 of the remaining honey-mustard mixture. Roast the ham, basting with the same honey-mustard mixture and pan juices every 25 to 30 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 140° F., 15 to 18 minutes per pound (loosely cover with foil if ham gets too browned). Remove the ham from the oven, transfer to a cutting board, and let rest 15 to 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, add a rack to the upper third of the oven and increase the temperature to 400° F. Arrange the asparagus on two large rimmed baking sheets. Drizzle with the olive oil, sprinkle with salt and reserved fennel seeds, and bake until tender, about 15 minutes.
5. Slice enough ham to serve and arrange on plates or a platter. Serve the asparagus and the reserved honey-mustard mixture on the side.

Source: National Pork Board

Beehive Cupcakes

• 1 (13-ounce) bag Snickers Miniatures for Easter, chopped
• 24 cupcake paper liners
• 1 (18-ounce) box favorite cake mix
• 2 (16-ounce) cans classic vanilla frosting
• Yellow food coloring
• 1 (14-ounce) bag Starburst Jellybeans Original Fruits
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1 tube chocolate decorating frosting, with plain tip
• 2 resealable plastic bags

1. Unwrap and chop all miniatures, set aside.
2. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. Prepare cake mix, fold in chopped miniatures and bake according to package directions.
3. Let cupcakes come to room temperature.
4. In the meantime, tint frosting with yellow food coloring to desired shade. Frost top of each cupcake to cover.
5. Spoon remaining frosting into resealable plastic bag. Cut off 1/4-inch from tip. To create a “hive” on each cupcake, pipe on frosting in spiral fashion, starting with bottom of hive and working up to top.
6. Separate orange jellybeans from package. Arrange 3 to 4 jellybeans on each frosting hive. Gently squeeze chocolate frosting through tip in zigzag pattern over jellybeans.
7. Angle an almond slice on each side of jellybeans as bee wings.

Makes 24 servings

Source: M&M’S®

A Bunny for Your Honey

(Family Features) Every year, friends and family emerge from hibernation to say farewell to winter and welcome spring with open arms. Whether you’re celebrating Easter, Earth Day or any other cheery spring occasion, this darling Bunny Cake is a great way to enjoy the happiness and rebirth that comes along with the season.

Children will love helping with this simple Bunny Cake recipe because they can customize it to make it their own. For example, surround your bunny cake with some grass made out of shredded coconut that has been colored with green food color, or really make the cake stand out by making it a polka-dotted or striped bunny. The Easy Bunny Cake recipe, which makes a pair of bunny cakes, is also a great centerpiece until it is time to indulge and enjoy.

Bunny Games
If you have more than a few guests, bake multiple bunny cakes, split up into teams, offer several different types of candies and decorations and challenge each team to come up a creative bunny cake.

After the cakes are judged and the dessert is enjoyed, send the kids outside for bunny hop races. In this relay race, the participants, who are split into two teams, will take turns hopping through the pre-determined course and pass to the next person by transferring bunny ears or a carrot stick.

For the Easy Bunny Cake and many other fun and delicious recipes, perfect for spring, visit www.BettyCrocker.com.

Easy Bunny Cake

Prep Time: 30 min
Total Time: 2 hours 10 min
Makes: 2 bunny cakes, 16 servings

• 1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist yellow cake mix
• Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
• 2 containers (1 pound each) Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting
• Neon purple and/or pink food color
• Construction paper (inedible)
• 2 small marshmallows, cut in half, flattened
• 2 small jelly beans, cut in half
• 2 5-inch strips rainbow-colored sour candy, separated into strips
• 2 large jelly beans or candy-coated chocolate-covered peanut candies
• 2 rectangular-shaped white chewing gum pieces, cut in half
• 2 large marshmallows

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Make, bake and cool cake as directed on box for 2 (8- or 9-inch) round cake pans, using water, oil and eggs.

2. In medium bowl, tint 1 container frosting with neon purple food color. Using 1 cake round, cut in half to form 2 semicircles. Arrange halves on serving plate with cut side down and flat sides together with 1/4 cup frosting to form body.

3. Frost cake with frosting. Cut teardrop-shaped ears from construction paper; insert into cake. Using toothpicks to attach, use 2 small marshmallow halves and 2 small jelly bean halves for eyes. Use large jelly bean for nose and sour candy strips for whiskers. Place gum halves just below nose for teeth. Use large marshmallow for tail.

4. Repeat with remaining cake to make second bunny, using pink neon food color. Frost and decorate as above.

Betty Crocker® and SuperMoist® are Reg. T.M.s of General Mills Inc.

Source: Betty Crocker

(Family Features) Preparing an elaborate Easter spread for your family doesn’t have to be an expensive (or exhausting) endeavor. Rethinking familiar dishes and ingredients is an easy way to add a special touch to your meal.

Add a dash of affordable elegance to your Easter brunch with these simple tips from the experts at ALDI:

• For a colorful twist on an Easter classic, try pickling your deviled eggs. Pickling punches up the flavor of these tasty bites and gives your eggs a festive hue.
• Offer dishes that are pretty and practical. Bake pre-cooked angel hair pasta in muffin tins until the tops are crisp. Fill your pasta “nests” with ingredients such as poached eggs, cheese or diced ham, and you have an attractive brunch dish that is portioned just right for each serving.
• Cater to the individual tastes of your guests with a mimosa bar. Set out a table with champagne, a selection of fruit juices and sliced fruits and berries so your guests can mix and match as they wish.
• Chocolate-dipped desserts are easy and always a crowd pleaser. Make better-for-you treats by dipping Easter goodies in smooth, dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate for lower sugar content. Or for a sweet treat without too much added sugar, repurpose dark chocolate by melting it for fondue, and serve an assortment of fruits or salty snacks, like pretzels, for guests to dip.
• Explore new ways to enjoy timeless classics. Maple is a terrific addition to sweet and savory snacks, from bacon to cookies and beyond. Give brunch a sweet spin with these Carrot Cake Waffles, which feature a decadent maple cream cheese drizzle. You can find the premium, affordable ingredients to make this crowd-pleasing brunch recipe at ALDI, along with everything else you’ll need to entertain this Easter.

Find more ideas and recipes for an excellent Easter meal at aldi.us.

Carrot Cake Waffles with Maple Cream Cheese Drizzle

Recipe courtesy of Chef Scott, ALDI Test Kitchen
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 8 minutes
Servings: 8

Waffles:

• 2 cups Baker’s Corner All Purpose Baking Mix
• 3 tablespoons Stonemill Ground Cinnamon
• 1/4 cup Baker’s Corner Brown Sugar
• 1 cup Friendly Farms 1 Percent Milk
• 2 tablespoons Carlini Vegetable Oil
• 1 Goldhen Large Egg
• 1/2 cup Southern Grove Chopped Pecans
• 1/2 cup Southern Grove Raisins
• 1 cup grated carrot
• Carlini Butter Cooking Spray

Cream Cheese Drizzle:

• 8 ounces Happy Farms Cream Cheese
• 1 cup Specially Selected 100 Percent Pure Maple Syrup

1. To make waffles: Heat waffle iron.
2. In large bowl, combine baking mix, cinnamon and brown sugar. Whisk in milk, oil and egg until fully incorporated. Fold in pecans, raisins and carrot.
3. Coat waffle iron with nonstick spray. Ladle 1/2 cup of batter onto iron for each waffle. Cook 6-8 minutes, or until waffle is golden brown.
4. To make cream cheese drizzle: Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and syrup until fully incorporated. Drizzle over waffles. Serve immediately.

Tip: Waffles can be placed in a re-sealable bag, frozen up to three months and reheated in toaster.

Source: ALDI