The idea of an Easter basket doesn’t have to be all plastic grass and soft peeps (though there’s certainly nothing wrong with that). These days, the options for Easter snacks and the baskets they occupy are nearly endless. From simple and natural to extravagant luxury, it’s all about how you want to celebrate the day.
Below, we’ve rounded up our favorite Easter basket inspiration, whether you’re planning to use the basket as a gift or as an Easter decoration.
Easter Basket Ideas for All Styles
When you’re planning this year’s Easter mix, get out – aha – baskets with pretty shapes, creative themes and a little crafting (or none at all). These pretty Easter basket ideas are easy to reproduce.
1. Choose the original Easter basket idea
(Image credit: Future)
Until you can search the internet for creative Easter basket ideas, the only option is simplicity. Think back to the earliest Easter celebrations with the original basket filling: eggs. Painted eggs mixed with the soft chocolate variety make this variety as pretty and fun.
2. Make your own Easter basket
(Image credit: Future)
If you’re creative, try an easy DIY Easter basket idea. The one above is made with egg-cut card stock, 1-inch thick grosgrain ribbon, and a small gift box, and features seasonal cuts and scrapbooking stickers. The project also makes a fun Easter craft idea for kids.
3. Try the Easter Basket Upgrade
(Image credit: Future)
“Easter baskets don’t have to be pastel-colored decorations that you pull out once a year,” says Homes & Gardens editor-in-chief Lucy Searle. “You can fill it with a decorative basket you already own, or find one from a craftsman or antique store.”
For example, the ceramic and cane versions above have intricate upgrades. It’s a chic Easter basket option for older kids or adults and doubles as an Easter table decoration. After the holidays, fill a basket with moss balls, wood beads, or lemons for an easy centerpiece for the rest of the season.
4. Knit a Crochet Easter Basket
(Image credit: Future)
Crocheted Easter baskets feel extra sweet and, as an added bonus, lay flat for easy storage for the rest of the year. If you’re good at knitting needles, you’ll find plenty of free Easter basket patterns online. If not, look for pre-made versions on sites like Etsy.
5. Try this Paper Cone Easter Basket Idea
(Image credit: Future)
Paper cones are a fun way to serve up Easter treats. To make the cone: Simply cut a wide triangle from a piece of construction or stationery paper, roll it into a cone and tape it in place.
Next, fill the cones with chocolate eggs or jelly beans wrapped in papyrus and foil, and place them in a basket filled with glass vases or mason jars. Cutlery or utensil boxes also work well.
6. Turn your Easter basket into a work of art
(Image credit: Harbour Sweets)
Sweeten your Easter basket and This year’s delicate pulp eggs are inspired by German traditions. These chocolate chips and chocolates from Holly Pond Hill are made by Harbour Sweets in Massachusetts. Once Easter is over, the eggs can be saved and refilled for years to come.
7. Dress up a vintage basket with ribbon
(Image credit: Future)
No need to buy special baskets for Easter. Ribbons add a nice touch to a vintage wicker basket. To make the display even more festive, tie a coordinating ribbon around the Easter egg, using a bit of hot glue to secure it in place.
8. Prepare an Easter Picnic Basket
(Image credit: Fortnum & Mason)
Inspired by Fortnum & Mason, add a picnic theme to your Easter basket with cheese, dried fruit, tea or wine. If you don’t have time to assemble your own Easter basket this year, let a professional do it for you. Fortnum & Mason’s Picnic Easter Hamper with Cheese, Crackers, and Chocolate Ships in the UK and US
9. Make Mason Jar Easter Baskets
(Image credit: Future)
Floral threads and ribbons turn standard glass mason jars into adorable Easter baskets. To make your own, tie ribbon or twine around the jar mouth and secure with hot glue. Then, wrap a length of floral wire around the ribbon on the sides of the jar to create a handle. Use them as gifts or gifts, or as an Easter dinner setting.
10. Display the Easter Basket Bouquet
(Image credit: MacKenzie Childs)
Decorative ceramic or glass Easter baskets, like MacKenzie Childs’ Courtly Check version, create a lovely place to display seasonal flowers.
“One of my favorite ways to decorate an Easter table is to fill a ceramic Easter basket with fresh-cut flowers and arrange them in the center of the table,” says Searle. To make it work, I trimmed the flowers, Make the stems just a few inches long and push them into a piece of floral foam inside the basket.
If you don’t have floral foam on hand, you can also stick a grid to the top of the basket to help hold the flowers in place.
11. Bake up your Easter basket
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Jelly beans and bunny-shaped chocolates may be Easter basket staples, but they’re not the only options. Use a cookie cutter to make holiday-shaped sugar cookies and ice them with soft frosting for a candy feel.
What do you put in your Easter basket?
Candy is an obvious choice for filling Easter baskets, but it’s not the only option, especially if you’re looking for lower-sugar options for little ones or baskets for adults.
“You can fill your Easter basket with anything you want,” says Sarah Spiteri, editorial director of Homes & Gardens and mother of two. “There are really no rules. For my kids, I tend to bring smaller, spring and outdoor themed toys like bubbles, jump ropes or gardening kits. Books work great too, along with sunglasses or sun hats etc. Smaller clothes.”
Here are our favorite Easter basket ideas for kids:
- sidewalk chalk
- sand toy
- Art supplies such as paints and markers
- beach towel
- lip balm
For older kids and adults, themed baskets make shopping easy. Choose a favorite spring hobby, like golf or gardening, and fill the basket with small gifts that fit the theme.
You can also use practical Easter basket substitutes as part of your gift: think tote bags, jars, vases, mixing bowls, or car wash buckets.
How much should I spend on an Easter basket?
Things can escalate quickly when you’re filling your Easter basket, but there’s no need to go overboard.
According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend an average of $179.70 on Easter in 2021, including $31.06 on gifts and $25.22 on candy. If you divide the $56.28 gift and candy among two children, the average basket is about $25.
