Marshmallow Peep Easter Basket Cake

Prepare cake mixes according to directions, two boxes in two bowls. Grease and flour cake pans. Fill each pan with batter from each bowl. Bake according to directions on package or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Turn the cakes out to cool on a wire rack and cool completely.

Stir enough blue food coloring into two-thirds of the icing to create a rich blue. Add yellow food coloring to the remaining icing to create the same color as the Peeps.

Place one cake layer on cardboard circle. Spread a thin layer of blue icing on top. Place the second cake layer on top.

Fill pastry bag fitted with large star tip with yellow icing. Pipe vertical stripes, spaced 2 inches apart, all around the side of cake. Set yellow aside for later.

Fill second pastry bag fitted with basket-weave tip with blue icing. Horizontally pipe the basket weave over and around the yellow stripes.

Using a dab of yellow icing, arrange yellow chicks around the base of the cake to cover the cake board. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the shredded coconut and scatter Mike and Ike Easter Treats on top.

Arrange pairs of the chicks and bunnies on the cake securing each pair with a single toothpick. Stick paper umbrellas into parading pairs of peeps. Cut a few of the marshmallow eggs in half at an angle and arrange in the cake basket.

Use the remaining yellow icing to pipe a thick border around the edge of the cake, creating depth for the basket.

To create a handle for the basket: Bend the wire to form the shape and wrap ribbon around to cover. Stick ends of the ribbon-covered wire into opposite sides of cake. Tie a large bow at the top of the handle with wired decorative ribbon and top with a single yellow peep.