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You don't have to drop a ton of cash to create an epic Easter basket.
Desiree DeNunzio Editor
Desiree DeNunzio is the gift guide editor for CNET's Commerce team. When she's not writing and editing, she's either hiking through the redwoods or curled up with a good book and a lazy dog.
Expertise Desiree has been a writer and editor for the past two decades, covering everything from top-selling Amazon deals to apparel, pets and home goods. Credentials
- Desiree's previous work has appeared in various print and online publications including Search Engine Land, PCWorld, Wired magazine and PBS MediaShift.
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Desiree DeNunzio
4 min read
Long-Eared Bunny Easter treat bucket
A quality basket
Chocolate pen
For the junior chef
Easter lands on March 31 this year, which means if you haven't stocked up on peeps, jelly beans and chocolate-covered eggs, it's time to get cracking. Easter baskets are a fun tradition, but it's also easy to get carried away and spend your money on a bunch of silly trinkets that wind up in the trash. One of my biggest pet peeves is an Easter basket filled with knick-knacks that no one really wants or needs.
This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.
If you're on the hunt for some great Easter basket fillers that won't be cast aside once the egg-hunt frenzy is over, we've pulled together a list of some our tried-and-true favorites. Whether your kid is into crafting, playing games, reading, building, science or is an aspiring chef, these are some unique gift ideas to add to your family's Easter baskets.
Jellycat stuffies are beloved for their softness and high-quality design. This Bashful Bunny comes in a variety of sizes and colors, from beige to pink and cherry blossom.
Or you can skip the bunny and get a little more creative. This Steiff duck isn't quite as huggable, but it's a stuffy they'll treasure forever.
More Easter stuffies:
- Gund Baby Flora Animated Singing Bunny ($30)
- Jellycat Dainty Dessert Cupcake Bunny ($28)
- Squishmallows Mystery Pack, set of 3 ($23)
Don't forget the most important part: You'll need to start with a quality basket. If you're looking for a beautiful basket that you can use year after year, these plush bunny buckets from Pottery Barn Kids can't be beat. They come in pink, white or taupe, and you can get your child's name engraved on a fuzzy ear for no extra charge.
If you're looking for a more of a DIY option, this standard willow basket from Michaels is affordable, durable and reusable. It also comes in white.
More baskets and accessories:
- Recyclable paper grass ($15)
- Reusable plastic fillable eggs, set of 24 ($15)
- Mon Ami Small Bunny Basket ($25)
Lego is awesome, no matter your age. Lego Creator 3-in-1 sets make particularly great gifts since they're ultraversatile and can be used again and again. This three-in-one bunny is perfect for Easter. Once kids (or adults!) are done building the white rabbit, they can try their hand at the co*ckatoo or the baby seal.
Another Lego Creator three-in-one, this colorful set isn't just a watering can. It can also be transformed into a rainboot or a pair of birds.
More for builders and creators:
If you've got a budding chef in your home, this nifty tool makes it easy and fun to decorate cakes, cookies and other treats. Kids can choose from various colors and draw all sorts of words and designs. It also comes with 40 molds to create hearts, stars, sea creatures and more. A warming tray keeps chocolate gooey as the battery-powered pen refills itself by sucking up the sweet stuff into the cartridge.
More for junior chefs:
- Williams Sonoma Thumbprint Cookie Cutters, set of 5 ($20)
- Rise and Shine Pancake Molds, set of 3 ($15)
When it comes to bath gift sets, trendy brand Lush is tops. This set is packaged in a bright reusable tin and comes with Rock Star Rabbit soap, a Rainbow bubble bar, Conga shower jelly and a toffee-scented Golden Egg shower gel and bath bomb.
More bath-time fun:
Spring is the perfect time to share this activity with your kids. They'll love watching the caterpillars grow, form chrysalides and transform into butterflies. Once the caterpillars become butterflies, you feed them for a couple of days and then release them into your garden. This kit comes with five baby caterpillars, a 12-inch-tall pop-up mesh habitat, sugar packets to make nectar, and a feeding dropper. (Be advised that if you order this kit through Amazon, you'll need to send in a coupon to order the caterpillars separately.)
More for science and nature lovers:
- National Geographic geode kit ($30)
- Crystal growing kit ($20)
- Insect Lore ladybug habitat ($27)
- National Geographic gems and crystals kit ($25)
Calico Critters aren't cheap, but they're worth it for the hours of imaginative play. This bunny set is perfect for Easter and is a great starter set for anyone who's new to the world of Calico Critters.
Furby is back -- and better than ever. The newest version of the iconic toy answers to five different voice commands that activate dance moves and games, and it comes with more than 600 unique responses. It also can communicate with other Furbies and is just downright adorable.
More basket-worthy toys:
- Ooly Unicorn Happy Pack sticker & crayon set ($30)
- Fingerlings Interactive Baby Monkey ($13)
- WowMazing Giant Bubble Wand Kit ($16)
As usual, Williams Sonoma gets an A-plus for presentation. Its Peter Rabbit papier-mâché egg features a gorgeous illustration on the outside. Inside you'll find all sorts of delectable treats, including a chocolate bunny, sour jelly beans, marshmallow twists, sugar-sanded gummy eggs and foiled chocolate eggs. The best part is that the papier-mâché egg can be used again, year after year. Just fill it up with your own sweets next year.
More sweet treats:
- Riegelein Chocolate Ladybugs ($33)
- Sugarfina Hoppy Easter 3-Piece Bento Box ($32)
- Dylan's Candy Bar Sweetness of Spring Tackle Box ($24)
- See's Scotchmallow Eggs ($12)
Sushi Go is a delightful game, and it's surprisingly easy to learn. Each player is given a hand of cards. They then choose one card, and pass the rest to the player next to them. The goal is to earn as many points as possible by creating delectable sushi creations. It's a simple game, but it quickly gets everyone engaged, even if they're not a "game person."
More games:
This board book is an abbreviated version of the original, but it's beautifully illustrated and a perfect introduction to Peter and his siblings, Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail.
A perfect gift for a young child, this sweet book can be personalized with their name throughout. Pair it with one of the stuffies above for the ultimate gift.
More picture books:
- The Velveteen Rabbit, hardcover ($11)
- The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes ($14)
- Willow and Bunny, hardcover ($13)
Don't forget the bunny ears! If you search for "bunny ears" on Amazon, chances are you'll find hundreds of varieties of wearable bunny ears. But the bunny ears from Pottery Barn Kids are far better than anything you'll find elsewhere. The ears are made of a soft faux fur, and they come in taupe, pink and white. Perfect for those adorable Easter pics.
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