Easter Basket Alternatives You Can Reuse Year-Round

Think outside the basket this Easter! Here are our favorite ideas for creative, eco-friendly Easter basket alternatives you can reuse all year long.

You’ve seen those pre-packaged Easter baskets in stores. The small base with a disproportionately tall, thin handle that isn’t really useful for storage. What do you do with it the other 364 days of the year? Just save it in a closet for next Easter? Not to mention all of the cheap plastic toys and junk candy that accompany those expensive pre-made baskets.

For our boys, we used the same two beach buckets for at least eight years. They stored balls and sometimes beach toys for the rest of the year. Sometime during Easter weekend, I would clean them out and we’d leave them for the Easter Bunny to fill, just like leaving the stockings out for Santa.

Choose a Reusable Easter Basket

The most sustainable Easter basket is the one you already have! Before buying something new, check your home for baskets, bins, or even a tote bag that can be repurposed for Easter morning.

If you don’t have an existing basket (or maybe you want matching or similar sized baskets for each child), think ahead when you buy new. Choose a classic basket that can grow with your child. If you get too specific with a theme or cartoon character, they’re more likely to outgrow it quickly.

You can find great baskets at your local consignment or thrift store. If you fall in love with one that’s a little dusty, you can easily clean it with a spray can of air (the kind you use for cleaning keyboards). To dress them up or personalize, add something cute like this wooden carrot name tag.

If you do need to buy or create a new basket, look for a timeless, durable option that can be reused year after year. Here are some great eco-friendly and creative alternatives to a traditional Easter basket:

Classic Reusable Options

Any of these options will be great for surprising your child with healthier and eco-friendly Easter goodies.

Handwoven baskets – Made from natural materials like seagrass, rattan, or elephant grass, these can double as toy storage or home decor.
Fabric or quilted baskets – Soft and collapsible, fabric baskets are great for little ones and can be used for toy or book storage after Easter.
Wooden crates or boxes – A rustic, reusable option that works for storage or play afterward.
Multi-use totes or buckets – A canvas tote, felt bin, or metal pail can be repurposed for carrying toys, books, or even beach essentials. This foldable hedgehog cube from 3 Sprouts is great for storing baby clothes or toys year round.

Creative & Practical “Basket” Alternatives

Want to make the Easter basket even more special? Choose something tailored to your child’s interests or needs!

A sports helmet or bike helmet – Perfect for kids who play spring sports. Fill it with game-day essentials like a new water bottle, socks, or energy snacks.
Kids’ rain boots – A fun and practical choice for spring! Fill each boot with treats and small gifts. Bonus: They’ll use them for puddle-jumping all season long.
A beach bucket – Ideal for kids who love the beach or sandbox. It can hold sand toys, eco-friendly sunscreen, and a sun hat.
A gardening pot – A cute option for little nature lovers. Include seed packets, small gardening tools, and a watering can to encourage their green thumb.
A backpack or lunchbox – A useful pick for school-age kids, making it a practical Easter gift they can use long after the holiday.
A doll stroller or wagon – For little ones who love imaginative play, a small toy stroller or wagon can hold Easter goodies now and serve as a playtime favorite later.
A mixing bowl or baking pan – Great for kids who love to bake! Fill it with child-friendly baking tools, cookie cutters, and organic baking mixes for a fun family activity.
A picnic basket – Another gift that offers a reason to get outside. Eating outdoors is not only fun, it’s great for your child’s health and digestion.
A bike basket – If your child loves riding a bike, fill a bike basket with their Easter goodies.

By choosing a reusable or multi-purpose container, you’re not only cutting down on waste but also making Easter morning even more special for your child.

Other Ways to Keep Easter Baskets Eco-Friendly

Now that you’ve found a useful “basket,” let’s look at more ways to keep it as green as possible.

Skip the plastic grass

Ever since seeing strands of plastic Easter grass in a real bird’s nest one spring, my family has been horrified by it. I’ve never personally bought it. And fortunately, it’s harder to find these days.

It’s messy and pretty much unnecessary. But if you particularly like the look, you can get recycled paper Easter grass or natural raffia to line the basket. Or run colorful paper (school fliers and junk mail are good for this) through a shredder.

If you want to experiment with this one, there’s also edible Easter grass. It’s cute and colorful, and I can’t vouch for whether it gets sticky!

Or keep the floor much cleaner and line your Easter basket with a pastel play silk or colorful cloth napkins.

Avoid plastic Easter eggs

There’s already enough plastic in circulation that our oceans and landfills are full of it. So, don’t buy new plastic eggs. If you already have plastic eggs from previous years, use them this year or donate them.

It’s possible to make an adorable Easter basket presentation with no eggs at all. Or by using the real eggs you dye naturally. Fill the basket with your other goodies and arrange the real eggs for extra pops of color.

If you really love hiding treats or inside eggs, opt for these hollow wooden eggs that gently twist open. They add a zero waste flair to your celebration. In addition to dyeing eggs, making papier mache or tissue paper eggs make fun crafts to celebrate the holiday.