Tag Archives: Easter treats

Birds Nest Cookies for Easter

26 Mar

When I was a little girl I remember eating these birds nests every year around this time.  I am almost positive we made “butterscotch” nests or maybe they were a peanut butter/butterscotch combination.  My grandmother used to make them with me and she is no longer available to ask so I had to rely on the internet to find a recipe that suited me!  When I looked for the recipe I found all sorts of variations.  Butterscotch, Peanut Butter, Chocolate and combinations of all three…  Because my boys are really into “marshmallows” right now I made the standard “rice crispy treat” version… Here is the recipe I used:

3 c. mini marshmallows
3 TBSP unsalted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
4 c. dry chow mein noodles
small candies, jelly beans, m & m’s, etc.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Over low heat, melt the marshmallows and butter in a large saucepan.

Once melted, stir in the vanilla, then the chow mein noodles.

Coat your hands liberally with shortening.  Grab a clump of noodles smaller than a tennis ball and larger than a golf ball. Form into a ball while pressing your thumbs into the middle, forming a nest.  Allow the nests to cool, then fill with with the candy of your choice…. I used peanut butter M & M’s!  YUMMY!  We packaged these up and gave them to our teachers as a little Easter gift!  Enjoy!

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Birds Nest Cookies

21 Apr

When I was a little girl I remember eating these birds nests every year around this time.  I am almost positive we made “butterscotch” nests or maybe they were a peanut butter/butterscotch combination.  My grandmother used to make them with me and she is no longer available to ask so I had to rely on the internet to find a recipe that suited me!  When I looked for the recipe I found all sorts of variations.  Butterscotch, Peanut Butter, Chocolate and combinations of all three…  Because my boys are really into “marshmallows” right now I made the standard “rice crispy treat” version… Here is the recipe I used:

3 c. mini marshmallows
3 TBSP unsalted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
4 c. dry chow mein noodles
small candies, jelly beans, m & m’s, etc.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Over low heat, melt the marshmallows and butter in a large saucepan.

Once melted, stir in the vanilla, then the chow mein noodles.

Coat your hands liberally with shortening.  Grab a clump of noodles smaller than a tennis ball and larger than a golf ball. Form into a ball while pressed your thumbs into the middle, forming a nest.  Allow the nests to cool, then fill with with the candy of your choice…. I used peanut butter M & M’s!  YUMMY!  We packaged these up and gave them to our teachers as a little Easter gift!  Enjoy!

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Chocolate Covered Peeps

20 Apr

My oldest son and I spent the better part of last night covering some good ole marshmallow peeps in chocolate (and sprinkles of course).  All I did was melt some chocolate chips in our double boiler, dip  the end of a stick in the chocolate, and then insert it into the peep.  We then dipped, drizzled, and spun our little bunnies until they were covered.  I then stuck them in a block of styrofoam so they could set up.  We did have a couple “casualties” in the process….  I think we just over dipped and they ended up falling right off the stick.  Once the bunnies were covered we added sprinkles etc..  We let them dry over night and enjoyed the taste of “semi homemade” chocolate covered marshmallows this afternoon!  I think these would be very cute with white chocolate and sprinkles (or nuts), as well…  You could stick them in an easter basket or even make a cute centerpiece out of them!  I’m sure you will come up with something creative!

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Bunny Cupcakes

18 Apr

I really wanted to make some cute bunny cupcakes with the boys.  I came across a picture on the web of a bunny made out of donuts and thought “ah, we can modify that and put it on a cupcake”… Well, it wasn’t that easy!  I debated even posting the idea here and then remembered that with children the process is what is fun, not always the product…  So although the product wasn’t everything I dreamed it to be, the process was pretty fun for my boys!  My 5 year old made the one pictured above and what made it so challenging was getting it to stay on the cupcake.  I cut the donuts for him an then gave him toothpicks and frosting as glue. The ears are held on with toothpicks and everything else is glued on with frosting.  He had no problem creating his idea of what a bunny looked like….  This little bunny lasted for about 5 minutes and not because we gobbled him up, either!  The donuts just kept tipping over.  Finally I took a toothpick and stabbed one end in the back of the donut and the other into the cupcake, and it held!  Well, it held until he decided he should eat it.  Then I had to take the toothpicks out so he could enjoy his creation!  All in all I’d give this project a B.  The boys enjoyed making them (they were a bit of a pain for mom), and eating them was pretty fun too! I’m not sure I’d venture into making these by the dozen for my guests, however!   Not the healthiest of alternatives for a treat either, but fun just the same!  I’ll have to work on a healthy bunny this week!  If you decide to make these, just keep telling yourself; process not product, process not product….

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