One of the things my family looks forward to most on Easter? The fun food! Here are three favorite Easter treats I make with my kids:
Easter Bird Nests
These fun "bird nests" are made with a sweetened cream cheese filling. Add in the coconut and cookie crust and you have a combination that is just so good!
Ingredients:
- 1 tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough
- 8-ounce package of softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- green food coloring (several drops)
- Speckled malted milk eggs (or you could use jelly beans or chocolate eggs)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and coat a cupcake pan with cooking spray.
- Separate the cookie dough and push it into each hole, pressing it up the sides so it forms a "nest."
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes (or until golden brown).
- Let cool slightly and release from pan. Let cool completely on rack.
- Beat the sugar into the softened cream cheese. Add vanilla and mix well. Add a dollop to each nest.
- Mix a few drops of green food coloring into the coconut and mix. Spoon the coconut onto each nest, and top with the speckled eggs.
Easter Popcorn
Mmm, sweet and salty! I love this combination. When I was a kid we would go to the drive-in and I would have popcorn with a candy bar, nibbling alternating bites of each. At the time I didn't realize other people loved to do the same, so I kind of felt sneaky, as if I was doing something wrong by mixing the two. Now, of course, I know just about everyone loves that sweet and salty mix. So if you're like me, this popcorn mix will be a favorite!
Ingredients:
- Popcorn
- Mini pretzels
- Chex cereal
- Candy melts
- M&Ms
- Sprinkles
Directions:
- No need to measure! Just mix up the popcorn, mini pretzels, and Chex cereal together in a large bowl.
- Melt the candy melts (adding 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or shortening if you need to thin it a bit) and drizzle it all over the mixture.
- Add the M&Ms and continue to stir. Add colorful sprinkles for more sweetness and color (and to make it look even more festive!)
Cut-Out Rice Krispie Treats
These are a fun project with the kids! They loved to decorate them ... and we all loved to eat them!
Ingredients:
- 10-ounce package of marshmallows
- 6 cups Rice Krispies
- 3 tablespoons butter
- Candy melts or frosting
- Coconut oil or shortening
- Candy eyes
You will also need cookie cutters (unless you want to freehand your cut shapes).
Directions:
- Melt the marshmallows and butter in a pan over low heat. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in cereal.
- Spread into a 13X9 pan that has been coated with cooking spray. Spray cooking spray onto a spatula and use it to spread and smooth out the mixture in the pan. Let this set.
- Using cookie cutters coated with cooking spray, cut out various shapes. If you are cutting with a knife, be sure to coat it well with cooking spray too!
- Melt the candy melts as directed, or use frosting.
- Time to decorate!
Have a great Easter and I hope you and your kids enjoy making these fun Easter treats!
Valarie Fisher is the publisher of Macaroni Kid Roseville-Rocklin-Lincoln and Citrus Heights.
