Coconut Egg Nests Food

NO BAKE CHOCOLATE COCONUT NESTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread the shredded coconut onto a baking sheet for toasting. Place in oven for 5-10 minutes, until coconut is a light golden brown color. Make sure to stay in the kitchen watch the coconut, as it can easily go from toasted to burnt. Alternately, you can toast the coconut in a pan on the stove-top.
• Let toasted coconut cool on baking sheet while melting chocolate. Add chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl and melt in 20-30 second increments until the chocolate is melted. Add cooled coconut and melted chocolate into a large bowl and toss to combine. Use a spoon or ice cream scoop to scoop about 2-3 Tablespoons of the coconut chocolate mixture onto a piece of parchment and shape into a nest. Top each nest with 2-3 eggs. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
• Let nests set at room temperature or place in the fridge or freezer to speed up the process. Store leftover nests in an airtight container at room temp for 4-5 days or in the fridge for longer storage. If you store them in the fridge, let sit for about 5-10 minutes before eating.

COCONUT MERINGUE NESTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250ºF.
• Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in medium bowl with mixer on high speed 5 min. or until mixture forms soft peaks. Add sugar, 1 Tbsp. at a time, beating constantly after each addition until stiff peaks form. Beat additional 3 min. or until mixture is glossy. Gently stir in half the coconut.
• Spoon egg white mixture into 10 mounds on each of 2 parchment-covered baking sheets. Use back of spoon to shape each into 2-1/2-inch round, then make depression in center of each mound to resemble nest. Sprinkle remaining coconut around edges; press gently into egg white mixture to secure.
• Bake 50 min. to 1 hour or until meringues are dry and coconut is golden brown. Cool completely on baking sheets. Meanwhile, beat pudding mix and milk with whisk 2 min. (Pudding will be thick.) Stir in COOL WHIP. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Spoon pudding mixture into meringue nests just before serving; top with almonds.

COCONUT-MACAROON NESTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Coat mini muffin tins with cooking spray.
• In a bowl, stir together whites and salt with a fork; mix in coconut. Drop 2 tablespoons of mixture into each prepared tin.
• Lightly press mixture into bottom and up sides of each cup. Bake until light golden on top, 28 to 30 minutes.
• Let cool in tins on a wire rack 10 minutes, then run a thin metal spatula around sides to loosen. Lift out of cups; let cool completely.

EASTER EGG NEST TREATS

Steps:

• In small bowl stir together water and green food coloring. Add coconut. Stir until coconut is tinted. Spread on baking sheet to dry.
• In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
• Add cereal. Stir until well coated.
• Divide warm mixture into sixteen 2 1/2-inch muffin-pan cups coated with cooking spray. Shape mixture into individual cups. Cool. Remove from pans.
• Fill cooled nests with coconut, marshmallows, jelly beans or chocolate eggs. Best if served the same day.
• MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: Follow step 1 above. In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 3 thru 5 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.
• Note: For best results, use fresh marshmallows. Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container. To freeze unfilled cups, place in single layer on wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before filling.