Easter Egg Nest Cake Food

EASTER EGG CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil and flour two 8-inch round cake pans, tapping out any excess flour. Whisk the flour, baking powder and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Melt the coconut oil and unsweetened chocolate in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally; remove from the heat. Whisk the hot water and cocoa powder in a large bowl until smooth. Drizzle in the melted chocolate mixture, whisking until combined. Whisk in the granulated sugar and salt until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, then add the vanilla. Whisk in the flour mixture just until smooth.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake until the tops of the cakes spring back when lightly pressed, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 10 minutes in the pans, then run a knife around the edges and turn out onto the rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Beat the butter and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Reduce the speed to low and gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar. Increase the speed to medium and beat until combined. Add the vanilla and beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the milk until smooth.
• Assemble the cake: Trim the domed tops of the cakes using a long serrated knife; transfer the scraps to a bowl. Cut each cake into 2 equal layers (leave the layers stacked). Cut both cakes in half, about 1/2 inch off-center. You will have 4 slightly smaller half moons and 4 slightly larger ones.
• Stack the 4 larger half-moons, spreading frosting between the layers. Place the stack cut-side down on a piece of parchment paper. Repeat with the smaller half-moons to make another 4-layer stack, then turn the stack cut-side down and attach it to the larger stack using more frosting
• Trim the sides of the smaller cake sandwiches to make a slightly pointed shape. Transfer the cake scraps to the bowl.
• Trim the curved top of the cake so that it has an even, rounded shape; add the scraps to the bowl. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons frosting to the bowl of cake scraps and mash with a fork until moistened. Pat the scraps mixture around the top, bottom and sides of the cake to round it out and form an egg shape.
• Cover the entire cake in a thin layer of frosting (this is the crumb coat; it doesn¿t have to be perfect). Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Cover the cake with the remaining frosting, building out the egg shape where needed with more frosting. Cover the cake with rows of coarse sugar, nonpareils and candy-coated chocolates. Refrigerate until set, at least 20 minutes.

EASTER NEST CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line two 20cm round cake tins. Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarb, sugar and a large pinch of salt to a bowl. Mix with a whisk, squeezing any large lumps of sugar through your fingers, until you have a fine, sandy mix.
• Whisk the oil with the buttermilk in a jug. Stir in the vanilla and eggs, then pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until there are no more streaks of flour. Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 25 mins. Test the cakes by inserting a skewer into the centre - if there is any wet mixture on the skewer, return the cakes to the oven for 5 mins more, then check again. Leave the cakes to cool in the tins for 15 mins, then transfer to wire racks to cool fully.
• Next, make the nest. Clean one tin and line it with some oiled baking parchment. Put the marshmallows and butter in a heatproof bowl and microwave on high for 1 min, stirring halfway through (or heat gently in a pan on the hob). Continue microwaving in 20-second blasts until you get a runny mixture. Stir in the cocoa, pretzels and shredded wheat until well combined. Tip the mixture into your lined tin and use the back of your spoon to create a nest shape. Leave to cool at room temperature for a few hrs, or chill in the fridge if you need it to set faster.
• To make the icing, beat the butter, cocoa, icing sugar and milk together until smooth, adding a splash more milk if the mixture is too stiff. Assemble the cake by stacking the sponges with icing in between, topping with more icing and the nest. Fill your nest with as many chocolate eggs as it will hold, then serve. It may be easier to cut the cake if you remove the nest - you can then chop the nest into chunks and serve alongside the cake.

EASY EASTER NESTS

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate in a small bowl placed over a pan of barely simmering water. Pour the chocolate over the shredded wheat and stir well to combine.
• Spoon the chocolate wheat into 12 cupcake cases and press the back of a teaspoon in the centre to create a nest shape. Place 3 mini chocolate eggs on top of each nest. Chill the nests in the fridge for 2 hrs until set.

EASTER EGG NESTS

Steps:

• Melt chocolate with oil.
• Pour over chow mein noodles and mix well.
• With a large cookie scoop drop onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet and make a depression to shape into 2 1/2" to 3" nests.
• Let cool until chocolate it's firm.
• Top each nest with 4 Jelly Bellys.

EASTER EGG NEST CAKE (OR SNOW STORM CAKE)

Steps:

• Place angel food cake onto a serving platter and cover hole in the cake with the sugar cookie, pressing the cookie down to create a slight depression for the nest. Frost cake with whipped topping.
• Press coconut all over the cake; decorate top of cake with edible Easter grass. Arrange mini candy eggs in the nest. Store cake in refrigerator.

EASTER EGG NEST CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a large metal mixing bowl (about 10 1/2 inches in diameter) with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• Combine the cake mix, eggs, oil and 1/2 cup water in a large bowl. (The water and oil is less than what the box instructions call for.) Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed until fully combined, about 2 minutes. Pour the batter into the prepared bowl and bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes in the bowl, then remove from the bowl and let cool completely on a cooling rack, about 2 hours.
• For the nest: Meanwhile, spray the same bowl you used to bake the cake in with nonstick cooking spray.
• Melt the butter and marshmallows together in a large pot over low heat, stirring frequently. Add the white chocolate and cinnamon and stir until fully combined. Add the brown and yellow food coloring and mix until blended. Add the chow mein noodles and mix until all the noodles are coated with the marshmallow mixture. Transfer the mixture to the prepared bowl and quickly press into the bowl to form a nest shape. If your hands start to stick, spray them with cooking spray (Caution: the mixture is hot, but you have to work quickly or it will harden; you can wear gloves for this step if necessary). Let cool about 2 hours.
• Remove the nest from the bowl and line the bowl with plastic wrap, letting some plastic wrap hang over the edge of the bowl. Place the nest back in the bowl, over the plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• For the eggs: Place the white chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until melted, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. (Do not overheat.) Divide the melted chocolate into 2 bowls. Whisk 6 drops blue food coloring and 5 drops green food coloring into one bowl until a robin's egg blue color is created.
• Gently push the pointed end of a skewer into the bottom of each chocolate egg, slightly off-center (do not hit the seam of the egg, or the egg will split along the seam). Gently dip the egg into the blue chocolate and turn until the egg is evenly coated. Lift the egg out of the blue chocolate and hold above the bowl to allow excess to drip off. Push the flat end of the skewer into a foam block or container of sugar or salt to allow the egg to dry undisturbed. Repeat this process to dip 4 more eggs into the blue chocolate. Dip the remaining 5 eggs in the white chocolate in the same manner. (If at any point the melted chocolate becomes too thick, microwave for 30 seconds more to loosen.) Set the eggs aside to harden for 1 hour.
• Remove the eggs from the skewers and place on a paper towel-lined tray.
• Combine 4 drops green food coloring and 4 drops blue coloring with 1 tablespoon water in a small spray bottle. Lightly spritz the green mixture onto the eggs in a speckled pattern. Allow the eggs to dry again for 1 hour.
• For decorating: Spread 1 can of the cream cheese frosting into the nest, leaving the outer border unfrosted.
• Slice 1 1/2 to 2 inches off of the flat side of the cake so that it will fit well inside the nest. Using a spoon, remove some cake to hollow out a depression in the top (the flat side) of the cake, leaving a 2-inch border intact along the outer edge of the cake.
• Place the cake hollowed-side up into the frosted nest. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large tip with the remaining cream cheese frosting and frost the top of the cake; spread evenly using an offset spatula or a spoon. Sprinkle the toasted coconut over the top of the cake, making sure to coat completely. If not using immediately, refrigerate. (Let the refrigerated cake come to room temperature for 1 hour before serving.)
• Using the excess plastic wrap, pull the nest cake out of the bowl and place on a cake stand or platter. Arrange the eggs in the nest, then decorate with mint sprigs and edible flowers, and serve.

CHOCOLATE MALT NEST CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper, then butter the parchment. Dust the pans with flour and tap out any excess.
• Whisk the flour, malted milk powder, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a separate large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 6 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Beat until smooth, about 1 more minute.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans; tap on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers of the cakes comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack; run a knife around the edges of the cakes and let cool 10 minutes, then turn out the cakes onto the rack to cool completely. Discard the parchment.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Whisk the milk, malted milk powder, flour, cocoa powder and salt in a small saucepan until combined. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking, until the mixture is thick like pudding, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and press plastic wrap directly onto the surface. Refrigerate until completely cool, about 11/2 hours.
• When you¿re ready to assemble the cake, finish the frosting: Remove the malted mixture from the refrigerator and whisk until creamy. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 8 minutes. Add large spoonfuls of the malted mixture, beating 1 to 2 minutes after each addition and scraping down the bowl as needed (the frosting will look separated). Continue beating until the frosting comes together and is light and fluffy, about 3 more minutes. (Do not chill!)
• Assemble the cake: Place 1 cake layer on a platter. Spread with 1 heaping cup of the frosting. Top with the second cake layer. Cover the top and side with more frosting, then build up a ring around the top of the cake with the remaining frosting to create a nest. Refrigerate the cake until the frosting firms up, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the topping: Toss the shredded wheat in a large bowl with the melted butter, then add the sugar and toss again. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Melt the chocolate in a large microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring, until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool slightly, then stir in the shredded wheat mixture until completely coated. Press the topping all over the top and side of the cake. Refrigerate until set, at least 30 minutes or overnight. Fill the nest with candy eggs.

CHEESECAKE-FILLED EASTER EGGS

Steps:

• Carefully separate the Easter egg in half along the seam. (Use a knife dipped into a bowl of hot water to cut through the seam rather than slicing, as it may break the chocolate.)
• Tip the digestive biscuits into a bowl or food bag and bash to crumbs with the end of a rolling pin. Stir in the melted butter until the mixture resembles damp sand. Spoon this into the Easter egg halves and pack down gently using the back of the spoon. Chill until needed.
• Mix the mascarpone, soft cheese, icing sugar and cocoa together in a medium bowl with a wooden spoon until smooth. In a separate bowl, beat the double cream to soft peaks using an electric whisk. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture, then carefully spoon the cheesecake filling over the chilled biscuit bases in the Easter eggs. Gently level the surfaces with a palette knife or spatula, then chill for at least 2 hrs or overnight until firm and set. You may be left with extra cheesecake filling, depending on the size of your Easter eggs - this can be spooned into glasses over extra digestive crumbs for another treat.
• Scatter the set cheesecake-filled eggs with mini chocolate eggs or other Easter treats, then drizzle with caramel or melted chocolate to serve.

EASTER EGG NEST CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform cake pan with parchment paper.
• For the cake: Stir butter into chocolate, reheating mixture to incorporate butter if needed, and let cool. In a medium bowl, whisk 4 egg whites until foamy. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar and whisk until whites hold their shape but are not too stiff. Reserve.
• In a large bowl, whisk 2 whole eggs and 4 egg yolks with 1/3 cup of sugar and vanilla until combined. Stir in chocolate to mix.
• In three additions, fold whites into chocolate mixture. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until cake rises, cracks and center is no longer wobbly.
• Cool cake on a wire rack; middle will sink and the sides will crack. Carefully remove cake from pan and place it on serving plate.
• For icing, whip cream with vanilla until it is firm but not stiff. Fold in melted chocolate. Fill top of cake with icing, easing it out gently toward edges. Arrange Easter eggs on top.

EASTER EGG CAKE POPS IN PHYLLO NESTS

Steps:

• Stir the lime zest, lime juice and salt into the frosting in a small bowl.
• Crumble the cake into a large bowl; break up large chunks, but don't crumble it too finely. Spoon the frosting into the bowl 1/2 cup at a time and mix thoroughly until the mixture holds its shape when pinched.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop a heaping tablespoon of cake mixture into your hands and roll it into a ball. Place on the baking sheet and continue with the remaining mixture, then chill the cake balls until firm, about 30 minutes in the freezer or 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• Remove the cake balls from the freezer. Roll each ball into an egg shape. Place on the baking sheet so that the egg is standing on its fatter end, pressing it down lightly so that it doesn't fall over. Freeze or refrigerate the eggs until you're ready to dip them.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Place the phyllo cups on a baking sheet and spray with oil spray. Bake until crisp, about 3 minutes.
• Stir together the chocolate chips and 2 teaspoons of the vegetable oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl or other microwave-safe container and microwave, stirring every so often, until completely softened. Stir well until the mixture is smooth, adding the remaining 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil if needed. Allow to cool until just warm.
• Place the candy sprinkles into small bowls or shallow dishes (you can do a separate bowl for each color or just do multicolored sprinkles for all the cake pops).
• Spear the flat end of an egg cake pop with a wooden skewer and dip the egg into the melted chocolate to coat. Allow the excess to drip off, then dip into or sprinkle with candy sprinkles while the coating is still wet. Place the skewer in a glass so the egg is upright. Repeat with the remaining egg cake pops. If the coating on the completed eggs begins to soften, put them back in the freezer or refrigerator for a few minutes to firm up again.
• Place the phyllo cups on a large serving platter. Put the coconut in a bowl and add a few drops of green food coloring, then stir until all the coconut is bright green, adding more food coloring if needed. Place a spoonful or two of the green coconut into each phyllo cup. Remove the eggs from the skewers, then nestle an egg into each cup. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.