Easter Nests Tested Recipe

Easter Nests Recipe

Melted semi-sweet or milk chocolate and crunchy chow mein noodles are the only two ingredients that you need to make these cute chocolate Easter nests. This recipe, or should I even call it that, involves just mixing the melted chocolate and chow mein noodles together, forming them into individual nest shapes, placing them in the refrigerator to harden, and then filling them with jelly beans or any other type of Easter egg shaped candy.

This whole process seems to appeal to small children; getting their hands all covered with melted chocolate and then forming it into little nests. You might want to have a selection of small egg shaped candies (jelly beans and/or speckled malted milk eggs are excellent) that they can choose from and it is a good idea for everyone to wear aprons.

I recommend using a mild semi sweet or milk chocolate that your children will like. Try to gently mix the chow mein noodles into the melted chocolate so they do not break. Having both long and short strands of noodles make these nests look life-like. This recipe calls for eight ounces of chocolate and this will give you about six - 4 inch (10 cm) nests. You can make bigger or smaller nests as you like and you can easily double this recipe.

Chocolate Easter Nests: Line a baking pan with a piece of aluminum foil, smooth the foil, and then butter or spray the foil with a non stick vegetable spray.

Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Gently fold in the chow mein noodles, being careful not to break them.

Spoon six mounds of the mixture onto the prepared pan and, using your fingers, form each mound into a 4 inch (10 cm) nest shape. Make a small indentation in the center of each nest.

Place the pan, with the chocolate nests, in the refrigerator to set (about 30 minutes). Just before serving, remove the nests from the refrigerator and place some small jelly beans or other egg shaped candy in the center of each nest.

Makes about six - 4 inch nests. Preparation time 30 minutes.

Adapted From:

Wilson, Dede. 'Holiday Candy and Confections'. The Harvard Common Press. Boston: 2005.

Chocolate Easter Nests:

8 ounces (227 grams) semi-sweet or milk chocolate, chopped

2 - 2 1/2 cups chow mein noodles

Garnish:

small jelly beans, speckled malted milk eggs, or other egg shaped candy