I love things that look a bit special and are easy to make. Making a batch of Bird’s Nest Cookies is a fun little project.

It’s a great way to include the kids in the kitchen for a little family baking time. This recipe is a cross between American Coconut Macaroons and Thumbprint cookies.

The dough goes together quickly and can be kept in the refrigerator chilling much longer than the 1 hour required in the recipe. It can, if needed rest in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Here is the dough, ready to be wrapped and chilled.  It will be a bit sticky at this point, but thats why it is chilled.

Roll it into balls and dip in coconut and press  them in the center before baking.  (Kids love helping with this part.)

After removing cookies from the oven allow them to cool about 5-10 minutes and then gently re-press the center, if needed to define the nest.

Note: Double-hulled cookie sheets or baking parchment is very helpful as the coconut on the bottom of the cookies browns up quickly.

The recipe for the Quick Butter Cream is so easy you just need a small bowl and spoon.  It turns out silky and perfect to dollop on the cookies.

To apply frosting, you can use either a teaspoon or use a decorating tip that a medium-size star.

Set out candies to decorate nests and let the kids have a blast.

See my cute little bunnies?   The first craft I’ve designed to share with you are these adorable Last Minute Bunnies.  They are quick to whip up.  Please take a moment and look at my bunnies.  Pattern for Living has joined BakingOutsidethe Box.com.  And of course, the pattern is free.

Happy Easter!

Bird’s Nest Cookies

Laura

Let the kids help with these. They are fun to decorate. Chewy coconut and a dollop of butter cream frosting make these little cookies with candies on top festive and fun

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Prep Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 14 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 29 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 24 cookies

Ingredients

  

Cookies:

• 2 cups Perfect Sugar Cookie Mix-up
• 1/3 cup butter , softened
• 3 oz . cream cheese , softened
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp . vanilla
• 14 oz bag sweetened flaked coconut

Toppings:

• 1 recipe Fast Butter Cream *
• Candy to decorate nests; jelly beans , chocolate candy coated pieces, candy eggs, skittles, etc

Instructions

 

• Pour Perfect Sugar Cookie Mix-up into mixing bowl and add cream cheese, butter, egg, vanilla. Mix till ingredients are combined
• Mix in 3 cups of the coconut 1 cup at a time.
• Beat ingredients together till all well combined.
• Place the dough (it will be sticky) in airtight container and chill in refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees and spread baking parchment on cookie sheet.
• Scoop and roll cookies, dividing dough into 24-30 balls.
• Roll dough balls in a small bowl of remaining coconut.
• Press in center of cookie with thumb or spoon handle making the ‘nest’.
• Bake 10-12 minutes. Cookies will puff up during baking and coconut will lightly brown around the edges. Cookies will spread slightly during baking.
• While cookies are still warm, gently press again the center of each cookie, for nest area, if needed.
• When cool, dollop a small amount of butter cream frosting into each nest and place decorative candies of your choice on top of frosting as ‘eggs’.

Notes

The coconut browns quickly on the bottom of these cookies. Use a double-hulled pan or baking parchment to prevent over-browning.

Keyword bird’s nest cookies

Get the Perfect Sugar cookie Mix-up Recipe here.

Get started Baking Outside the Box with the Goody Mix.

 the Last Minute Bunny Pattern.