Bunny Bait

If you are looking for something simple, quick and UTTERLY DELICIOUS to make and share for Easter, I have something for you.....Bunny Bait!

This idea actually comes from darling Kellie of This Blessed Nest and her Valentine Confetti.

{Why, yes, I have been dreaming about this since February.}

I followed Kellie's instructions (so pop over there for the recipe) with just a couple minor tweaks:

• I used Easter m&m's (that was probably obvious),
• and plain vanilla candy melts,
• and 2 full bags of popcorn,
• and added....

...Sprinkles!  

Here's my #1 tip for making Bunny Bait....

GET IT OUT OF THE HOUSE!!!

This stuff is highly addictive.  Bag it up and....Put it in your kiddo's lunchbox.  Send it to kiddo's teacher (Hi, Mrs. P!).  Run it over to the neighbors.  Send it with your hubby to work.
 
{And if your hubby is concerned about handing out something called "bunny bait" to his colleagues, tell him "Candied Popcorn" will work just fine.} ;)

Bird's Nest Cupcakes . . . with speckled egg cookie toppers

I'm not sure why, but the idea for these little bird's nest cupcakes popped into my head one day.  I thought...wow, THAT is a really original idea.  And then, I saw these on my friend Callye's blog.  Speckled egg cookies AND anthro-inspired bunnies that are just incredible.

Oh well, so maybe speckled egg cookies aren't so original, but I really like seeing different people's methods for making things.  {Especially when it involves sugar.}

To make the cookie toppers, I just used a mini egg cutter and poked a toothpick in the dough before baking.  I always freeze my cookies for about 5-10 minutes before putting them in the oven, so that made maneuvering them with the toothpicks easy.

Once the cookies were cooled, I iced them with royal icing and let them dry overnight.

The next day, I mixed equal parts (or close to equal parts) AmeriColor Chocolate Brown food coloring with water.  (Similar to the method used to make "wood-grain.")
 

Then, with a child's paintbrush, I flicked the mixture onto the cookies.  

It was really, really fun!!!

If you have those speckled granite countertops, you are in luck.  You are about to add a few more speckles.

WARNING:  Do not wear white when doing this.  Do not let your kids see you flicking food coloring all over the kitchen with a paint brush.  If your kids DO see you, try to act like you're not having fun. ;)

Oh, and this is what you finger will look like afterward.  You know, gloves would not have been a bad thing.


OK...the cupcakes.  I'm gonna fess up.  I used a box.  A doctored up box, but still a box.  Hey....I made the cookies.

AND...(fessing up again)...I used canned icing.  Honestly, I LIKE canned icing.  I'm sorry, but it's true.

{Looking out the window nervously for the Food Police.}

The method for doctoring up a cake mix for cupcakes come directly from the book Hello Cupcake.

Use a box mix (I like Betty Crocker French Vanilla), replace the water with 1 cup buttermilk.  Use the same amount of oil and increase the eggs to 4.  Then, mix and bake like normal.

On top of the CANNED FROSTING, I used toasted coconut to make the nests.  Toasting coconut is easy.

Spread it on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes, taking it out to stir frequently.

Frost the cupcake and sprinkle with coconut.
 
Add your cookies.

The love of canned frosting...am I alone?  Bueller? Bueller?

*sweet* Bird's Nests

Do you remember eating these chow mein noodle bird's nests when you were a kid? I do and they're one of my favorite things to make for Easter!

I found a recipe for them in the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion. They are really, really simple, too!

Seriously, it'll take you less than an hour (unless you are going to blog about them, then it will take FOUR), assuming you have chow mein noodles, marshmallows and Easter candy on hand. And who doesn't? ;)

Bird's Nests
{adapted from King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion}

3 c. mini marshmallows
3 TBSP unsalted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
4 c. dry chow mein noodles
small candies, jelly beans, m & m's, etc.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Over low heat, melt the marshmallows and butter in a large saucepan.

Once melted, stir in the vanilla, then the chow mein noodles.

Coat your hands liberally with shortening, (butter doesn't work as well) and have some nearby for re-coating.

{Your hands will feel so soft all day. :) Hmmm...maybe I should carry a little tub of Crisco in my purse?}

Grab a clump of noodles smaller than a tennis ball and larger than a golf ball. Form into a ball while pressed your thumbs into the middle, forming a nest.

Allow the nests to cool, then fill with with the candy of your choice....

{I used mini Robin's Egg Whoppers.}

{And maybe a mama bird, or Peep, watching over!}

OK...so while I was taking pictures, I thought..."wouldn't these be cute placecards?!?"

Of course, you can probably find a better pen than a ballpoint and cut out construction paper a little neater, but they ARE cute, aren't they?

{I used a toothpick to attach the Peep to the nest.}

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Remember to link up your Easter goodies and crafts here. Or, just go check them out...I am blown-away with all of the CUTE ideas!!! You guys are so fun! I'm stealing ALL of your ideas next year!

Related Posts:

• Good Eggs
• Fluffy Easter Chicks
• Here Comes Peter CottonTail

Here comes Peter CottonTail . . .

....hoppin' down the bunny trail,
hippity, hoppity,
Easter's on its way!

I take no credit for this design; it comes straight out of last year's Williams-Sonoma catalog. (Well, their bunnies were cuter.)

They gave me an excuse to break out the sanding sugar...and I like a cookie with sanding sugar. And, really, something about SPRING just screams sanding sugar to me. You, too?

Here's how I add sanding sugar once a cookie is complete:

• Let the cookies dry overnight.

• Mix together equal amounts of meringue powder and water, just stir it together with a spoon. (I used 1/2 tsp. each here.)

• Using a small (food-only) paintbrush, brush the mixture along the edge and tail of the bunnies.

• Sprinkle on the sanding sugar. Shake off the excess. (I use a coffee filter to catch the excess and funnel it back into the container. Read more about how I set up a "sanding sugar station" here.)

That's it!

I want to see what YOU are making for Easter! Cookies, cupcakes, crafts? Link them up below!

{Please link to your blog POST URL, not just your blog main page. Thanks!}

Easter Cookie Ideas . . . hop to it!

I'm working tonight on some *new* Easter cookies, but here are some blasts from the past for a little Easter cookie decorating inspiration. {Click the links for the full posts.}

Good Eggs...personalized or not, these are always a hit!

Basket Case...I made these for the first time last year. My favorite part? The Easter grass peeking out! :)

"Fluffy" chicks...so simple and so sweet! I *heart* these! This would be a good one for decorating with the kids.

{They look really cute with the baskets.}

And, finally, which to *you* eat first? The Ears or the Tails? These are really easy to make...click here and I'll show you how.

{Re-name these"Twilight bunnies" and make the bite out of the neck! ;)}

Are you making Easter cookies this year?

Cookie decorating with the boys . . .

Last week as I was debating cookie ideas, my son said, "can we make some just to have around the house?" He never asks for cookies (I think he's eaten too many of my mistakes), so I jumped at the chance to make some together.

We decided to try out some mini Easter cutters and just do simple outlines and sparkling sugar.
I just love seeing that BOY'S ARM and digital watch cutting cookies! And boy, did we have cookies!!!

Hubby decided to join us for decorating. They actually had fun! (I was a little worried. Never fear, they are getting their "man time" in now watching Star Wars Clone Wars.)

Total concentration....notice the arched eyebrows! :)

I love the face on this little guy!

How about these? I can't decide which is my favorite....the bunny with the glasses or the "surprised" one.






One day left for Easter baking! Need some inspiration?

• Good Eggs
• Easter Baskets
• Easter Chick Flicks

Today (Saturday) Bake at 350's pantry is being featured at The Perfect Pantry. Go on over and check out Lydia's blog. It's full of great recipes, info and yes, pantries! :) Thanks, Lydia!

And, before I forget again....the winner of the King Arthur Scone giveaway was Lorie. Thanks for entering! :)

Have a Happy Easter!