Easter Nest Treats

I stumbled upon these cute treats while searching for alternatives to the usual chocolate eggs and jelly beans for our family Easter get-together. These crunchy marshmallow nests with buttercream grass and candy eggs on top mix the familiar taste of Rice Krispie treats with a fun spring look. They catch everyone's eye at an Easter table but don't need much work – just what I want in a holiday snack when there's tons of other cooking to do.

I made these for last Easter when my sister brought the kids over for our yearly egg hunt. My niece, who's 7, wanted to help with everything, especially putting those candy eggs in each nest "exactly right." After we finished hunting eggs, watching the kids eat these treats with green frosting all over their faces became the best part of my day. The easiest recipes sometimes make the most lasting family traditions.

Key Components

• Marshmallows: You'll need fresh ones here. That old opened bag from last year's campfire won't work well. Big or mini ones both melt great, so just use what you have.
• Rice Krispies cereal: This cereal gives you that perfect light snap and special feel. Off-brands work too, but check they're fresh for the best crunch.
• Unsalted butter: Gives a rich taste and stops sticking. Make sure you grease everything well - these get super sticky.
• Easter egg candies: Small chocolate eggs with candy coating look most like real eggs, but you can use jellybeans too. Those speckled milk chocolate eggs make the most convincing "bird eggs."
• Buttercream basics: Real butter tastes way better here. You can adjust how much powdered sugar you use depending on how firm you want your grass frosting.
• Green food coloring: The gel kind makes the brightest "grass" without making your frosting runny. I add a tiny bit of yellow with the green for that fresh spring look.

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Creation Steps

Set up your tins:

Cover cupcake pans completely with butter or cooking spray. Even non-stick pans need this – these treats stick to anything without proper greasing. Having pans ready first lets you work fast when you need to.

Soften your base:

Put marshmallows and butter in a big microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second blocks, stirring after each one. Keep an eye out as marshmallows grow a lot when heated. They're done when fully smooth with no chunks.

Mix your treats:

Add Rice Krispies into the melted marshmallow mix, folding carefully but fully until all pieces get coated. Move quickly because the mix starts hardening fast. A buttered spatula helps keep the mix from sticking to your tools.

Form your baskets:

Scoop the mix into greased cupcake wells while it's still soft. Press down in the middle with wax paper to make a nest-like dip. The paper stops the mix from sticking to your hands.

Cool them down:

Let nests sit untouched for at least half an hour. They'll harden enough to keep their shape but stay nicely chewy. If you rush this part, they'll be much harder to get out of the pans.

Make your frosting:

Beat room temp butter until it's fluffy. Mix in vanilla, milk, and half your powdered sugar until smooth. Slowly add the rest of the sugar until you can pipe it well. Drop in green coloring bit by bit until you get the perfect grass color.

Put it all together:

Put green frosting in a piping bag with a grass tip or small round tip. Pipe onto cooled nests in random patterns like grass or twigs. Right away put candy eggs into the frosting before it gets hard.

The first batch I tried, I thought paper liners would make things easier. Big mistake! The treats stuck completely to the paper. Now I just butter the pans well and use a small spatula to carefully lift each nest out. Another trick I've learned is heating my measuring cup before scooping marshmallows – they drop right out without sticking. These small changes make everything go smoother when making multiple batches for bigger parties.

Display Ideas

Make your Easter table stand out by setting these nests on a layered stand with fresh spring flowers and scattered jelly beans around them. The different heights look amazing and guests will take pictures before eating them. For a relaxed Easter brunch, put one at each seat as an edible name holder – just add a tiny paper flag with names written on them. Kids get super excited finding these in their Easter baskets, especially when wrapped in clear wrap with light-colored ribbons. They also go great alongside spring cupcakes or cookies for a mixed dessert table.

Fun Variations

Give Cocoa Krispies a try for chocolate nests that look great against light-colored candy eggs. My family's chocolate lovers can't get enough of this version. For something really bright, use Fruity Pebbles to make colorful speckled nests that look like artistic birds made them. Add a small pinch of orange or lemon zest to the marshmallow mix for a light citrus flavor that makes everything taste fresher. Grown-ups might enjoy a splash of Bailey's in the buttercream for a fancy twist that's still fun and festive.

Keeping Fresh

Store your finished nests flat in one layer in a sealed container at room temp. They'll stay good for 2-3 days, though the Rice Krispie part will slowly get harder. Don't put these in the fridge as cold temps make them too hard to enjoy. If making ahead, prepare just the nests and store them plain, then add frosting and candy eggs a few hours before serving. In hot weather, keep them in the coolest spot in your kitchen away from sunlight so the frosting doesn't melt or slide off. When taking them to a party, a flat box with a good lid works best.

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I've brought these Rice Krispie nests to school events, family parties, and even grown-up Easter brunches. Something about how cute they look makes people of all ages smile. My neighbor Tom always says he "doesn't really like sweets," but somehow eats at least two whenever we have our neighborhood Easter potluck. There's something special about turning basic ingredients into something that looks fancy enough for a holiday but takes almost no time to make. That perfect balance of effort and results is why I make this recipe year after year, with everyone asking if I'll be bringing "those cute little nests" again.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I prep these nests ahead of time?

Sure! Put them together 1-2 days early and store in a sealed container at room temperature. Add frosting and candy eggs fresh on the day you serve them for the best results.

→ Why did my treats turn out too hard?

Overcooking the marshmallows or pressing down too hard while forming the nests can make the treats hard. Use light pressure and watch the marshmallows closely to avoid overheating.

→ Can I skip making my own frosting?

Totally! Grab some store-bought vanilla frosting, mix in green food coloring, and you’re good to go. Perfect for saving time and still looking great.

→ How can I get the nests out of the cupcake pan easily?

Grease the pan generously before adding the mix. To remove the nests, gently run a butter knife around the edges and twist to loosen. Letting them sit longer at room temp may also help if they’re still stuck.

→ What other candies could I use for the eggs?

Mini chocolate eggs are ideal, but pastel M&Ms, jelly beans, Cadbury eggs, or Jordan almonds work too. Just pick small egg-shaped candies.

→ How do I shape the nests just right?

Press the mixture into the cupcake pan, then use a greased spoon or your thumb to make a dip in the center. Wax paper around your fingers also works well to push it into shape.