Seven-year-old Mary Ashley was a bit skeptical when I showed her the white chocolate nests I prepared for her first-grade class. "Why couldn't you just make regular cookies?" she asked with a groan. But a little birdie told me they were a hit with Mary Ashley -- and her classmates and their parents -- at today's Easter egg hunt.
White Chocolate Nests
My sister-in-law used candy nests as place markers on our Easter table last year for a simply sweet touch.
4 cups chow mein noodles
3 1/2 cups corn flakes, crushed
12 ounces white chocolate baking squares
Speckled egg candy
Mix noodles and cereal in a large bowl. Melt white chocolate according to package directions, and pour over noodle mix. Toss gently to coat the entire mixture. Use a small measuring cup (1/4 to 1/3 cup) to scoop the mixture onto wax paper. While the mixture is still pliable, shape the mounds into nests and push candy eggs into the center. Allow the white chocolate to set according to package directions, probably about 30 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter or airtight container. Yields about 25 nests. (Note: I used Baker's Premium White Chocolate, which worked well and did not harden too quickly. For the candy, I used two 4-ounce cartons of Whoppers Mini Robin Eggs. I probably could have gotten by with one carton, but used two to have enough pink eggs.)
