Easter Nest Recipes for Kids

Crispy Hash Brown Potato Nests

Crispy shredded hash browns bake into little edible nests in a muffin tin. Fill them with hard-boiled eggs for Easter brunch or use egg salad, tuna salad or chicken salad to turn them into a fun lunch.

Ingredients

• 1 (20-ounce) bag shredded hash browns, thawed if frozen
• 4 tablespoons oil
• 1 large egg
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. If the hash browns are wet, squeeze out as much excess moisture as possible.
3. Add the hash browns, oil, egg, salt and pepper to a bowl. Stir until evenly combined.
4. Generously grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
5. Divide the mixture among the muffin cups. Press the potatoes firmly into the bottoms and up the sides to form nest shapes.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and crisp.
7. Let the nests cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before carefully removing them.
8. Add your favorite filling and serve.

Homemade Potato Bird's Nest

Recipe by Stella Dias

This creative Easter recipe takes the nest idea one step further. Crispy shredded potato nests are filled with a soft breadcrumb mixture and topped with tiny mashed potato "eggs."

Ingredients

For the Potato Nests

• 2 large potatoes, peeled and shredded
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white or black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons melted butter

For the Filling

• 2 tablespoons plain breadcrumbs, toasted if desired
• 2 tablespoons hot milk
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of pepper

For the Mashed Potato "Eggs"

• 1 small potato, peeled and boiled until tender
• 1/2 teaspoon butter
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of white or black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Place the shredded potatoes in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
3. Beat the egg in a bowl. Stir in the shredded potatoes, salt and pepper.
4. Grease a muffin tin well.
5. Press about 1 1/2 tablespoons of potato mixture into each muffin cup, pressing it into the bottom and up the sides to create a nest.
6. Drizzle a small amount of melted butter over each nest.
7. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until golden and crisp. If the edges brown too quickly, loosely cover the pan with foil.
8. Meanwhile, stir the breadcrumbs, hot milk, salt and pepper together. Spoon about 1 teaspoon into each baked nest.
9. Mash the boiled potato with the butter, salt and pepper.
10. When cool enough to handle, shape the mashed potato into tiny oval "eggs."
11. Place several potato eggs in each nest and serve.

Sweet Noodle Bird's Nests

Recipe by Stella Dias

These crunchy sweet nests use broken spaghetti coated with a cinnamon-flavored syrup. Shape them in muffin cups and finish each nest with a few colorful candy eggs.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry spaghetti or other thin noodles
• 3 tablespoons molasses or maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• About 1/2 cup small candy-coated chocolates or mini candy eggs

Directions

1. Break the dry noodles into 1-2 inch pieces.
2. Add the noodles to a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly golden. Remove from the heat.
3. In a small saucepan, combine the molasses or maple syrup, sugar and cinnamon.
4. Heat over medium-low heat until gently bubbling, about 2 minutes.
5. Carefully pour the hot syrup over the toasted noodles and stir until evenly coated.
6. Grease 4 muffin cups or small heat-safe bowls.
7. Spoon the noodle mixture into the cups and press the center down to form a nest shape.
8. Let the nests cool for about 15 minutes or until firm enough to remove.
9. Carefully lift out the nests and add several candy eggs to each one.