RECIPE: 3 Easy Easter Treats You Can Make With Your Kids

One of the things my family looks forward to most on Easter? The fun food!
Here are 3 favorite Easter treats I make with my kids:

These fun "bird nests" are made with a sweetened cream cheese filling. Add in the coconut and cookie crust and you have a combination that is just so good!

Ingredients:

• 1 tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 8-ounce package of softened cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• green food coloring (several drops)
• Speckled malted milk eggs (or you could use jelly beans or chocolate eggs)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and coat a cupcake pan with cooking spray.
2. Separate the cookie dough and push it into each hole, pressing it up the sides so it forms a "nest."
3. Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes (or until golden brown).
4. Let cool slightly and release from pan. Let cool completely on rack.
5. Beat the sugar into the softened cream cheese. Add vanilla and mix well. Add a dollop to each nest. 
6. Mix a few drops of green food coloring into the coconut and mix. Spoon the coconut onto each nest, and top with the speckled eggs. 

Mmm, sweet and salty! I love this combination. When I was a kid we would go to the drive-in and I would have popcorn with a candy bar, nibbling alternating bites of each. At the time I didn't realize other people loved to do the same, so I kind of felt sneaky, as if I was doing something wrong by mixing the two. Now, of course, I know just about everyone loves that sweet and salty mix. So if you're like me, this popcorn mix will be a favorite!

Ingredients:

• Popcorn
• Mini pretzels
• Chex cereal
• Candy melts
• M&Ms
• Sprinkles

Directions:

1. No need to measure! Just mix up the popcorn, mini pretzels, and Chex cereal together in a large bowl.
2. Melt the candy melts (adding 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or shortening if you need to thin it a bit) and drizzle it all over the mixture. 
3. Add the M&Ms and continue to stir. Add colorful sprinkles for more sweetness and color (and to make it look even more festive!)

These are a fun project with the kids! They loved to decorate them ... and we all loved to eat them!

Ingredients:

• 10-ounce package of marshmallows
• 6 cups Rice Krispies
• 3 tablespoons butter
• Candy melts or frosting
• Coconut oil or shortening
• Candy eyes

You will also need cookie cutters (unless you want to freehand your cut shapes).

Directions:

1. Melt the marshmallows and butter in a pan over low heat. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in cereal. 
2. Spread into a 13X9 pan that has been coated with cooking spray. Spray cooking spray onto a spatula and use it to spread and smooth out the mixture in the pan. Let this set.
3. Using cookie cutters coated with cooking spray, cut out various shapes. If you are cutting with a knife, be sure to coat it well with cooking spray too! 
4. Melt the candy melts as directed, or use frosting. 
5. Time to decorate! 

Have a great Easter and I hope you and your kids enjoy making these fun Easter treats!

Valarie Fisher is the publisher of Macaroni Kid Roseville-Rocklin-Lincoln and Citrus Heights.

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