We naturally think of giving to others at Christmas. But Easter is another opportunity to share with others and teach children to give. Do you have a favorite recipe? Why not prepare it as a family and make a surprise delivery to a neighbor, hurting friend, or elderly person during the Easter season?
Here are some cookies we’ve made:
- Oatmeal cookies molded into Easter eggs and decorated with frosting.
- Sugar cookies cut into crosses and decorated with sprinkles.
- Chocolate no-bake cookies shaped into nests and filled with green coconut “grass” and jelly bird eggs (see recipe).
For an inexpensive “basket,” we’ve decorated empty plastic produce containers from berries or tomatoes, adding paper handles. We fill them with Easter grass and homemade goodies.
Easter Nests (Chocolate No-Bake Cookies)
Melt in large saucepan:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
Stir in:
2 cups granulated sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
Cook approximately three minutes on medium heat to soft ball stage (230 degrees). Remove from heat and add:
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups quick-cooking oats
Stir quickly to blend. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper.
To shape into nests, use the back of a spoon to hollow the center of each cookie. While warm, fill with green tinted coconut (coconut mixed with a few drops green food coloring). Add a few jelly bird eggs. Makes about two dozen nests. Store in a covered container when cool.
About Lydia Harris
Lydia E. Harris is happily married to Milt, her sweetheart for 48 years. She has two married children, five grandkids, and is the author of a Bible study, "Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting" (AMG Publishers, 2010 release). She's also a tea enthusiast and writes the column "A Cup of Tea with Lydia."
