Edible Easter Egg Nest - Center Parcs April Challenge

When I saw that the April challenge was to make an edible Easter egg nest I knew that this would be a fun challenge to do with Joseph.

As you all know, I love baking and spending time in the kitchen. Joseph has recently taken an interest as it is a great way for us to spend some time together.

We sat down and looked through some of Center Parcs tips and the one that stood out to us was:

Feeling really adventurous? Seek out some phyllo dough (usually found in delis, rather than supermarkets), cut it in to thin strips and arrange in ‘nests’ in a buttered muffin tin, baking for 15 mins. Then top with your chosen treats for the most realistic edible nests you’ll see over Easter

 

We love to be adventurous in the kitchen so this tip summed us up and gave us some great ideas!

 

Our first idea of making a ginger bread biscuit basket was a great idea in theory. We loved making it and enjoyed getting creative together.

 

Joseph weighing out the ingredients

Adding the ginger

Giving it a good mix

Biscuit dough, done!

Time to roll it out

We took a pudding bowl and used it as our frame.
We placed a disc of biscuit dough on the bottom
for the base of the basket/nest.

Next Joseph cut strips of biscuit dough to
build the sides

The sides were added

Josephs finished basket ready to be baked

 

Up until then it went well, however when it came out of the oven it wasn't as we had imagined it. As soon as the pudding we removed the basket collapsed.

 

 

So it was back to the drawing board.

 

Joseph came up with the idea of making one like a pie. I wasn't sure if shortcrust pastry would work after the biscuit crumbled and broke. We decided to buy some filo pastry and try that. Joseph came up with the idea of baking it until it is a "golden brown as it'll look more like a nest!"

 

This is how we got on second time round...

 

Brushing the pudding bowl with melted
butter to prevent sticking

Brushing the filo pastry with melted
butter to build the nest

Layering up the filo for the base

Getting the sheets of filo ready to make
the sides

Once the pudding bowl was lined, we placed it in the oven to bake. We kept our fingers crossed that this time we would be successful!

We were delighted when we took it out of the oven!

Joseph tied a ribbon gently round to make it look more attractive and we got filling the nest!
We placed balls of crepe paper in the bottom to support the treats that were going in. We filled the nest with chocolate treats and pretty eggs.

Joseph was over the moon with the end result and couldn't wait to show it off!

A very proud Joseph with his edible
Easter nest

 

The twins couldn't wait to get stuck in!

This is my entry to the Center Parcs and Tots 100 April challenge. If I’m chosen, I would like to visit Sherwood Forest Center Parcs Resort.