M&M Bird’s Nest Cookies

***UPDATE – See this post about our new eating habits. (7/10/11)

Awwwwwww, isn’t that just cute? Too cute to eat. Almost. ALMOST. Good grief. If you make something and you think it’s too cute to eat, quit making it. I love finding bird nests with eggs in them. One year there was one right outside my mom’s bedroom window and we got to watch them hatch and then grow up…..and then get eaten by some stinkin’ cat. Anyway, let’s forget about that because it’s Easter and we’re supposed to be happy! Stupid cat. Let’s make some fun cookies! And then eat them. Yum, yum!

This is just a basic sugar cookie, rolled in coconut to make it look like nest stuff. It’s genius, I know. You’ll need flour, sugar, egg, coconut, egg-shaped M&Ms, butter, vanilla, and salt.

Get out your awesome ugly brown mixing bowl and cream the butter and sugar together. The butter needs to be soft. If I know I’m going to make cookies, I just get the butter out after breakfast and let it sit on the counter. Then when I’m ready to bake, it’s ready to go….and I don’t have to put in the microwave and accidentally microwave it too long until it’s melted. That silly microwave will liquefy my butter in like 2 seconds. It’s nuts. I try not to use it…..but sometimes a cookie attack hits.

Now add the egg and vanilla. I just love my eggs. I buy them fresh from NLV Farms. Fresh eggs ROCK! I love all the different shapes and sizes. One day I’m going to have my own chickens….when I can move out of the city and get away from all their stupid rules. Did you know we actually have a rule about no pigs being stored on your deck? Yeah. Another stupid rule. No fresh bacon for Stacy.

When you get all the egg and vanilla mixed in, add the flour and salt. Mix it up. It should be pretty stiff…..stiff enough to roll into balls. If it’s not, add a tad more flour. But not too much flour or the cookies will taste like…..well, flour.

While you’re doing all this, you should be toasting your coconut in the oven at 300 degrees. It should only take about 10 minutes. Please, please set a timer. If you don’t, you’re going to be making some black bird’s nests. It needs to be stirred often. Coconut burns fast…..or so I’ve heard from OTHER PEOPLE. *Cough*

Roll your dough into cookie sized balls and roll them in your coconut. Coat them well. I had to sorta press my coconut into the cookie. I think I had to do that last time too….but I didn’t make a note in my cookbook so I can’t remember. Seriously, if I don’t write stuff down I cannot remember ANYTHING. Momnesia.

Here they are all covered and ready for the oven….almost. We have something fun to do!

Take your big ole thumb and press it into the center of the cookie. Fun times! You need to make a hole for the eggs later. Kids would really like this part….but who wants to share really? Do it yourself and enjoy it.

Bake until they’re just starting to set up. Here’s Stacy’s secret to awesome cookie baking, also covered here – always UNDER-bake. No one wants a hard cookie….really. They might eat your hard cookie, but they’re thinking “When she turns her back, I’m going to spit it out.” When you pull a cookie out of the oven, it keeps baking. It’s hot inside. And if you leave it on the sheet for a minute, it will really keep cooking. So, I always take mine out when they just start to set up around the edges. And I have perfect cookies every time…..I am the queen of cookies. Unless I’m at mom’s house and then I’m the queen of burning – her oven hates me.

When they’re done, pull them out of the oven and immediately put your M&M eggs in the center. I used three per hole….some holes only have two because, well – I ate them. Honesty is a good policy. I really don’t care for coconut, so I told myself it was okay if I ate a few M&Ms.

Take your cookie sheet and pop it back into the oven for a few minutes. It’s going to help your eggs stick to the cookie…..unless you’re going down a bumpy road with them later or you’re a crazy driver.

Let them cool on a wire rack and then devour. Man, I was a little bummed because they’re so cute but I don’t eat much coconut….unless it’s hidden in something like granola. But, guess what?!

BOOYA! I had leftovers! And they’re mine, all mine! You can eat your cookie, but keep your paws off my M&Ms. Happy Easter.

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

2 sticks butter, softened

½ cup white sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

¾ teaspoon salt

1 bag M&Ms speckled eggs for Easter

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spread coconut on non-greased cookie sheet. Toast in oven, stirring occasionally, until it turns light brown….about 10 minutes, give or take. Remove coconut to a bowl.

Increase oven temp to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix sugar and butter. Whip until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour and salt to creamed mixture. Blend. Form into balls and roll in coconut. Place on cookie sheets. Make indention with your thumb in the center of each cookie. Bake 8-10 minutes or until they start to set up around the edges. Remove cookies from oven and immediately place M&Ms in the center. Return to oven for 2-3 minutes. Remove cookies from cookie sheet and let cool on wire rack.