Friday, March 29, 2013

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Peep Nests!



I get so many recipes by email  - blogs,  news feeds, news feeds linked to other bloggers, Pinterest, etc..  This recipe was one of those news feeds which linked to this lovely blog. I thought the idea was  adorable. Peeps nestled in chocolate nests and surrounded by candy eggs. 

The recipe called for the usual chow mein noodles mixed with chocolate chips and butterscotch or peanut butter chips.  Mmmm, peanut butter chips - that caught my attention. I thought sweet and salty would be a great combination and, since I've done the chow mein noodle nests before, pretzels might be a good nesting choice!  Or wait, remember shoestring potatoes in a big can?  I had to give both a try.


The marshmallow peeps in the first photo were made with shoestring potatoes and the marzipan bird nests were made with thin pretzels? I found both the marzipan birds and super thin pretzels at World Market. The cashier who waited on me said the super thin pretzels always sell out as soon as they get them in. They are good :)

   
Which would taste best? For me, the pretzels won by a very narrow margin. So, if you can't find super thin pretzels, try shoestring potatoes if you also like the idea of sweet and salty together.


To keep chocolate from melting on little fingers, I'll be packing these in cellophane wrapping for Easter gifting to my favorite peeps :)

Happy Easter and Passover, everyone!!

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Nests for Easter

Adapted from Chef in Training
Printable Recipe

Makes 6 nests

1 cup dark chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips)
1 cup peanut butter chips
1 cup thin pretzels crushed or shoestring potatoes crushed
Small candy eggs (I used M&M Easter peanut butter eggs)
Peeps or Marzipan Chicks

Melt chocolate and peanut butter chips together in a microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until completed melted.

Stir in crushed thin pretzel sticks or shoestring potatoes.

Spray muffin tins with non-stick spray. (I used non-stick muffin tins and also sprayed them with Baker's Joy)

Drop by spoonfuls into a greased muffin tin and mold into nest shapes with a spoon.

Place Peeps or marzipan figures and candy eggs in nests while still warm.

Refrigerate for at least one hour or more until completely set. Run a very thin knife around the edge of the nests to lift and remove from the tin.  If a piece breaks, you can always melt a little more chocolate to glue it back on.

45 comments:

  1. Oh so cute, I'm sure everyone will be thrilled to get one Susan! Happy Easter Weekend-enjoy:@)

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  2. Happy Easter dear!! These asre so cute and beauty!!xo

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  3. These are the cutest little nests! Easter is sucgh a lovely and fun time!
    Have a lovely Easter weekend
    Ronelle

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  4. Susan, the chicks in their nests are absolutely adorable, and, well, so chirpy!

    Have a wonderful time with your handsome grands this Easter!

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  5. Ahhhhh these are so adorable! What a terrific idea and love how you wrapped them in a pretty bag! So cute - hope you and yours have a wonderful blessed Easter.

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  6. So cute, Susan, love the yellow and white gingham ribbon on the wrapped ones. xo

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  7. I love these!!

    Next year for sure..Oh those marzipan chicklets are ADORABLE:)
    Love the wrapping too Nana..i've always loved gingham..polka dots..eyelet..ok and chintz:)

    Pinning:)

    Happy Easter!

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  8. How cute! What a perfect little Easter treat.
    Enjoy your Easter weekend!
    -Lynn

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  9. Those are so cute and I bet they are tasty also. Thanks for sharing.
    Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Easter!

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  10. These are adorable Susan~ love the nests and sweet & salty is a favorite combination for me! And of course I love Peeps :) Happy Easter!

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  11. Those are really cute. I'm trying to imagine what potato sticks and chocolate would be like.

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  12. Absolutely adorable! And they look delicious! Perfect little packages and so pretty tied up with a bow.

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  13. These are so cute!! What fun Easter treats!! Happy Easter to you and yours!

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  14. How cute and fun are these little Easter baskets-love the gift wrap ;-)

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  15. How precious! My (school) children would have adored these! Bonnie

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  16. Beautiful, cute and so pretty!
    Wish you and your family Happy Easter!

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  17. Oh this is darling and so clever. I love shoestring potatoes. We use to eat those all the time as a kid. Hmm I think I might love those covered in chocolate. I may have to make those as a snack - sweet and salty!

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  18. These are so cute! They sound yummy too- just what I'd like to find in my Easter basket. :)

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  19. Happy Easter, Susan. The chocolate nests look so adorable!

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  20. you always bring a smile to my face! love these and the cellophane wrapping with ribbon makes them a perfect, dainty little Easter treat.

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  21. The nests are absolutely surreal :)>

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  22. What cute Easter gifts to give to the little ones...there will be lots of smiles and chocolatey hands.

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  23. Awww how cute are these?!? I wish I had a bunch of kids to gift them to!

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  24. These are incredible! I'm pinning this one so the world can see. :)

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  25. I know two little boys who would think I am a magician if i could make these for them!

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  26. They're perfect for Easter and very creative! Who would've thought---potato sticks! World Market is the best, love the chicks, and I will be looking for the pretzels. Happy Easter, to you and yours, Susan!

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  27. They are adorable! I remember making them with my class using the chow mein noodles. But with all the licking of fingers going on, I dared not taste theirs! :)

    I just finished filling the 120 eggs for the hunt the dozens of egg cupcakes for the kids. Mike wants to know why I have to cook and bake and bring so much...only 2 of us.
    I have to remind him that our 5 gkids are the majority there!
    Hope you have a blessed Easter and enjoy your bunnies!
    I made a different Bunny cake this year, I will think of you, B :), when I am icing it. I bet it will take forever!

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  28. So cute! Happy Easter! xx

    http://andgeesaid.blogspot.com.au/

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  29. These are totally adorable! The nest must be delicious too with the sweet and savory combination of flavors. I love how easy these are and I can still make a batch tomorrow morning. ;)

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  30. I love the marzipan chicks you found to put in some of the these adorable chocolate nests, Susan. What wonderful sweet treats these are! I could use the shoestring potatoes to make these for my gluten sensitive grand...next year! :)

    Happy Easter to you and your family!

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  31. I wish you a very happy Easter my dear Susan !A warm hug...

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  32. These are adorable! I'm with you on the sweet/salty mix, I could definitely see why thin pretzels would be perfect for it or even sesame sticks?

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  33. Oh Susan, this little chicks in the pretzel nest are so cute...they sure make a great Easter treat.
    Enjoy your week :)

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  34. Your photos are so beautiful Susan! Those nests are so adorable!

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  35. Aww...these are so cute!! I wish I'd seen these before Easter- I've always wanted to make bird nests like these! Yours turned out so pretty :D

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  36. Those marzipan chicks are adorable! I've never seen them. I have seen the nests... no doubt the same place you did...Pinterest. I didn't have any grandkids this year, so didn't fuss, but will keep this post in mind for another year. Although I don't think you can beat your gingerbread bunnies! :)

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  37. Hi Susan, those chicks are super cute. Thanks for sharing this wonderful ideas. But too pretty to be eaten.

    Have a nice week ahead.

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  38. Precious - I hope you had a wonderful Easter.

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  39. Love those marzipan chickies! I bet your family enjoy these sweet nests.

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  40. Oh Happy Easter! These are just too sweet. Thank you so much for sharing them with us tonight!

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  41. Your little peeps in their nests are so sweet, Susan. Every year I vow that I'm going to make something special like this for Easter and once again I didn't get it done. But there is always next year! I hope you and your family had a very happy and blessed Easter.

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  42. Yum and so cute too! I love your gingerbread bunnies too. I haven't been able to visit as I haven't been home for what seems like a month! I am exhausted and ready to be home!

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  43. I'm so glad that you found my blog today. I follow you on Google friend connect. These little peeps are so cute in the chocolate nests. I'd devour the nests that's for sure! I can never say no to chocolate! Well done!!!

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