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Kids'
Springtime
Garden Party
Bonnets,
Bird's Nest Cookies,
Flower Cupcakes and
Bumble Bees
 (Family Features) - What a pleasure to think about spring and how to celebrate
during this most welcome season. Everyone is ready to
experience the return of warmer weather, spring flowers and
bright colorful baking ideas. Include the entire family for
an afternoon of baking fun and laughter.
Keep the pantry stocked with ready to use cake mixes, sugar
cookie mixes, frostings and a variety of Easter candies in
pastel colors to decorate Flower Cupcakes, Bonnets, Bird's
Nest Cookies and Bumble Bees. These treats will be a welcome
surprise to share with family and friends and will add a
festive touch to the dinner table. Starburst Jellybeans are
not just for Easter, they are available all year and are
perfect for children to create flowers and abstract designs
on cakes and cupcakes. They are great for birthday parties
and school activities.
For more holiday recipes, decorating, gift ideas and family
fun activities go to www.brightideas.com
Bonnets
1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough or ten 4 1/2-inch cookies
10 medium cupcakes (2 1/2-inch), store bought or homemade
2 containers (16 ounces) white frosting
Food coloring
1 bag M&M'S Milk Chocolate
Candies for Easter
Starburst Jellybeans
Skittles Candies for Easter
Starburst Fruit Chews
- Roll sugar cookie dough to 1/4 inch thickness and press
out ten 4 1/2-inch cookies. Bake the cookies according to
directions on the package. Set aside.
- Remove paper cupcake liner from cupcakes. Slice off
rounded top of cupcake.
- Ice top of cupcake with 1 tablespoon frosting. Turn
cupcake upside down and place on the cookie. Set "cookie
hats" on wire rack.
- Divide icing into 4 bowls. Beginning with a few drops of
food coloring, tint icing to desired pastel shade. One at a
time, place icing into microwave for 15 seconds. Stir icing
and check consistency for pourable consistency.
- Pour frosting over "hats," covering them completely. Set
aside for 10 minutes.
- Decorate using candies.
- To make hat ribbons, unwrap fruit chews and soften in
microwave for 5 seconds. Then thinly roll and cut into thin
ribbons and wrap around the hats.
Makes 10 bonnets.
Bird's Nest Cookies
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
2 sticks butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups M&M'S Speckled Milk Chocolate Eggs
- Preheat oven to 300°F. Spread coconut on non-greased
cookie sheet. Toast in oven, stirring occasionally, until
light golden, about 25 minutes.
- Remove coconut from cookie sheet and set aside.
- Increase oven temperature to 350°F. In large bowl, add
butter and sugar and whip until light and fluffy; beat in
egg and vanilla.
- In medium bowl, combine flour and salt. Blend into
creamed mixture.
- Form dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Roll heavily in toasted
coconut.
- Place coconut cookies 2 inches apart on lightly greased
cookie sheets. Make indentation with thumb in center of each
cookie. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove cookies and cool completely. Fill indentations
with chocolate eggs.
Makes 3 dozen cookies.
Flower Cupcakes
1 box (18.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
1 container white frosting
1 bag Starburst Jellybeans, Original or Tropical Fruits
- Make cupcakes according to package directions.
- Spread frosting onto cooled cupcakes and place jellybeans
on top in a flower design.
Makes 1 dozen cupcakes.
Bumble Bees
Starburst Fruit Chews or yellow construction paper
3 Dove Truffle Eggs or Snickers Eggs
1 tube decorative yellow icing
M&M'S Milk Chocolate Candies for Easter or Skittles Candies for Easter
- To make wings, unwrap fruit chews and soften in microwave
for 5 seconds. Then thinly roll and cut into teardrops for
bumble bee's wings. Or cut 12 teardrops from construction
paper for wings.
- Unwrap eggs and place both halves flat on a counter.
- With decorative icing, pipe lines over eggs. Dot candy
with icing and press onto eggs for eyes.
- Dot each wing with icing and press underneath eggs, one
wing on either side of egg.
Makes 6 Bumble Bees.
SOURCE: M&M's® Seasonal Brands
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