Cooking with Kids: No-bake Easter Treats

Happy Easter!

I like creating, or cooking holiday themed items to really get in the spirit... I especially love finding simple holiday-themed treats to make with my oldest son, who loves playing with me in the kitchen. He has a great time cooking; helping me measure, count, mix, taste, and showing off the fruits of his labor.

For Easter this year, we made beautiful and delicious (no bake) bird's nests together.

I found this recipe a few years ago, and had a great time making and eating them! This year, though, I had much more fun with my son helping me- he got to help me measure, mix, review colors, and put the eggs (mini malted Robin's Eggs) in their nests. I have found more variations of this basic idea... using chow mein noodles in place of fiber one, adding marshmallows, using butterscotch chips instead of chocolate... But the classic chocolate/peanut butter combination, (with the benefit of using a healthy cereal), really makes this version the winner for me.

These adorable treats are super simple to make, and are perfect for making with kids- they come together quickly, involve little mess, and no baking or high temperatures.

Fiber One Haystacks
From Fiber One

12 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup reduced fat peanut butter
3 3/4 cup original Fiber One
Mini Robin's eggs, or other egg-shaped candy

Line cookie sheets with waxed paper. In a large microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and peanut butter uncovered on high for 30 seconds. Stir, and microwave for another 30 seconds. Microwave 30 seconds to 1 minute longer, stirring after every 15 seconds, until melted and smooth. Stir in cereal until well coated. Drop mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper, slightly flatten into a nest-like shape. Place 2 or 3 egg shaped candies in the center, gently pressing so that they are held in place by the chocolate. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm- about 1 hour. Remove treats from cookie sheets, and put into sealed containers, keeping in refrigerator.