Edible Easter Egg Nests
March 28, 2012 
Aren't these adorable? They are the perfect little thing to put on your Easter table at each place setting. And they are completely edible. Kids and adults alike will love them. I wanted to post this far enough in advance that you would have time to go out and get the proper ingredients to make them, if you wanted to.
These little birds nests are made from shredded phyllo dough, called Kataifi. My regular grocery stores do not carry this item, but my little specialty Italian deli did - in the frozen food section. I hope that all of you who would like to make them can find this item because they are so fun to make.
How hard are they to make? They're just a snap. Thaw out the phyllo dough, cut it in sections, toss with sugar and cinnamon (optional) and then form them into these little nests in a buttered muffin tin. Bake for about 15 minutes. So easy.
I filled mine with Cadbury mini chocolate eggs. You can fill them with jellybeans or any other Easter candy. The nests are totally edible.
Edible Easter Egg Nests
for a printable recipe click here
from Martha Stewart
Kataifi is the name for shredded phyllo dough. If your grocery store doesn't have it, specialty delis usually do (I found fine in my local Italian deli)
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for tin
- 8 ounces (1/2 package kataifi, thawed
- 4 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- chocolate eggs or jelly beans for serving in the nests
thawing the shredded phyllo
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Brush a 12-cup muffin tin with butter. Pull phyllo into 1-inch bundles; cut bundles into 2-inch lengths. Place in a bowl; separate into a loose pile with fingers. Toss with butter, sugar and cinnamon, if using.
Divide among 12 muffin cups; press into bottom and up sides. Cook until golden and crisp around the edges, 15 minutes or so. Let cool; fill with candies.
Buona Pasqua!
Also for Easter:
Italian Easter Bread (sweet and fun to make)
Reader Comments (22)
YOu are just unbelievable with every thing you post on your Italian Kitchen. I just love whatever you post. I have gone into your recieps all the time and talked to my daughter to pull it up anytime she is in doubt about making something.
I just love you for the beautiful pictures and how you make it easier to fallow reciepes
THANK THANK THANK YOU
What a wonderful and clever use of this Middle Eastern phyllo dough!! I can't wait to try it!
I rarely comment on blog posts but i must tell you that your ideas are clever and the recipes taste great. Everything that I have tried from your site has been delicious. Your apple chips are now a staple in our house. I made your Easter breads last year and they were such a success that this year I am getting requests. Thank you.
You could put a small amount of nutella in the middle and put eggs on top. Also add a yellow chick (marshmallow ) to sit on the nest. More chocolate couldn't be a bad thing. They really are very cute nests.
What a cute idea!
Thank you Elaine !! I will be on a mission to find this shredded phyllo in Philadelphia today. My girls will love making these. You have once again given us a new tradition at Easter along with your Easter Bread!
I just made these and they are mighty tasty. Unfortunately, most of mine fell apart. I thought that I had mixed the butter, sugar and cinnamon very thoroughly. Do they need to be pressed into the cups firmer? Should I have used more butter?? I would love some guidance because I would like to make these for my grandchildren this weekend (celebrating Easter a week early) and the nests are really cute, as are my grandchildren by the way. Thanks, dd.
From The Italian Dish:
I'm so sorry you had trouble with yours! Mine did not crumble at all. Lift them carefully from the muffin cups after baking. I used a spoon and my hand. Make sure they are just set, just golden brown. I do not have any trouble at all when I make them.
cute! I will look for Kataifi at the store. I've used Phyllo, but never even heard of this. Thanks for the idea!!
I was lucky to find shredded Phyllo at a Greek specialty store. Can't wait to try these this weekend - they're adorable!
If I can't find this product, could I tediously cut the Phyllo dough into skinny shreds?? haha... just want a back-up plan incase I can't find the Kataifi!
thanks!
What a fabulous idea. I am very excited by that dough, I will have to look out for it. So many possibilities, but this is a great one to start with.
Such an impressive, yet simple, idea! I am falling more and more in love with your blog every day. This is just over the top wonderful!! Hoping I can find this shredded dough! :)
Can you make the edible Easter Egg Nests a couple of days in advance?
Doreen:
I have never made them so far in advance, so I couldn't say! Maybe keep them refrigerated and see how they do.
Let me tell you I have nominated you for the Versatile blogger award, because you really deserve it! http://whilehewasout.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/1019/
Deanna: Sorry I didn't respond earlier - I am in Italy and didn't catch your comment until now. It would be interesting to see if shredding up phyllo dough would work in a pinch. I would definitely try it. Let me know if you do and if it works well!
At the moment, I am running phyllo dough through the fine cutters on the Atlas pasta machine to see if I can make it work, since I can't find the product. Nothing like waiting until Easter morning to give it a shot, huh. I don't know if it is working correctly, because I'm not sure what is should look like. I will say, I can only run 2 sheets at a time. I will let you know how it works out.
These are soooo cute! I made cupcakes that are similar! Happy Easter! themasterchefette.blogspot.com
Hi,
I could not find the shredded phyllo only the whole phyllo sheets. I am curious to know like Deanna if cutting the sheets up/shredding them would work for the bird nests as well. I am making a speckled malted coconut cake for easter and it calls for phyllo dough not the shredded phyllo for the bird's nests. Should I try cutting them before or after they are baked? Trying to figure out which would be easiest/better. Thanks in advance for your help and your recipes.
A long time ago I made these birds nest but I believe I poured a syrup like the one that goes over Baklava then put it in the oven..Do you remember ever trying the nests this way?
So excited about making these. The Italian Market didn't have the shredded pastry but the Middle Eastern store carried it. Can't wait until Easter.