Chocolate Pretzel Easter Bird Nests

Round plate with Chocolate Pretzel Easter Nests, topped with mini eggs, with some mini eggs scattered around.

For Easter inspiration, try these Chocolate Pretzel Easter Bird Nests. They are simple and so delicious. A combination of salty-sweet - chocolate dipped pieces of pretzels are roughly shaped into bird nest shapes and then filled with colourful eggs.

Course Afternoon Tea, Dessert, Morning Tea, Snack

Cuisine International

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 5

Setting Time 20

Total Time 55

Servings nests

Calories 90kcal

Author Alexandra Cook - It's Not Complicated Recipes

Ingredients

For the Easter Nests:

200 g (7 ounces) dark chocolate See Note 1
80 g (3 ounces) pretzel sticks
1 tablespoon oil or oil spray - optional See Note 2

For Decorating:

mini eggs or candy of your choice See Note 3

Instructions

Brush or spray 2 patty pan tins with oil. See Note 2.
Break or chop the dark chocolate into even size pieces. Put into a bowl and place over a pan of barely simmering water, being careful to not get any water into the chocolate. Stir occasionally.
When the chocolate has almost melted, remove the bowl and set it aside. The residual heat will melt any remaining chocolate.
Alternatively, you may prefer to use a microwave.
Break pretzel sticks into short lengths - about 2 cm (¾ inch).
Add the broken pretzel sticks to the chocolate and stir well to combine.
Place about 2 teaspoons of the mixture into the patty pan cups or onto a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper.
Use the tip of the teaspoons to shape the nests.
Place the tray in the refrigerator until the chocolate has set.
When the chocolate has set, store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. If the weather is warm, store the container in the refrigerator.
For serving, place the nests on a pretty platter and add the Easter eggs or candy of your choice.

Notes

Chocolate: I have used dark chocolate that contains 70% cocoa solids. However, you could also use milk or white. We recommend a good quality cooking chocolate.
Patty pan trays: are ideal for shaping the nests. The trays have rounded bottoms and I prepare them by brushing or spraying with a little oil. This amount of mixture makes about 18 nests so you will not need to oil all the cups. However, the patty pans are not essential. You can make the nests on non-stick baking paper. Shape them using 2 teaspoons and you will get excellent results, although they will be flatter.
Mini eggs: I have chosen to use chocolate eggs with a crisp, candy coating (Cadbury Mini Eggs). However, foil covered eggs are also pretty. As well, you can use jelly-beans or Smarties.
Storage: the nests can be stored in an air tight container for two days. After this time they will soften. They can be stored in a cool location or in the fridge if your kitchen is warm.
Nutritional information: please note, the nutritional information is based on one chocolate nest. It does not include what candy the nest is filled with. The nutritional information is an estimate only.

Nutrition