Bird's Nest Cookies with M&M's Peanut Butter Eggs

I don't usually make festive desserts for upcoming holidays, but since I was out shopping and saw so much colorful Easter candy, I decided to give it a try.

I picked up a package of M&M's Peanut Butter Eggs from the store, and made the Bird's Nest Cookies recipe that was featured on the back of the package.

Although I couldn't fit nearly as many eggs onto each cookie as in the photo on the bag, the kids still thought they were a cute treat!

Bird's Nest Cookies with M&M's Peanut Butter Eggs (recipe credit M&M's)

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of M&M's Peanut Butter Eggs
• 1 c (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1/2 c sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 t vanilla extract
• 2 c flour
• 3/4 t salt
• 1 1/3 c flaked coconut

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  
• Spread coconut on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and toast in oven for approximately 12 minutes, until golden brown (be sure to stir occasionally and check often to prevent burning).
• Set toasted coconut aside.
• Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, combine butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Beat in egg and vanilla.
• In a medium bowl, mix together flour and salt.  Blend into creamed mixture.
• Roll dough into 1 1/4 inch balls and roll in toasted coconut.
• Place dough on prepared cookie sheets.  In the center of each cookie, make an indentation with your thumb.
• Bake 12-14 minutes.
• Cool completely, then fill indentations with M&M's Peanut Butter Eggs.