Happy Friday! I'm leaving you this weekend with Easter Nest Sugar Cookies - a fun little project you can do with your kids, or your friends' kids, or just your friends. (I have a wide demographic of readers, so you know where you fit in.) 😉
The other day I baked up the miniature soft frosted sugar cookies and decorated them into Easter egg nests. They turned out pretty cute if I say so myself!
The only change I had to make in the original recipe was to thicken the icing up (just by adding more powdered sugar) so that it was at a better piping consistency and not so runny. This way, I could use the star icing tip to create the grass.
Another tip? If you want to be more cost-effective with these, use the jelly eggs found at Walmart (pictured above) for only $1.00 instead of the chocolate eggs (pictured below) that are close to $3.00 (or more than $3.00 at Target). The batch makes a large amount of cookies, and I ran out of the chocolate eggs. When I made a quick run to Walmart, I discovered the cheaper jelly eggs and found they were just as adorable!
Living in a tightly knit neighborhood with a GAH-zillion kids is fun for me right now. These kids are perfect for sharing fun projects like this.
They love their cookies! I may or may not be bribing them for the title of favorite mom on the block. 😉 I also brought some to the child care workers at my gym. Yep, I might also be the favorite gym mom, too...
I can never end a photo shoot without taking a big bite!
Recipe Card
Easter Nest Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
For the cookie dough:
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 4 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 5 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the frosting:
- 6 cups powdered sugar more or less to reach desired consistency
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 7 tablespoon milk more or less as needed
- green food coloring
For decorating:
- jelly beans or chocolate eggs
Instructions
For the cookies:
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients just until incorporated and evenly mixed. Cover and chill the dough for 1 hour.
- When ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone liner. Scoop a tablespoon of dough (about ¾-ounce) and roll into a ball then place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, spacing cookies 2 inches apart. Using your fingers, slightly press the top of each cookie. Bake for 8-10 minutes, rotating cookie sheets halfway through baking. It is important not to over bake. The edges should not even be brown. Let cool for at least 10 minutes on the baking sheet, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the frosting:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, melted butter, vanilla and milk until smooth. You will want a thick consistency that holds a star piping. Whisk in additional milk, one teaspoon at a time, to reach desired consistency. Tint with food coloring.
- Use a piping bag with star tip to make the grass. Top with eggs. Store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
Clare says
I loved the cookies especially because I love Cadbury chocolate eggs so this was a perfect treat
Clare says
I am going to make these for Easter. Gave up sweats for Lent so I’m exited to eat these on Easter they will taste so much better because I. Haven’t eaten sweats in forever
Ann White says
Can I bake these cookies and freeze them before decorating?
Nikki Gladd says
Yes, you can!
Logan says
Just made these for Easter, so good!! I’ve tried many sugar cookie and icing recipes and I was pleasantly surprised at how good these are since they are also so easy! Very fluffy but not overly soft. Also so cute. Just great, thank you!!
Nikki Gladd says
I’m so glad you loved them, Logan! Thank you for the feedback and happy Easter!
Ruth Currie says
Could I use Buttercream icing for these cookies?
Nikki Gladd says
Yes 🙂
Amanda says
How could I do this recipe for just 12 cookies?
Nikki Gladd says
Hi Amanda,
Halve the recipe and make them a little bigger -- bake 10 minutes. It will still probably turn out more than 12 cookies, but definitely much less than the original 5 dozen. 🙂
Larissa says
Can you tell me how much sugar should be in the recipe. It's not in the ingredient list.
Nikki Gladd says
Wow, Larissa! I'm not sure how the sugar disappeared, but I updated it and it's back! Sorry about that, and thanks for letting me know!
Missy says
I have been making these for a few years and everyone LOVES them! Thank you for sharing!
Nikki Gladd says
Thanks, Missy! They're such a fun Easter tradition!
Michelle says
Can anyone recommend what size star tip they used
SandyStewart says
Where can I get the piping star shaped bag?
Nikki Gladd says
Hi Sandy, The bag itself isn't star tipped. Use a plastic piping bag with a Wilton star tip piece (I believe I use Wilton Star #21). You can find it on Amazon, Walmart, Michael's, Joann's, maybe Target... Here's an example: https://amzn.to/2Iv9qSc
Vicki says
I made these tonight- so cute! I ended up using a different tip , Wilton#233, so the frosting was like strings of grass- quick too! Thanks for sharing!
Rachel @ Following In My Shoes says
These are gorgeous too! I wish I'd come across this earlier today .... I would have DEFINITELY made these!
Danae says
Made these today, but haven't made the frosting yet. I tested one and it tasted really good! Can't wait to get the frosting and eggs on there!!!
Kristine says
What a cute idea! I've been wanting to make more soft frosted sugar cookies, and this might just be the perfect excuse to do that!
Sharon says
These are gorgeous! My family are visiting over Easter and I've been looking for an Easter treat without chocolate as my sister has given it up for Lent. These are perfect and the children will love them!
Sweetsugarbelle says
You know I love these!!!
Laura says
Adorable! I like the bolder colors of the jelly bean eggs, and you can't beat $1.
Jessica @ Sunny Side Up says
So cute! I made cupcakes like this once but the frosting I used was way to soft and my grass started to slide off the cupcake. Haha. I love the idea of using cookies instead!!
Robyn says
this just moved to the top of my easter baking list! my nieces and nephews are going to love these!
Cookbook Queen says
I love how easy and adorable these are!!