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These No Bake Coconut Caramel Nest Cookies are an adorable Easter dessert that’s super easy to make! They’re made with a mix of cornflakes, caramel and coconut!
For another festive Easter treat, try my Chocolate Easter Egg Cupcakes!
So in case you missed it last week, the hubs officially became a U.S. citizen last Wednesday. We went to the ceremony, which only lasted about an hour, but started two hours late. They did a nice job. There were 159 people from 61 countries that received their citizenship during that ceremony. They listed all the countries and it was pretty crazy to think about all the people with such different backgrounds together in one room with one thing in common – becoming U.S. citizens. It’s pretty amazing to think about what people go through to achieve that and so many of them just had their excitement all over their faces.
Since it’s an occasion we’ve been waiting for for a while, I wanted to mark the moment. We are having a celebration tomorrow and it will be all things American and red, white and blue. Think 4th of July in March. Sadly, there won’t be fireworks, since they don’t seem to sell them in stores this time of year. As it is, I had to order all the flag themed party gear online. Nothing in stores right now. It’s all bunnies and eggs (hence this recipe 🙂 ).
I went to the store last night to start getting food together and some other supplies. It’s looking like it’s going to be a pretty tasty Saturday.
I’ve got a lot left to do, despite starting the cake yesterday morning and working on some other treats last night. I won’t tell you yet what the cake is. I’m hoping to share a picture when it’s all done (be sure to check instagram). I will tell you though that I almost had the worst thing happen last night.
I was putting away the third cake layer. I had to juggle around all the cake and treats to fit them all in containers. I only have so many massive containers. I regularly consider getting more of my gigantic cake storage containers (I store more than just cake in them) but I have no idea where I’d put them. I digress…
So I put a cake layer onto it’s cardboard cake circle so that I could put it in it’s storage container and as I went to pick it up off of the counter, I must’ve grabbed it wrong because it started wobbling as I was picking it up. I felt it as it was about to fall and screamed out! The hubs came running not knowing what was going on!
The cake literally did a full flip around in the air and then landed, perfectly intact, on it’s cardboard circle. No harm, nothing wrong with it. I almost died. Then almost cried. I could not have been more relieved! I did NOT want to have to re-bake that. Phew!
And don’t worry, the hubs was fine. He’s gotten used to me screaming at cake catastrophes and near catastrophes. One of the perks of being married to a food blogger. 😉
Anywho. Crisis averted. Now back to the cookies.
You have probably noticed by now that this week has basically been Easter week on the blog. I didn’t make any grand proclamation about it, but there’s been eggs, peeps, pastel sprinkles. And now there’s a nest. A mighty tasty nest, I might add.
These cookies are a modification of the very first cookie (Soft and Chewy Caramel Clusters) I posted on this little old blog. Those are an all caramel version of this cookie. The cornflakes are also whole in that one, where in this one I broke them up a bit so they’d make a better nest. They are cookies I’ve been making for holidays since I was a kid. They are classic in my book and I love them.
This time around though, I added toasted coconut. It just makes them more “nest-y”. The cornflakes, like I mentioned, are broken up just a bit. You don’t want a bunch of crumbs, but you want them a little smaller so they can be shaped easier.
The milk, butter and caramels are all melted on the stove, then the cornflakes and coconut get mixed in – much like making rice krispie treats, but with caramel and cornflakes instead of marshmallows and rice krispies. Spoon them out onto parchment paper, shaping them so they’re rounded and pushing a little dent in the center for a little more coconut and some eggs. I used jelly beans for the eggs, but feel free to use your favorite egg shaped candy.
These babies are soft and chewy, but crunchy. Predominately caramely, but with some coconut flair. They make a super cute and fun treat for Easter, and would be great for making with kids.
Other Tasty Treats for Easter
Easter Egg Chocolate Cupcakes
Malted Easter Egg Chocolate Cheesecake
Coconut Blondie Cheesecake
Bunny Peeps in a Blanket Brownies
Pineapple Coconut Bars
Bunny Bundt Cakes for Easter
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 22-24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
These No Bake Coconut Caramel Nest Cookies are an adorable Easter dessert that’s super easy to make! They’re made with a mix of cornflakes, caramel and coconut!
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp milk
- 6 tbsp butter
- 1 11 oz bag Kraft caramels, wrappers removed
- 5 cups cornflakes, lightly broken up
- 2 1/4 cups toasted coconut
- 9 oz bag jelly beans
Instructions
Notes
With the additional coconut on top of the cookie, the jelly beans don’t really stick to the cookies. It doesn’t bother me, but is worth noting. If you want them to stick, you could melt a little additional caramel and add it underneath the jelly beans.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Piece
- Calories: 183
- Sugar: 12.5 g
- Sodium: 155.4 mg
- Fat: 1.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 28.7 g
- Protein: 1.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0.3 mg
Filed Under:
Enjoy!
What else could be used in place of the cornflakes?
Is there a particular reason for replacing them, like an allergy, or are they just not available in your area? Cornflakes are your best option, but another type of cereal could work.
Don’t get me wrong, these nest cookies look amazing. But I am ITCHING to see what you did with Ian’s citizenship cake!!! Guessing it somehow looks like an American flag when you cut into it..?? I know you can do it. Post pics, or at least text me one!!! 🙂
Oooh these are gorgeous! They remind me of honey joys (do you have those in the USA?). Such a sweet Easter treat!
I have never heard of Honey Joys, but I just googled. 🙂 They do look similar! But different flavors it seems – honey v. caramel. Fun!
These are adorable!! Perfect for Easter 🙂
You’re cake has skills! It sounds more agile than most people. Haha! And these cookies should win the cutest cookie contest. For real! They are adorable!
Darling! Darling! Darling!!!!
I am totally digging the caramel addition here! I’m pretty sure I could help you find a place to store the extra cookies…just sayin’. Also, I love the story about the somersaulting cake! I don’t think I would have ever been that lucky…instead, the dogs would have loved the result. (In fact, I sometimes wonder whether they try to trip me on purpose in the kitchen just to see what will end up on the floor…)
Your cake landed right side up back on the cake circle, what are the chances?!! Love these cookies!
Haha oh my gosh! I am so glad your cake was ok!
I unfortunately had a sriracha miss hap that did not end up so perfectly. Glad one of our fails went ok! 😉
And these cookies? SO CUTE! I love the coconut caramel combo! Pinned!
Wow. I knew your cakes were amazing, but I didn’t know they could do gymnastics! Cannot BELIEVE that cake did a full flip and survived.
Have fun with your celebration tomorrow! I hope BBQ is involved. I’m very jealous.
These are adorable. Those little nests are cuteness itself!