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Making these Toasted Coconut Chocolate Nests was a total inspiration in a moment of desperation. Am I the only one who does that? I hope not. I needed a big batch of something that would sell well at a bake sale.
These nests are very reminiscent of the chocolate version of Russel Stover’s Coconut Nests. Luckily it turns out that homemade Toasted Coconut Chocolate Nests do sell well at bake sales. WHEW!
Circus Circus
Our school hosts a yearly circus and it’s always the sixth’s grade job to hold a bake sale as part of the concessions. I knew I had a bake sale coming up even before my kids mentioned it to me. It just snuck up on me, along with Alaskan Spring Break, which happens the first week of March. When they asked what “we” were taking to the bake sale I drew a blank. And by blank I mean completely empty slate, I couldn’t envision beyond cookies.
When I stopped to grab ingredients I suddenly decided to make these easy little nests. Sort of the like these DIY Coconut Granola Nests from last year but just very simple. Toasted oats, toasted coconut, chocolate, and jelly beans and that’s it. They turned out so well I made them again for Palmer Food Swap. Twice in one week means this recipe is a keeper.
I made them with semisweet chocolate the first time around and they worked perfectly. When I made them for Palmer Food Swap I changed it up and made them with milk chocolate instead. Each time they worked perfectly.
The moral of the story is feel free to use whatever kind of chocolate you have on hand, light or dark or mix them together. I didn’t mention white chocolate because I didn’t use it but hey try it and let me know how it goes!
Toasted Coconut Chocolate Nests
Ingredients
- 3 cups dried coconut also called desiccated coconut, I buy this in the bulk foods area
- 3 cups quick cooking oats
- 24 ounces semi sweet chocolate milk will work fine too
- jelly beans
Instructions
- preheat oven to 300˚
- line two baking sheets with waxed paper or silpats and set aside
- mix the coconut and oatmeal together and spread on the prepared pans
- toast the coconut and oats together for 5-8 minutes in the preheated oven,keep an eye on them you don't want them to burn just toast lightly, once toasted set aside
- set up a double boiler for melting chocolate or use a large dutch oven and heat proof bowl
- when it’s warm melt the chocolate, stir in the toasted oats and coconut
- make nests using a scant quarter cup of the mixture or make them bigger just remember you'll get fewer nests, lay the scoops on the sheets you used for toasting
- if they don't look like nests just use a spoon to push them up into shape, they'll look better once you add the jelly beans for eggs
- while the mixture is still pliable add 2-3 jelly beans to each nest
- cool until set
- store in the fridge until ready to use
Notes
- I used a cookie scoop but feel free to use a big spoon or measuring cup
- if you make the nests bigger or smaller you’ll get different quantities
Nutrition
These are so cute, Laura! Perfect for Easter! <3 P~
Love these! Perfect for Easter! PINNED 🙂