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Bird's Nest Sugar Cookies

Bird's Nest Sugar Cookies

These Bird's Nest Sugar Cookies are the perfect treat for Easter! Homemade sugar cookies, topped off with buttercream frosting, toasted coconut and egg candies make these cookies so cute! A great activity for the kids!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 4 dozen

Equipment

  • Stand mixer with paddle attachment or hand mixer
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking Sheets
  • Wire racks

Ingredients
  

Homemade Sugar Cookies

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt

Buttercream Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Toasted Coconut and Eggs

  • 2 cups sweetened coconut
  • 1 bag bird's eggs

Instructions
 

Homemade Sugar Cookies

  • In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, beat butter and vegetable shortening.
  • Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
  • Drop in eggs and pure vanilla extract and beat until combined.
  • Add flour, baking powder and salt and beat until a dough forms.
  • Gather dough into a disk, cover with wax paper and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Once dough is chilled, roll dough out about 1/4 inch, on a floured surface. Use a circular cookie cutter and cut out dough. Place directly on a light colored baking sheet. If cookies are sticking, line with parchment paper.
  • Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes or until edges are just starting to turn brown. (For softer cookies bake 8 minutes, for crunchier cookies bake 9-10 minutes).
  • Move cookies to a wire rack and cool completely.

Buttercream Frosting

  • Use a hand mixer and beat butter until creamy.
  • Add powdered sugar, milk and pure vanilla extract. Beat until creamy.

Toasted Coconut

  • Spread out coconut on a baking sheet.
  • Place coconut under the broiler for about 5-10 minutes. Keep a close eye on it as it will burn quickly. Stir frequently, tossing coconut. Once desired color is reached, remove and let cool.

Assembly

  • Frost the sugar cookies with a thick layer of buttercream frosting.
  • Sprinkle on toasted coconut.
  • Add three bird eggs to the top.
  • Let dry.
  • Serve and enjoy!
Keyword Bird's Nest Cookies, Bird's Nest Sugar Cookies, Buttercream Frosting, Easter Cookies, Homemade, Robin Eggs, Speckled Jelly Bird Eggs, Sugar Cookies, Toasted coconut