Coconut macaroon nests

This is probably the easiest and most fun dessert to make! And, it only requires very few ingredients, so how great is that? 

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These coconut macaroon nests can be made all year round but I like to make them around Easter so I can use those tiny Cadbury chocolate eggs as decorations! The nests are perfect for family gatherings and/ or activities. Grownups and kids alike just love preparing them as much as they enjoy eating them! 

The macaroon nests are crunchy with a chewy center, and the coconut pairs perfectly with the chocolate ganache in the middle. Coconut and chocolate are among the best food pairings there are! Alone they are great but together? They are just awesome! 

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Coconut macaroon nests

Makes 12 nests

INGREDIENTS

Crust

  • 2 cups of shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Ganache

  • 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 1/2 cup of heavy cream
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Optional

  • Mini Cadbury chocolate eggs

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease the muffin tin cups.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk together egg whites, sugar, vanilla and salt until the mixture is frothy or foamy, 2 minutes.
  4. Add the coconut to the egg white mixture and mix until the coconut is evenly moistened. 
  5. Drop 2 tbsp of the mixture into each prepared liners or into each muffin tin cups.
  6. Delicately press the mixture down and up the sides of each cups, so it looks like a nest.
  7. Bake until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.
  8. Let the coconut nests cool in the tin for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. While the nests are cooling, prepare the ganache.
  10. In a microwave safe bowl, add the semisweet chocolate and the cream and heat for 1 minute. 
  11. Whisk together until completely combined.
  12. Add the salt and whisk.
  13. If there a still a few chunks of chocolate left, heat for 30 seconds. Then, whisk some more until smooth.
  14. Once the nests are completely cool, fill each of them with the ganache. 
  15. Decorate each coconut nest with a few chocolate eggs.

And voilà! The cutest little coconut nests ever! 

Variations

Instead of the ganache, you can also save time and use Nutella but personally, I find Nutella a bit too sweet. If you are not a fan of the chocolate ganache, you can just serve the coconut nests with only the chocolate eggs inside. Or, replace the ganache with jam!

Enjoy and have a very happy Easter!

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