This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SweeterPascua #CollectiveBias. This easy recipe for Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins and Chocolate Nests makes for an extra-special breakfast item on Easter morning. They’re beautiful and inspired by the wonder of Spring.
Do you enjoy a good snuggle with your kids? What spring-inspired creatures remind you the most of motherhood? Somehow, nesting birds always make me think of the unique role I have as a mom. I have my two little ones safely tucked under my wings.
Inspired by Spring
Have you ever found something exquisite and been inspired to create something? I found these beautiful birds at my local hobby store and knew I had to use them to create something special for Easter. As far back as I can remember, my mom always made Easter a special time of the year. She made sure my sisters and I each had a new Easter dress and shoes. She would brush our hair and make us all look our Easter-Sunday best.
Dressing up for Easter is a tradition started by my grandmother, Alida, from Puerto Rico. My grandmother always dressed with such dignity. I think she preferred dresses over any other type of clothing. I always admired that about her. So when I think of Easter, the image of a beautiful nesting bird (like my grandmother and mom surrounding my sisters and I with their wings) is a perfect fit for all things Spring and all things Easter.
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins and Chocolate Nests
For the Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins and Chocolate Nests you see featured in these photographs, I’ve combined some of my favorite flavors – Lemon Poppy Seed and Chocolate. I’ve also used some M&M’s® Eggs to embellish the chocolate nests and some M&M’s® Easter Sundae flavor candies to decorate the bird cage and cake plate.
Ingredients for Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins and Chocolate Nests
These lemon poppy seed muffins are light and airy. They have a sweet taste with a slight tanginess from the lemon. The chocolate nests are made from Chinese noodles covered in chocolate flavored candy melt. If you prefer your Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins without the chocolate on top, just remove the nests before eating the muffins. Of course, I think it will be hard to pass on theM&M’s® candies resting inside the nests. They start with a crunch and finish with the savory flavor of chocolate or “Easter Sundae”.
- 3 Cups of All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Tbsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 2 Tbsp Poppy Seeds
- 1 ¼ sticks unsalted Butter, softened
- 1 Cup white granulated Sugar
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 Cup Low-Fat Yogurt
- 1/2 Cup Whole Milk
- 2 Tbsp+ fresh Lemon Juice
Toppings for Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins and Chocolate Nests
You can use any combination of these candies to create beautiful chocolate nests inspired by spring.
- 2 Containers of Chinese Noodles
- 1 Bag of Chocolate Flavored Candy Melt
- M&M’s® Easter Sundae flavor (This flavor is exclusive at Walmart for a limited time)
- M&M’s® Eggs
- DOVE® Chocolate Eggs
- Starburst® Jellybeans
- M&M’s® varieties that have Easter colors
Bird Stand Tip
To create the clear plastic “stand” for the clip-on birds, I simply cut a strip from a clear plastic drinking cup and made one end slightly pointed. I bent the wide flat end down a bit to create a table for the bird clip to be attached.
Directions for Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins and Chocolate Nests
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins and Chocolate Nests are very easy to make. They create a wonderful spring-inspired centerpiece for your next spring brunch or Easter gathering. I hope this Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins and Chocolate Nests inspires you!
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and line the muffin tins. I used a gold colored cupcake liner for these muffins.
Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients (not the sugar). Mix together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.
Step 3: Cream the butter and sugar. Creaming the butter and sugar starts by first whipping the butter and then adding the sugar slowly so that everything is light and fluffy and fully integrated. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl as needed to ensure an even distribution. A Kitchen Aid mixer is perfect for t he task of creaming butter.
Step 4: Add the eggs and lemon. Add the eggs in one at a time, then the lemon juice.
Step 5: Mix the milk and yogurt. In a separate bowl mix together the milk and yogurt.
Step 6: Add the mixed flour and yogurt mixes to the mixing bowl. To add the wet ingredients and dry ingredients, you’ll want to alternate. Add a 1/2 cup of each to the mixing bowl at a time alternating between wet and dry as you go.
Step 7: Pour the mix. Once everything is throughly combined, pour the Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin mix into the lined cupcake pan. Each muffin will be approximately 2-3 Tablespoon worth of mix. This recipe made about 15 muffins. Mine were piled high with ample muffin tops.
Step 8: Bake the muffins. Ovens will vary. Set the timer for 20 minutes and check to see when these muffins are done by inserting a toothpick into the center of one of the muffins. If it comes out clean your muffins are done. Standard bake time for these is 20 to 25 minutes. Let muffins cool for 10 minutes.
Step 9: Create the nest toppings. Melt the chocolate flavored candy melt in a double boiler and keep it on warm. Keep an eye so as not to run out of water in your double burner and to be sure you do not scorch the chocolate. Add the Chinese noodles and mix them in throughly. Use two forks to add the Chinese noodle and chocolate mixture to the top of the cupcakes. Pipe on a trim of chocolate frosting, if needed, to finish out the nest. I created two flavors for our chocolate nests – milk chocolate and dark chocolate.
Pascua, a special week following Easter, celebrated by Latin Americans, begins the second week of Easter and carries with it a brighter tone, reflecting the resurrection, the start of Spring, and the promise of new beginnings. Easter morning is a special time at our house, and I couldn’t think of a better way to start the day than with some very special Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins and Chocolate Nests.
Where to find M&M’s® Eggs and M&M’s® Easter Sundae flavor Candies
I picked up the most colorful ingredients, M&M’s® candies for my Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins and Chocolate Nests at Walmart. It’s a convenient place to shop for all things baking and chocolate!
By the way, there is a bundle coupon savings that can be found on Walmart.com. Follow this link: $1 coupon available for M&M’s® , Dove® or Starburst®. Click here to Save $1 on M&M’s®.
How do you celebrate Spring?
Do you have any special spring-inspired recipes you’d like to share? Are there any special symbols of spring that make you want to bake and decorate? Does your family have any special Pascua traditions? Please leave a comment below and join the conversation. I love hearing from my readers.
Blog / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter /Google + / Bloglovin’/ Instagram
P.S. – I blog to encourage moms, offer free preschool tools, and share ideas for family fun. If you enjoy free recipes, printables, crafts and games for little ones, ideas for family fun and encouraging posts for moms, sign up and have Happy and Blessed Home delivered to your inbox. Simply enter your e-mail address here:
This recipe is adapted from another recipe: http://kosheronabudget.com/koab-recipe-exchange-muffins-lemon-poppyseed-muffins/
Thanks for being a fan! Do you have a board for delicious food recipes, or desserts Pinterest? Help spread the word and PIN this post on Pinterest!
