I think, and I don't want to jinx it, but I think Spring is finally here! I couldn't be happier about it; Winter was really getting me down. But the birds are singing, the temperature is rising, and I even saw some buds on the trees! I wanted to welcome Spring with open arms, this year, so I decided to throw a Springtime Tea Party! I found the new M&M's® Carrot Cake while shopping at Walmart the other day, and that is when this party idea formed itself in my mind. I couldn't resist the idea of a beautiful, antique, and delicious Spring Tea, so I got to work.
I spent the next few days gathering the antiques my sister and I have (we each have a silver tea set, so it was perfect) and purchasing a few new ones; like those beautiful rose colored glasses and gloves. I made "egg shell starters" and set them in little egg cups as the party favors; that way our guests could get Springtime "growing" in their own home, too. I served finger sandwiches and a baked brie pastry, with bowls of M&M's® at each end of the table for snaking. But the pièce de résistance was the dessert...
Carrot Bundt Cakes with a Toasted Coconut Nest filled with M&M's® Carrot Cake as the eggs.
So delicious and so adorable! Here's how I made them...
I used THIS recipe for the carrot cake, substituting the oil for melted butter. It's the perfect recipe, moist and light and I had no trouble making the mini bundt shapes. Then I stuck them in the freezer while I worked on the nests.
Ingredients-
1 lb Coconut1/2 cup Butter
2 tsp Vanilla
1 bag of M&M's® Carrot Cake
Directions-
Spread the coconut on a cookie sheet and place in the oven at 350 for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. While the coconut is toasting, melt the butter in a sauce pan on low. Once the coconut has started to brown, remove it; then add the vanilla and coconut to the melted butter and stir together. When it's cool enough to touch, spoon the mixture like cookie dough onto the cookie sheet, then bake in the oven for 5 minutes. When the nests start to thicken, remove from the oven and use a spoon to press them down and make the nest shape then place back in the oven for another 5 minutes or less.When the nests have cooled enough to not melt the M&M's® Carrot Cake but are still warm enough to manipulate, place a couple of the M&M's® Carrot Cake in the center and press down so they stick.
Remove your cakes from the freezer and cover with powdered sugar or frosting. Then place the finished nests on top and serve.
Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but the food at this party was amazing! I was so proud of my hard work. The Carrot Cakes turned out exactly like I wanted them to, and everyone loved them! The party was a success, and it was all thanks to M&M's® Carrot Cake.
How are you welcoming Spring? Have you tried the new M&M's® Carrot Cake?
