Super Simple Easter Nest Cake Pops - No Bake!

This is my take on the classic Easter treat which I'm sure we all made as kids and still do with our kids. Bringing it right up-to-date as a 'cake pop', I've experimented with different methods and think I've cracked the simplest way to get beautiful results.  So easy even the littlies can make them.  Ruby adored making these with me - and not just because she got to lick the bowl!

The secret to getting the lolly sticks in without too much faffing and waiting, it turns out is simple...

Make them upside down!

Ingredients:

100g good quality dark chocolate
100g All Bran cereal or try Krispies or Cornflakes
Large pack of Mini Eggs (I found it was cheaper to buy them from the pick and mix section at the supermarket)

You will also need a mini muffin tin, mini/petit four cake cases and cake pop/lolly sticks (I happily found sets of sticks with wrappers and ties in the party section of my local pound store).

Begin by placing one or two Mini Eggs at the bottom of your cake case.

Melt your chocolate in a bowl over a pan of water.  Once melted reserve a tablespoon or so in a separate bowl or cup.

Stir in your bran cereal until it's completely coated in chocolate.  I sometimes like to add a spoonful of crunchy peanut butter which gives a delicious nutty taste, but be careful of allergies if you're serving these at parties.

Spoon on top of your eggs inside the mini cake cases.  Firm down as you go.

Now coat the tip of a lolly stick generously with the reserved chocolate and ease into the centre of the 'nest'. You may need to push some of the chocolatey bran up around the stick to hold it in place.  It's a simple operation, just be gentle not to knock the sticks over until the chocolate has hardened.

Leave to set (ideally pop the cake tray in the fridge).  As the chocolate sets it will hold the stick firm.

Once cooled and set, gently lift each case out of the tin, peel off the case and hey presto, you have a beautiful chocolate nest with eggs - on a stick! Wrap in cellophane wrappers with a pretty pastel ribbon to give instead of Easter eggs. Or if serving at home, display in a painted jam jar filled with more Mini Eggs.

Linking up with Fun Food Friday.