Easter DIY

I was up until 3 in the morning making peanut butter, coconut cream and buttercream eggs. They came out beautiful, but I am so...very...tired...

The eggs are not hard to make at all, but they are time consuming. (Especially if you're like me and think you're oh-so-smart by using white chocolate for piping, which I had to keep re-heating, because it doesn't pipe so good when it gets cold.) So plan to spend at least 3 hours or so on one flavor. If your kids are old enough they could help, if not, send them somewhere that is not your kitchen. Also, investing in some disposable vinyl gloves is not a bad idea. :)

Each recipe makes about 20-30 eggs, depending on the size you make them.

Peanut Butter Eggs

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 lbs powdered sugar
1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 and 1/2 cups peanut butter
2 bags chocolate chips

~In a large bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese.
~Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until all is mixed in. (It's easiest if you use your ultra clean hands and just squish it together...again, get some gloves!)
~Add the vanilla, salt and peanut butter and mix well. (Hands are easiest.)
~Put the dough in the freezer for about a half hour, or until firm.
~Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Shape the dough into egg shapes, cover with plastic wrap and return them to the freezer until firm.
~Melt chocolate in a double boiler (aka a glass bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water).
~Quickly dip the bottoms of the eggs and set on wax paper set on a cookie sheet. Use a metal spatula or knife to spread chocolate over the tops and sides of the eggs.
~Put eggs in fridge until chocolate is set. Carefully pull the hard eggs off the wax paper. Put each egg in a paper baking cup.
~Pipe names on top if desired.

Coconut Cream Eggs

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 lbs powdered sugar
1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (14 ounce) bag shredded coconut
2 bags chocolate chips

~Cream butter and cream cheese in a large bowl.
~Add in powdered sugar.
~Mix in vanilla and salt.
~Mix in coconut.
~Follow remaining instructions as above.

Buttercream Eggs

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 lbs powdered sugar
1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
pinch of salt
2 bags chocolate chips

~Same as coconut cream instructions, minus the coconut.