I was looking for an Easter cookie that tasted as good as it looked, and most nest cookies I had tried were all decoration, no flavor. Then I landed on this combination: cream cheese in the dough and a solid hit of almond extract. The cream cheese makes these cookies ridiculously soft. Not cakey, not crispy, just tender all the way through. And the almond extract pairs with the coconut in a way that actually makes you want to eat the nest, not just admire it.
Shape them before baking, press a thumbprint in the center, and drop Almond M&Ms in right when they come out of the oven. The warm surface holds the candies in place. Kids love building these, and they hold up well on a plate for hours without going stale.
How to Make Almond M&M Easter Nests
Mix the dough
Whisk together 2 cups (240 g) flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. In a separate bowl, cream 3/4 cup (180 g) softened butter with 225 g (8 oz) softened cream cheese until smooth. 
Beat in 1 cup (200 g) sugar and 3/4 teaspoon almond extract until light and fluffy. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients, then fold in 1 cup (75 g) sweetened shredded coconut.
Shape and bake
Drop tablespoon-sized scoops onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 5 cm (2 inches) apart. Press a small indent in the center of each one with your thumb or the back of a spoon.
Bake at 175C (350F) for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges turn lightly golden.
Add the candy eggs
Press a few Almond M&Ms into the center of each cookie right out of the oven while they are still warm. Let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack.
Almond M&M Easter Nests
- Total Time: 72 minutes
- Yield: 20 cookies 1x
Description
These delightful Almond M&M Easter Nests feature a creamy coconut and almond-flavored cookie base, topped with colorful Almond M&Ms, perfect for celebrating Easter or any spring occasion.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp (15ml) baking powder
- 1/4 tsp (1ml) salt
- 3/4 cup (180g) butter, softened
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 3/4 tsp (3ml) almond extract
- 1 cup (75g) sweetened shredded coconut
- 2 1/2 cups (400g) Almond M&Ms
- Food coloring (optional, for dyeing coconut)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, use a stand or handheld mixer to cream the softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy.
- Add the granulated sugar and almond extract to the butter mixture, beating until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined.
- Stir in 1 cup of the shredded coconut until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Use your thumb or the back of a spoon to create a small indent in the center of each cookie to form a nest shape.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and immediately press a few Almond M&Ms into the center of each cookie.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- If desired, dye the remaining coconut with food coloring and sprinkle over the cookies to resemble grass in the nests.
Notes
These cookies are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. If Almond M&Ms are unavailable, regular M&Ms or another nutty candy can be used as a substitute. For a festive touch, dye the coconut with food coloring to resemble grass in the nests.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular M&Ms instead of Almond M&Ms?
Yes, any variety works. Peanut butter or mini M&Ms are both good substitutes. The almond ones hold their shape best in the warm cookie, but regular M&Ms will set fine once cooled.
Why is the cream cheese important in the dough?
It changes the texture completely. Cream cheese cookies stay soft for days instead of turning dry and crumbly overnight. It also gives a subtle tang that balances the sweetness of the coconut and candy.
How should I store these cookies?
Layer them between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh for up to 5 days. Do not refrigerate them or the cookies will firm up and lose their soft texture.
Why no egg? Mine are crumbling.
The cream cheese is doing the job that eggs usually do. It adds enough fat, moisture, and protein to hold the dough together and keep the cookies soft — eggs would actually push these toward cakey rather than tender.
If yours are crumbling, the most likely culprit is the butter or cream cheese not being fully softened before creaming. If either goes in too cold, the mixture doesn’t emulsify properly and the dough can’t hold together once baked. They should both be at room temperature, soft enough to leave an indent when pressed.
A few other things to check: make sure you’re not over-measuring the flour (spoon it into the cup rather than scooping), and let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for the full 5 minutes before moving them. They firm up as they cool, and transferring them too early is an easy way to lose a few.
These are delicious! I have been making them every Easter for many years! I found my recipe in a magazine, but can’t find it this year so will definitely be trying this one, as it sounds very similar. In response to Jim’s note, I found almond M&M’s at Target this year, but the two prior years had a bit of a search to find them. Hope you find some!
Is anyone still finding the Easter pastel almonds in stores? In Boston area none of the grocery or drugstore chains have them starting last year – though M&M site suggests they still make them.
How fun! I’ll have to make these with my kids, minus the food dyes ;)
You had me at coconut! These look fun and delicious.