I don’t think it is possible to be more excited to post a recipe then I am right now about these Chocolate Dipped Coconut Cream Easter Eggs!
A few weeks ago a couple of my friends were talking about how another one of our gym friends makes amazing chocolate dipped eggs at Easter time. My ears perked right up because making homemade candy is something I LOVE doing! Well, then they said her recipe has mashed potatoes in it…WHAT? I was completely intrigued and knew that I wouldn’t be able to move forward in my life until I tried making or, at the very least, tasted one of these eggs.
Joyce (the maker of the eggs) is the sweetest lady ever! I just love her and so the next time I saw her I asked about these famous eggs and wanted more details on how the mashed potato works in these candies.
She said she got the recipe from her grandmother (or maybe it was her husbands grandmother…I can’t remember) and she use to make them with her. I LOVE PASSED DOWN RECIPE STORIES like this! Seriously I absolutely love the way food connects us as humans and families. There is somethings so special about preparing a recipe that you know has been in your family for years or making a recipe that was given to you by a special friend…anyone else feel this strongly about special recipes?
A week or so later, Joyce found me before spin class and gave me a little bag of eggs and the copied recipes! HAND WRITTEN COPIED RECIPES!!!! #treasures
This is Joyce and I before spin class yesterday! She is such a bright spot at the gym. I just love her.
I couldn’t even wait until I got home to try them. There were three eggs in the bag. One of each of the flavors that she makes. Buttercream, Coconut and Peanut Butter! I was blown away! The texture of each egg was amazing and the flavor was perfection! I ran up to find Joyce and right when she saw my face she knew I had tasted them! All she could say with a big smile on her face was, “I’m sorry,” because she knew I was already addicted and obsessed with them!
Well, I am not sorry. That night after kids were asleep I made a batch of the coconut. THEY ARE AMAZING and that is why I am posting them first.
The next day I made peanut butter and decided to try something different and created a center that taste like Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough! It might be one of the best recipes I’ve ever created and I can’t wait to get it typed up and share it with you too!
Since then I have made two more batches, one cookie dough and one coconut….keep in mind she only gave me the recipe 5 days ago 🙂 . Guys! These are so fun to make and sooo delicious! They’re perfect for little gifts for friends, teachers, or basically anyone who likes candy!
The other great thing is the recipe is so simple, the hardest part is forming the eggs into oval/egg shapes and dipping them in the chocolate…and personally I think that is fun! These would be a super fun project to make with your kids over spring break.
When Joyce gave me the recipe she told me that she gets her chocolate melts for dipping at a specialty sweets store in our area. I usually just use almond bark or melt chocolate chips for things like this, but I decided to go get some of the chocolate she told me about. I am so glad I did. It is amazing! The brand is called Merckens and I strongly suggest the dark melts (even if you don’t think you like dark chocolate) they are a very mild dark chocolate and the center is so sweet that it is the perfect compliment. Seriously, soooo good! I just looked it up and you can actually order them on Amazon and that price isn’t bad. I paid $6.00 a pound at the specialty place.
The other thing I got at the specialty shop were cute foils to wrap them in, like Joyce does. Here are some I found on Amazon. The ones I bought were $5.00 for 125 wrappers.
I am so grateful to Joyce for sharing this recipe with me! I will treasure it and make sure it keeps getting passed on to candy lovers who will cherish it!
Part of what makes this recipe so special is that it uses a small amount of mashed potatoes to add starch to the center filling which gives it a unique texture. I had no idea what to expect when I first bit into the eggs she gave me, but I was stunned at how perfect the texture was! You’ll have to tell me if you feel the same way after you taste them!
I was worried that the potato step would be hard or tricky, but it couldn’t be more simple. Basically all you do is peel and dice up a russet potato (it needs to be a russet), boil it for about 20 minutes or until the pieces are completely tender. drain it really well. mash it with a fork until all lumps are out, and let it cool most of the way. That’s it. It’s ready to add to the softened butter.
I couldn’t be more excited for you to try this recipe! I hope have as much fun making them and eating them as I have!
More Awesome Homemade Candy Recipes
- ½ cup mashed Russet Potato (nothing added to it, just the potato) Don't use leftover potatoes, make it fresh before you start the recipe.
- ½ cup softened butter
- ½ tsp coconut extract
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 lbs powdered sugar
- 1½ cups shredded coconut
- Chocolate for dipping 12-16 ounces. I use the Dark Merckens Coating Melts (I recommend a dark chocolate for the coating because the center is very sweet, but you can use whatever you want.)
- For the mashed potato, peel and dice a medium sized potato, boil for 20 minutes, drain and mash. Measure out ½ cup and let it cool until just a little warm.
- In a medium sized bowl, combine softened butter and barely warm mashed potatoes (it is okay if they are cooled to room temperature, but you don't want them cold. Mix thoroughly.
- Add coconut and vanilla extracts and mix thoroughly again.
- Start adding powdered sugar, add 2-3 cups at a time and mix well.
- Before adding the last 2 cups of powdered sugar mix the shredded coconut in.
- Add the last of the powdered sugar and mix and knead until everything comes together.
- Using a cookie scoop or tbsp, scoop out coconut mixture and form into an egg shape (see picture in step by step collage)
- Place each formed egg on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper.
- Once you have all of the eggs formed melt the chocolate you have chosen to use. Do so by placing it in a microwave safe glass dish and heating it in 30 second intervals until it is melted and smooth.
- Dip coconut centers in the chocolate, I find it easiest to use a for so you can tap it on the side and excess chocolate can drip off. You can experiment with what works best for you. I also like to keep a toothpick or plastic knife close to help slide the chocolate off the fork.
- Once all are dipped and the chocolate has set up, you can use the last bit of your dipping chocolate to drizzle across the finished eggs. You do this by dipping the end of a spoon in the chocolate and swinging it back and forth over the eggs.
I can’t wait to try these! Did you post recipes for peanut butter and cream eggs?
There is a recipe for coconut cream eggs. To make regular butter cream eggs do that recipe omitting the coconut and coconut extract and add a tsp of vanilla extract in it’s place.