Easter Egg Decorating Party
Traditions for egg decorating differ from country to country and across cultures as well. Sometimes eggs are painted, dyed, and even carved! Three of my favorite techniques for decorating are below.
Dyeing eggs with Kool-Aid is a fun twist on traditionally decorating eggs. All you really need is unsweetened Kool-Aid packets, water, hard-boiled eggs, a spoon, and ball jars. For directions on how to dye your eggs with different patterns, click here.
Another favorite of mine is decorating eggs in a modern way – decoupaging or egg-oupaging if you will. The French term decoupage translates to “a cutting out” and I’ve made it modern by using fashion mags and celebrity rags. For further instructions on how to egg-oupage, click here.
Taking it to another level, mega modern, you can use crafting scraps for un-eggs-pected designs! They’re perfect as the prize egg in any fashionable egg hunt!
Un-eggs-pected sweet treats are great for hungry little (and big) egg hunters! You can make these egg-shaped treats ahead of time for your party or egg hunt. For no-bake eggs-treme marshmallow cereal treats, use Fruity Pebbles Xtreme for the bright neon colors. Egg sandwich pops, a variation on cake pops, are great for the spring as well! For directions on how to make both of these, click here.
An easy way to add color to your table is to mix and match your table décor. Start with a tablecloth (you can even use a shower curtain or window curtain with colorful patterns) and build from there! Add a centerpiece using some of the un-eggs-pected treats on sticks and plant them in a round vase of wheat grass. Layer different-colored plates on your table that compliment the colors of the tablecloth. For utensils and an added surprise for your guests, make a carrot pouch filled with jelly beans out of an orange napkin, green plastic utensils, and green pipe cleaners.
Easter Egg Decorating Party: Traditional Eggs
Dye your eggs with a Kool (Aid) Twist on the traditional way of decorating eggs! It’s a fun and easy way to utilize the bright colors Kool-Aid has to offer and it also smells great while you’re dyeing your eggs! You can also mix the different flavors in order to come up with new colors (for example: Lemonade and Berry Blue will give you a green). Tip: Lands’ End has cute monogrammed egg baskets that are perfect for an egg hunt!
All you have to do is remember 2 and 2 – two unsweetened packets of Kool-Aid (they can be the same two flavors or two different flavors if you’re mixing colors) and 2 tablespoons of water. I used wide-mouth Ball jars to mix my Kool-Aid because they have lids and are great for preventing spillage.
Place your hard-boiled egg into the jar and roll it around for even coverage. For deeper colors, submerge the eggs for longer. Quickly rinse the eggs with water to let the color set and transfer the eggs to a cooling rack with paper towels underneath.
You can create different types of patterns on the eggs with rubber bands, scrapbooking stickers, and rubber cement.
- When using rubber bands, double-wrap them over the eggs to make sure the dye doesn’t seep underneath and use varying sizes for different effects.
- You can monogram your eggs by placing scrapbooking letter stickers on a dry egg before submerging it into the Kool-Aid.
- Drizzle rubber cement onto an egg and let it dry completely (it will be slightly sticky/tacky). Submerge your egg into the Kool-Aid and after rinsing it, make sure the egg dries completely before peeling off the rubber cement. The rubber cement will give your egg an abstract design.
Tip: Make sure you let the Kool-Aid dry completely before you take off the rubber bands, scrapbooking stickers, and rubber cement.
Easter Egg Decorating Party: Un-Eggs-pected Treats
Make egg-shaped or “un-eggs-pected” treats ahead of time for your party guests to enjoy after their egg hunt! Egg sandwich pops, similar to cake pops and eggs-treme marshmallow cereal treats made out of Fruity Pebbles Xtreme are both no-bake spring-time treats and fun for the family!
Egg Sandwich Pops
Materials:
-oval-shaped butter crackers
-peanut butter
-Wilton candy melts in different colors
-lollipop sticks
-sprinkles
-wax paper
Directions:
1. Spread peanut butter over an oval-shaped butter cracker.
2. Place a lollipop stick on top of the peanut butter and sandwich it with another cracker. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for multiple sandwich pops.
3. Place them in the refrigerator to set.
4. Melt the Wilton candy melts in the microwave according to the directions on the packaging.
5. Dip your sandwich pops in the candy melts to get an even coating. Decorate with sprinkles or to your liking and set it on the wax paper to harden.
Eggs-treme Marshmallow Treats
Materials:
-11 oz. box of Fruity Pebbles Xtreme
-1 bag of regular-sized marshmallows
-1/4 cup of butter
-egg-shaped cookie cutter or plastic eggs that open and lollipop sticks
-large microwave-safe mixing bowl
-large cooking sheet
The marshmallow treats can be made two different ways, depending on your preference. If you decide to use plastic eggs to mold the treats into more of a 3-dimensional egg, you can put them on lollipop sticks and they make for a great centerpiece! You can also use an egg-shaped cookie cutter for flat cereal treats.
Directions:
1. Microwave the butter and marshmallows in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl on high for 2 minutes.
2. Stir together when melted and microwave on high for another minute.
3. Stir in the Fruity Pebbles and mix until evenly coated.
4a. For the pops, fill plastic eggs with the mixture and put them in the refrigerator to set. Once set, take them out of the shell and place a lollipop stick in the bottom of the egg.
4b. For egg treats using the cookie cutter, spread the mixture flat onto a cooking sheet. Use the cookie cutter to cut out egg shapes out of the cereal treats. Put them in the refrigerator to set.
Egg-cellent Easter Egg Decorating featured in The NY Post
I was asked to collaborate with Better Homes and Gardens to be featured in an article in The NY Post about creative ideas for egg decorating. The article will be featured in the Saturday, April 7th edition of the paper! I really enjoyed this project and hope that these ideas are fun and easy for you to enjoy with your whole family. Here are some of my egg decorating ideas that will be featured in this Saturday’s article!
Polka Dot Eggs
Use glitter dots to add an extra shimmer to ordinary eggs!
Materials:
- White or dyed eggs
- Glue dots
- Sugar Coat Glitter
* Tip – Use an egg plate to hold the glitter for easy application.
Striped Eggs
Use rubber bands to create a funky striped effect!
Materials:
- Eggs
- Rubber bands or various widths
- Basic egg dye mix by PAASor you can make your own
- For my MYO Easter Egg Dye, click here!
* Tip – Repurpose the rubber bands used to on fresh vegetables like broccoli and carrots from your local grocery store.
No Dye Eggs
Make gorgeous striped eggs using Japanese Washi Tape
Materials:
- White or dyed eggs
- Japanese Washi tape in various colors
* Tip – Allow the tape to overlap at the top and bottom of the egg
Decoupage Eggs
Let your eggs do the talking with this fun play on decoupage eggs.
Materials:
- Decoupage glue
- Colored tissue paper
- Newspaper (NY Post)
- Text/quote decorative paper
- Flat artist brush
* Tip – You can cover your egg entirely with newspaper or cover with colored tissue paper and a few text phrases. Examples are “LOL”, “TTYL” or “cul8tr”.
This is the article as it appeared in the Saturday, April 7, New York Post!
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Candy Coated Easter on The Better Show
Every year, the Easter Bunny brings baskets full of candy for everyone to enjoy but this year Mark Addison, is bringing you a candy coated Easter! Inspired by an Easter Gingerbread house, Mark is using tabletop items that everyone already owns, to create a edible Easter tabletop with sweet silverware, sugared stemware, M&M mosaic dinner plates, and much, much more! To turn your tabletop into a Candy Coated Easter, just follow the direction of Mark the Candy Man!
My Candy Coated Easter segment will be featured on The Better Show on Friday, April 6th!
Check your local listings for network and showtimes here!
For all of my Candy Coated Easter tips and recipes, click the links below!
Candy Coated Place Settings
Edible Easter Centerpieces
Candy Coated Easter Egg Cakes
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Candy Coated Place Settings
My Candy Coated Place Settings are an easy and fun way to sweeten up your next dinner party!
Start your place setting off with my candy mosaic plates. They are a lot of fun and very easy to make; plus, it’s a great opportunity go get creative with your design.
You’ll Need:
- Royal Icing
- Candies such as Reese’s Pieces, Jelly beans, etc.
- Plates
Method:
- Spread the royal icing onto your plate with about 1/4 inch thickness. This will act as the grout to hold the candies in place.
- Lay the candies onto the royal icing and press lightly to secure them.
- Let dry until royal icing is hard before using.
Tip:
Royal icing is the perfect adhesive because it is easily washed off and will not ruin your plates!
My Sweet Silverware is an easy way to sweeten up your eating utensils!
You’ll Need:
- Twizzlers Pull n Peel
- Silverware
- Royal Icing
Method:
- Dab the bottom of the silverware with a small amount of royal icing and apply a strand of the Pull n Peel. Allow the icing to dry, holding the Pull n Peel in place.
- Wrap the handle of the silverware with the Pull n Peel strand, all the way to the top and then apply another dab of royal icing to hold the Pull n Peel in place
My Sugared Stemware is the perfect way to sweeten up every sip of your drink!
You’ll Need:
- Sour Punch Sip-n-Chew straws
- Royal icing
- Stemware/Glassware
Method:
- Cut the Sour Punch Sip-n-Chew straw to the length of the stem of your stemware.
- Cut the Sip-n-Chew vertically and wrap it around the stem of your stemware
- Apply small dots of royal icing to the bowl of stemware and glassware
Tip:
Add a Sour Punch Sip-n-Chew to your glasses and your guests can sip their beverage while enjoying a sweet and sour treat!
My Candied Napkin Ring is a great way to sweeten up the napkin in your place setting!
You’ll Need:
- Sugar Sheet Paper
- Royal Icing
- Candies such as jelly beans or Reese’s Pieces
Method:
- Cut the sugar sheets into long strips. The strip should be long enough to fit around a folded napkin.
- Dab one end of the sugar sheet with royal icing and adhere it to the other end to form a circle.
- Decorate the circular sugar sheet with the candies, using the royal icing to adhere the candy to the sugar sheet.
My Candied Coasters will add a sweet touch to your place setting!
You’ll Need:
- Jolly Rancher candies
- Baking Pan
- Parchment Paper
- Cookie Cutters
Method:
- Preheat your oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit
- Smash a variety of flavors of Jolly Rancher candies into small pieces and arrange the pieces in fun and colorful designs on parchment paper.
- Bake for 7-10 minutes or until completely melted
- Immediately upon removing from oven, firmly place cookie cutters into the melted candy and let cool for 5-10 minutes
- Peel parchment paper away form the melted candy and remove excess
My Chocolate Bunny Place Cards will add some fun, edible shimmer to your place setting!
You’ll Need:
- Chocolate Bunnies
- Edible Sugar Glitter
- Wilton Edible Sugar Sheet Paper
- Wilton Edible Markers
- Royal Icing
Method:
- Roll the chocolate bunnies around in edible sugar glitter until they are nicely coated
- Cut small shapes out of the sugar sheet paper and write your guests’ name on them using edible markers.
- Attach the sugar sheet card using a dab of royal icing. You may need to secure the sugar sheet card in a few spots. Allow time to dry.
For more of my Candy Coated Easter tips and recipes, click here!
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Edible Easter Centerpieces
These edible centerpieces will add an extra sweet touch to your Easter tabletop!
This Honey Vanilla Easter House by Harry & David makes a great, edible centerpiece for your Easter tabletop and is the inspiration behind my Candy Coated Easter segment!
These adorable Sugar Cookie Candy Flowerpots are easy to create and make for a great centerpiece!
Method:
- Fill a flowerpot to the top with jelly beans, robin eggs or other candy.
- Using decorative sugar cookies that you make at home, or from one of my favorite brands, Cheryl’s Cookies, apply royal icing to the back of the cookies and place on long treat sticks.
- After the icing has dried, place the sticks into the jelly beans to create an adorable edible flower arrangement!
Candy Coated Jell-O Easter Egg Cakes
These candy coated Jell-O Easter egg cakes are the perfect treat for your guests. They not only are an adorable centerpiece, but they are also a sweet and delicious dessert that your guests will love! Click Here for the Candy Coated Easter Egg Cake Recipe!
Click Here for more sweet Easter ideas!
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Candy Coated Jell-O Easter Egg Cakes
Candy Coated Easter Eggs – Cake
Ingredients
- 1 package white cake mix
- 1/4 cup Lemon Jell-O (any flavor cam substitute)
- 1/4 cup Lime Jell-O (andy flavor can substitute)
- 1/4 cup Strawberry Jell-O (any flavor can substitute)
- Wilton Mini Egg Pan
- Royal Icing
Method
- Prepare cake batter as directed on package; divide evenly into three bowls
- Stir different flavor dry gelatin mix into each bowl
- Alternately spoon batters into each mold, adding about 2 tablespoons of each batter to each mold
- Back as directed on package for cupcakes
- Cool Completely
Candy Coated Easter Eggs – Candy Coating
Ingredients
- Egg Cakes
- Vanilla Frosting
- Wilton Candy Melts
Method
- Flatten the underside of the mini egg cakes with a knife so they lay flat. Also flatten the bottoms of the larger side of the egg cake while it is standing horizontally
- Pipe or spread icing onto the underside of an egg cake and sandwich the icing with another egg cake.
- Place in the freezer for approximately 30 minutes
- Melt the Wilton Candy Melts in a double boiler or microwave until they are smooth.
- With each chilled egg cake sandwich standing vertically, drizzle candy melts until entire surface is covered.
- Place in refrigerator until cool and candy is hardened
- Decorate with additional candy melt drizzle, sprinkles, etc. as desired
Chocolate Bird’s Nest
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds of Wilton Candy melts
- 1 can Chow Mein Noodles
Method
- Melt candy melts over low heat
- Add noodles and stir gently to cover with chocolate
- Drop chocolate covered noodles by the spoonful onto parchment paper
- Make a depression in the center of chocolate covered noodle piles
- Place in refrigerator to cool
- Place candy coated Jell-O cake eggs in chocolate bird nest and serve
Click Here for more sweet Easter ideas!
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Reinvented Easter Staple by Vosges Haut Chocolat!
Vosges Haut Chocolat on Access Hollywood
I brought Vosges Haut Chocolat along with me to my Easter Brunch segment on Access Hollywood because Vosges is my favorite chocolatier. With exotic truffles infused with spices and flavors from around the world, they take chocolate to new heights with the daring combinations they’ve created in rich Exotic, Italian and Aztec collections.
Dark Chocolate Truffle Collection
Includes 9 combinations of dark chocolate such as the Black Pearl with ginger, wasabi and black sesame seeds or the Chef Pascal with kirsch brandy ganache and a dried cherry.
Oaxaca, Chef Pascal, Absinthe, Black Pearl, Budapest, Red Fire, Tlan Nacu, Balsamico, Polline di Finocchio
(click here for ordering information)
Exotic Truffle Collection
Embark on a trip around the world with the Exotic Truffle Collection. A Vosges Haut Chocolat signature collection and best seller, truffles infused with exotic ingredients from paprika to caramel.
The 9 piece exotic truffle box includes parfums: Chef Pascal, Gianduia, Ambrosia, Absinthe, Naga, Wink of the Rabbit, Black Pearl, Budapest, Woolloomooloo.
(click here for ordering information)
Bacon & Eggs
Redefining bacon and eggs. Five dark chocolate half eggs arrive nestled in straw and are each filled with soft buttery bacon caramel. Bite, crack, ooze, salty-sweet delight.
If you haven’t tried bacon and chocolate, you are in for a real treat!
Check out the Vosges Haut Chocolat website for these and many more delights that will tickle your palate and leave you scratching your head… “I didn’t know you could mix that with chocolate…!”
Easter Wow Table
My signature “Wow” table for Easter this year celebrates the blossoming of new beginnings, and that burst of color and spirit we all so desperately need after a long, long, cold winter! This table is flowering over with fun spring hues, delectable treats, and elegant drinks.
When put together these details create a table that is brightly reminiscent of a garden, and is sure to “wow” your family and friends this Easter.
Check out all of the elements that make this table so special:
Blossoming Into Spring – Learn how to create an amazing centerpiece.
Eggs Three Ways – Three new recipes that will change your mind about what “Easter Egg” means.
Chic Easter Treat Basket – A sophisticated dessert alternative to the traditional Easter basket.
Floral Infused Drinks – Sparkling concoctions that sing Spring with every sip.
Chic Easter Treat Basket
For Dessert, I’ve created a sophisticated replacement for the standard Easter basket. This bowl is all the basket you need when adorned with edible flowers like pansies and nasturtiums. Create a nest of gourmet sweets and French treats that won’t leave room for one thought about a chocolate bunny!
Fill your “basket” with unexpected and high-fashion flavors. I went for macaroons from Laduree, classic French Easter candies, and Vosges’ flower infused truffle collection “Les Fleurs du Chocolate”. And don’t forget, even the flowers are edible.
Delicious!
Floral Drinks for Easter
In keeping with my blossom theme, I’ve created some delectable drinks that sing Spring with every sip.
The Lavender French 75
An elegant spin off a classic cocktail.
Start with a sugar cube that will beautifully bubble up from the bottom of the glass, add 1/4 lavender infused Hendrick’s Gin, and 3/4 Barefoot Bubbly champagne. Garnish with two sprigs of dried lavender for aromatic and aesthetic bliss.
The Rose Blossom
Beautiful and polished.
Add champagne to the unique flavor of Elite Naturel’s Organic Rose Sherbet, a juice that is created from rose petals. Is there anything more decadent? For added interest, I drop in a few rose petals that glint with the bubbles they catch in the champagne.
Step-by-Step: Jelly-Jeweled Place Setting
With Easter peeking around the corner, most people break out the tie-dye and color 10 eggs to show their festivity. Yes, this is fun but creative? Not so much. This year, take a stroll down Uniquely Creative Lane with a few clever ideas from my bag of tricks. Create a WOW centerpiece using Peeps and jelly beans or decorate a festive place setting that will amaze even your most festive friends… just do something that is outside of the box this year to surprise your guests. And hey, maybe you’ll even surprise yourself!
Tools:
colorful bowl
colorful dinner plate
colorful charger plate
multi-colored jelly beans
icing in piping pack (Ziploc or similar bag will work great!)
For icing:
2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3 cups (330 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the egg whites with the lemon juice. Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth. The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.
Step 1: Begin by mixing your icing and pouring into the corner of a plastic bag (Ziploc, etc.). Tear the corner of your bag to pipe the icing.
Step 2: Begin piping the icing in small pea-sized dots that are about 1/2” apart.
Step 3: This icing hardens very quickly, so make sure you place your jelly beans on in a timely manner.
Step 4: After the plate has been decorated with the jelly beans, begin piping smaller dots in the spaces left between your colorful beans.
Step 5: Continue piping the icing all the way around the plate.
Step 6: Once complete, add a colorful napkin and silverware. Begin your place setting by putting you dinner plate on top of your charger plate.
Step 7: Place your colorful bowl on top of your dinner plate.
Step 8: Have your guests enjoy eating from a festive and friendly place setting for Easter!
Step-By-Step: Peep Topiary
With Easter peeking around the corner, most people break out the tie-dye and color 10 eggs to show their festivity. Yes, this is fun but creative? Not so much. This year, take a stroll down Uniquely Creative Lane with a few clever ideas from my bag of tricks. Create a WOW centerpiece using Peeps and jelly beans or decorate a festive place setting that will amaze even your most festive friends… just do something that is outside of the box this year to surprise your guests. And hey, maybe you’ll even surprise yourself!
Peep Topiaries
Tools:
Small Square Container
Patch of Grass (Wheatgrass works well)
Small Terracotta Planter
Larger Colorful Vase
Glue Stick
6” Wooden Dowel (1/4” diameter)
Small Styrofoam Ball (White or Green Floral)
Colored Tissue Paper
Overnight Sealant (like Kwik-krete)
Toothpicks
Jelly Beans
Peeps (at least 30)
Step 1: Create your base by placing a bit of sealant inside the small terracotta planter. Using your glue stick, glue all edges of you wooden dowel. Begin spiraling your colored tissue paper down towards the base of the dowel. Once completed, place your dowel in the center your terracotta planter. Let sealant dry overnight.
Step 2: Check to see that the sealant has completely hardened overnight. Place a small bit of plastic (like a small trash bag) in the bottom of your colorful vase. This will add height to your planter.
Step 3: Place your terracotta planter inside your vase (shown).
Step 4: Fill the vase and surrounding spaces with colorful jelly beans. I’ve used Easter colors like yellow, pink and teal.
Step 5: To create your Peep topiary topper, cover your small Styrofoam ball in a sheet of your colored tissue paper (preferably a color matching your Peep selection); this will give the topiary a uniform look once the Peeps are tacked on.
Step 6: Begin tacking your Peeps onto your colored ball using toothpicks. I find it easiest to split the toothpick in half.
Step 7: Continue tacking the Peeps onto your ball until the ball has been completely surrounded with Peeps. Feel free to fill in gaps with any leftover Peeps you may have.
Step 8: You topiary should resemble the one shown above upon completion.
Step 9: Very gently push your topiary on top of your wooden dowel. The Styrofoam will give way and allow the dowel access and support.
Step 10: Using a box cutter, carefully cut out a center square from your patch of grass.
Step 11: Place your planter in the hole you’ve cut in your grass patch. Decorate with colorful Easter candies or goodies. I’ve used butterfly and flower cookies on lollipop sticks.
Step 12: Go one step further and create a WOW centerpiece by adding some home-decorated eggs!
Step 13: Enjoy your new WOW Easter centerpiece.
A "Better" Easter Party with Mark
Mark took “Better” host Audra Lowe for a stroll along an Easter-inspired table that will WOW any guest. Using “egg”-cellent inspiration, Mark created a four-person place setting complete with jelly-jeweled charger plates and topiary trees made from Peeps. Follow his four easy steps to ensure your Easter WOW table success!
