Truffles, Coconuts, 'n Pecans, la la la la...

While growing up my Grandmas were famous for their beautiful Christmas cookie platters. My favorites were grandma's Bird Nest Cookies. She filled them with raspberry jam and they were a heavenly combination of shortbread, toasted nuts and jam. I switched it up a bit combining my 4 favorite things, the same shortbread nut nest, chocolate truffles, and coconut-pecan topping.

Here’s my secret combination, hope you love ‘em!

Truffled Bird Nest Cookies

Makes 16 cookies

Ingredients:

½ cup butter

¼ cup brown sugar

1-cup flour

2 cups pecans, chopped

2 egg whites, lightly beaten

8 chocolate truffles cut in half (I buy mine at Costco)

1¼ cup pecans, chopped and toasted

1-cup sugar

1-cup evaporated milk or cream

3 large egg yolks

½ cup butter, cut into pieces

1/8 tsp. salt

1 ½ cup sweetened flaked coconut

½ tsp. Vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and brown sugar in a food processor if you’ve got one, otherwise a mixer works just great. Add flour. Cut the dough into 16 equal pieces. Roll each into a ball and then dip in the beaten egg white. Then roll in crushed walnuts.. Press center with finger.

Bake in a 350-degree oven for 8 minutes. Take out of the oven and press center again. I like to use a measuring teaspoon for this hot project. Bake 10 minutes more. Take out of the oven and gently press a half of a truffle into the middle.

Return it to the warm oven for about 5 minutes to melt the truffle. With the back of a spoon smooth the truffle out to fill “your nest.” Cool and let truffles set back up while you make the Pecan-Coconut Topping.

Toast 1 ¼ cup chopped pecans in a 350-degree oven for 8-10 minutes. Oven temps vary, so keep an eye on those nuts! Combine sugar, milk or cream, egg yolks, butter, and salt over medium heat in a saucepan. Cook, stirring until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat and let it cool. It will thicken as it cools. Spoon topping over the truffle, rounding out your nest.

Drizzle with white melted chocolate...

and leave a few chocolaty surprises out for Santa!

Merry Christmas to all,