How to Make Chocolate Bird Nests

This recipe uses homemade shoestring potatoes for the sticks that make up the nests, and is naturally gluten-free. If you haven’t tasted chocolate with salted potatoes before, you’re in for a treat- they are crispy, a little salty and thoroughly delicious.

The Folding Proofer melts chocolate safely and without risk of scorching, freeing you up to prepare the rest of the ingredients. Accurate temperature control means you can leave the chocolate in the Proofer for a good hour or so — good to know if Spring fever hits and you need to take a break and frolic outside for bit! This is a great project to make for or with kids, even young children can help fill the nests with eggs. Whether it’s for a dessert table, party favours, after school treats or baby showers, these little gems are sure to bring big smiles.

Chocolate Bird Nests Recipe

Yield: Makes nine nests, each about 2″ / 5 cm in diameter

Chocolate Bird Nests – Ingredients

• 1 large Russet potato
• Safflower oil, for frying
• Salt, ¼ – ½ tsp
• Dark or Milk Chocolate – 100 g

Decorative Eggs and Chicks – Suggested Supplies

• Yogurt Raisins or Peanuts
• Jordan Almonds
• Additional chocolate for eyes
• Dried Mango for beaks

Melt the Chocolate. Set up the Proofer with the rack in place but without the tray. Set the temperature to 115F / 46C. Break the chocolate into pieces and place in a small bowl in the center of the Proofer. Add ¼ tsp vegetable oil to the chocolate and warm until melted, about 30 minutes. (The chocolate won’t scorch even after an hour at 115F). Any good quality milk or dark chocolate bar will work, we chose 70% cacao dark chocolate for our nests.

Make the Shoestring Potatoes. While the chocolate is melting, put about one inch of vegetable oil in a pan or deep fryer and heat to 375F / 190C. Wash and peel the potato, then cut into fine julienne strips about 1 inch / 2.5 cm long. When the oil is ready, fry the potato sticks until they are crisp and dark golden brown. Remove from fryer and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle lightly with salt and cool completely. (Note: If they are not cooked long enough they will be too soft to retain their shape when the warm chocolate is applied.)

Coat the Potatoes with Chocolate. Whisk or stir the melted chocolate/oil mixture until smooth and well combined. When the shoestring potatoes are completely cooled, add them to the warm chocolate and toss gently to coat.

Shape the Nests in a Muffin Pan. Lightly coat a muffin tin with vegetable oil and place enough chocolate sticks in each muffin cup to form nests. With a small spoon or clean fingers, gently coax the sticks to form a round shape with a depression in the center. To ensure that the nest will hold together, use a spatula to scrape the remaining chocolate from the bottom of the bowl and drizzle it over the nests. Allow the formed nests to rest in a cool place until the chocolate loses its sheen and sets. If necessary, they can be chilled in the refrigerator to promote a good set.

Fill the Nests. Loosen the nests from their pan by placing the pan in warm water for a few minutes. Gently remove the nests from the muffin tin and fill with your choice of edible “chicks” and “eggs”. Eggs can be made with jelly beans, yogurt-covered raisins or peanuts, or Marcona and Jordan almonds. We made our little edible chicks out of yogurt raisins with dark chocolate eyes and dried mango beaks.

Leftover shoestring potatoes make a great addition to a salad.