Mom Solves
How to Up Your Easter Game
Panoramic eggs and piñatas are just some of the crafts and activities that this mom of three uses to get her family in the holiday spirit. Here he shares her tactics for giving Peter Cottontail a run for his money.
- Written By
- Olivia Poor
- Illustration
- Courtney Kiersznowski
For a decade, I’ve been lucky enough to play Easter Bunny for seven children – my own and their cousins – during an annual trip to Sea Island, Georgia. It's a holiday, for me, that has always been so magical, both in my memories as a child, and the new ones we are making for our kids. Each year there is a reading of our favorite classic tale, "The Country Bunny and The Little Gold Shoes."
Sugar eggs were a staple in our Easter baskets as kids, and I was fascinated by the miniature scenes. One is featured in "The Country Bunny," which was also read aloud to me and my brothers. At the end of the story, the bunny is sent far away to deliver the sugar egg to a sick boy. I loved the scene and the illustrations of the bunny discovering and carrying the treat. Now my kids, niece and nephews do too!
Easter has a little bit of everything I love: flowers, warm weather, pastel colors, animals, sweets and of course, time with family. My mother was the oldest of eight children, and I am the youngest of four, and I have wonderful memories of the celebratory chaos at my grandparent’s house growing up. For the last decade, I have been able to watch my children take part in that same pandemonium with their cousins as we celebrate Easter with my husband’s family. The kitchen in the Georgia rental is always an explosion of crayons, stickers, beach toys, peeps and half-eaten chocolates. The holiday is still full of joy and excitement just as it was for me as a little girl.
It really doesn't matter what type of child you have, there's always something for them to do. I’ve got a perfectionist, an artist, and one who likes to experiment and get a little messy. They all love arts and crafts but gravitate to different projects. My oldest likes to help with finishing touches—icing cakes and adding flowers and ribbons to gifts or costumes. My middle one will spend hours on a drawing or painting, or inventing his own cartoon characters, complete with backstory. And my youngest is always happy to take part in paper mache making, or any activity that gets his hands sticky or slimy!
In the spirit of the holiday, my kids and I tried out some festive recipes and crafts to share with you.
Sugar eggs were a staple in our Easter baskets as kids, and I was fascinated by the miniature scenes. One is featured in "The Country Bunny," which was also read aloud to me and my brothers. At the end of the story, the bunny is sent far away to deliver the sugar egg to a sick boy. I loved the scene and the illustrations of the bunny discovering and carrying the treat. Now my kids, niece and nephews do too!
Easter has a little bit of everything I love: flowers, warm weather, pastel colors, animals, sweets and of course, time with family. My mother was the oldest of eight children, and I am the youngest of four, and I have wonderful memories of the celebratory chaos at my grandparent’s house growing up. For the last decade, I have been able to watch my children take part in that same pandemonium with their cousins as we celebrate Easter with my husband’s family. The kitchen in the Georgia rental is always an explosion of crayons, stickers, beach toys, peeps and half-eaten chocolates. The holiday is still full of joy and excitement just as it was for me as a little girl.
It really doesn't matter what type of child you have, there's always something for them to do. I’ve got a perfectionist, an artist, and one who likes to experiment and get a little messy. They all love arts and crafts but gravitate to different projects. My oldest likes to help with finishing touches—icing cakes and adding flowers and ribbons to gifts or costumes. My middle one will spend hours on a drawing or painting, or inventing his own cartoon characters, complete with backstory. And my youngest is always happy to take part in paper mache making, or any activity that gets his hands sticky or slimy!
In the spirit of the holiday, my kids and I tried out some festive recipes and crafts to share with you.
PANORAMIC SUGAR EASTER EGGS
These panoramic sugar Easter eggs have been a favorite of mine since I used to find them nestled in my basket each year. Making sugar eggs is deceptively simple! You probably have the ingredients on hand but will need to order a plastic egg mold online or from your local baking store. The kids can help pick out figurines and candies to make these delightful scenes.
Ingredients:
2 egg whites
7 cups granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
1. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy.
2. Add sugars to combine.
3. Tightly pack the egg mold halves with the sugar mixture, and run a knife across the mold to get a nice, even top.
4. Place a piece of cardboard or a cutting board on top of the egg molds and flip, carefully removing the molds.
5. Let the sugar-egg halves dry for approximately 6 hours. The egg should have a hard exterior but a soft middle.
6. Using a large spoon, scoop the insides of each half, leaving a 1/2-inch outer shell. Trim the ends with a sharp knife to create a hole for peeking!
7. Using Royal icing, pipe grass and flowers into the bottom of one shell. Fill with figures or candies.
8. Pipe along the edge of the bottom shell and carefully place the other shell on top.
9. Cover the seams and top with icing flowers.
These panoramic sugar Easter eggs have been a favorite of mine since I used to find them nestled in my basket each year. Making sugar eggs is deceptively simple! You probably have the ingredients on hand but will need to order a plastic egg mold online or from your local baking store. The kids can help pick out figurines and candies to make these delightful scenes.
Ingredients:
2 egg whites
7 cups granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
1. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy.
2. Add sugars to combine.
3. Tightly pack the egg mold halves with the sugar mixture, and run a knife across the mold to get a nice, even top.
4. Place a piece of cardboard or a cutting board on top of the egg molds and flip, carefully removing the molds.
5. Let the sugar-egg halves dry for approximately 6 hours. The egg should have a hard exterior but a soft middle.
6. Using a large spoon, scoop the insides of each half, leaving a 1/2-inch outer shell. Trim the ends with a sharp knife to create a hole for peeking!
7. Using Royal icing, pipe grass and flowers into the bottom of one shell. Fill with figures or candies.
8. Pipe along the edge of the bottom shell and carefully place the other shell on top.
9. Cover the seams and top with icing flowers.
EASTER BREAD
Growing up, our Easter table was never complete without this sweet bread, decorated with whole eggs. Try a beautiful egg dying technique to make the bread centerpiece-worthy!
To make the eggs:
1. Place small herbs on eggs and tightly bind them with cheesecloth, affixing with a twist tie.
2. Put the egg in a cup of dye for one minute or longer for a deep color.
3. Carefully remove the cloth and herb and let dry.
Growing up, our Easter table was never complete without this sweet bread, decorated with whole eggs. Try a beautiful egg dying technique to make the bread centerpiece-worthy!
To make the eggs:
1. Place small herbs on eggs and tightly bind them with cheesecloth, affixing with a twist tie.
2. Put the egg in a cup of dye for one minute or longer for a deep color.
3. Carefully remove the cloth and herb and let dry.
To make the bread you will need:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 package active dry yeast
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2 eggs
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of the flour with the sugar, salt and yeast.
2. Warm milk in a small saucepan and add to flour mixture.
3. Add softened butter to flour mixture and stir to combine.
4. Add eggs and mix well.
5. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time. The dough should pull together.
6. Knead dough on a floured surface for 5 minutes until smooth.
7. Place the dough in a lightly greased, covered bowl in a warm area, for one hour.
8. Punch down dough and divide into two equal balls. Cover with a damp cloth and let sit for 10 minutes.
9. Roll out the dough balls into long, thin strips, about 36 inches.
10. Lightly braid the strips and attach the ends to one another to form a circle.
11. Place dyed eggs in the holes.
12. Place bread dough on a greased cookie sheet and cover with a damp cloth. Let rise for 45 minutes in a warm area.
13. Brush bread dough with 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten.
14. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 package active dry yeast
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2 eggs
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of the flour with the sugar, salt and yeast.
2. Warm milk in a small saucepan and add to flour mixture.
3. Add softened butter to flour mixture and stir to combine.
4. Add eggs and mix well.
5. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time. The dough should pull together.
6. Knead dough on a floured surface for 5 minutes until smooth.
7. Place the dough in a lightly greased, covered bowl in a warm area, for one hour.
8. Punch down dough and divide into two equal balls. Cover with a damp cloth and let sit for 10 minutes.
9. Roll out the dough balls into long, thin strips, about 36 inches.
10. Lightly braid the strips and attach the ends to one another to form a circle.
11. Place dyed eggs in the holes.
12. Place bread dough on a greased cookie sheet and cover with a damp cloth. Let rise for 45 minutes in a warm area.
13. Brush bread dough with 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten.
14. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
GAMES
Looking for an activity to let the kids run off all those Peeps? Get them outside to enjoy an Easter egg piñata or take chase with these confetti eggs! Both can be made ahead with their help. The making is half the fun!
For the piñata:
1. Blow up a 36” balloon.
2. Cut thin strips of newspaper.
3. Mix 2 cups flour and 4 cups water.
4. Dip the newspaper strips in the flour mixture one at a time and layer them on top of the balloon. It helps to steady the balloon on a large mixing bowl.
5. Use 2 to 3 layers of newspaper on the balloon, so the piñata is strong enough to withstand a few good whacks!
6. Allow the piñata to dry for at least a day.
7. Cut two holes at the top and thread some ribbon or rope through.
8. Cut a small hole in the back and fill the piñata with wrapped candy and Easter treats!
9. Using crepe paper, wrap the piñata tightly and decorate with flowers.
Looking for an activity to let the kids run off all those Peeps? Get them outside to enjoy an Easter egg piñata or take chase with these confetti eggs! Both can be made ahead with their help. The making is half the fun!
For the piñata:
1. Blow up a 36” balloon.
2. Cut thin strips of newspaper.
3. Mix 2 cups flour and 4 cups water.
4. Dip the newspaper strips in the flour mixture one at a time and layer them on top of the balloon. It helps to steady the balloon on a large mixing bowl.
5. Use 2 to 3 layers of newspaper on the balloon, so the piñata is strong enough to withstand a few good whacks!
6. Allow the piñata to dry for at least a day.
7. Cut two holes at the top and thread some ribbon or rope through.
8. Cut a small hole in the back and fill the piñata with wrapped candy and Easter treats!
9. Using crepe paper, wrap the piñata tightly and decorate with flowers.
For the confetti eggs:
1. Make a hole with a toothpick on both the top and bottom of an egg.
2. Insert a coffee straw in the top hole and blow the yolk and whites out into a bowl.
3. Allow the eggs to dry.
4. Fill the hollow eggs with confetti.
5. Cover the holes with tissue paper dipped in craft glue and let dry.
6. Hide these confetti eggs for an Easter egg hunt. The kids will love finding them and chasing each other down to crack them open for a delightful surprise!
Olivia Poor is a mom of three from Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Follow her @poorolivia.
1. Make a hole with a toothpick on both the top and bottom of an egg.
2. Insert a coffee straw in the top hole and blow the yolk and whites out into a bowl.
3. Allow the eggs to dry.
4. Fill the hollow eggs with confetti.
5. Cover the holes with tissue paper dipped in craft glue and let dry.
6. Hide these confetti eggs for an Easter egg hunt. The kids will love finding them and chasing each other down to crack them open for a delightful surprise!
Olivia Poor is a mom of three from Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Follow her @poorolivia.