Sweeten Up Spring with an ‘Eggstra’ Creative Brunch

(Family Features) It’s hard to top a brunch feast spent snacking on sweet treats in the sunshine with loved ones. At the center of your celebration can be a springtime tradition with nearly endless possibilities: eggs.

Lean into the season with creative recipes like Prosciutto and Parmesan Egg Cups or Eggy Lemon Sandwich Cookies to take brunch to the next level. As a natural source of vitamins and minerals, eggs are a delicious protein powerhouse with just 70 calories per large egg. Boiled, scrambled, poached, baked and any other way you like them, they’re a kitchen superhero.

This spring, add eggs to your menu and explore fresh ways to celebrate the season at incredibleegg.org.

Prosciutto and Parmesan Egg Cups
Recipe courtesy of the American Egg Board and “Joy the Baker”
Total time: 34-36 minutes
Yield: 6 cups

12 pieces thinly sliced prosciutto
6 slices tomato
1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
6 large eggs
fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup finely chopped chives

Place rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 350 F.

Line muffin pan with six cupcake liners. Drape two slices prosciutto in each cup over liner, ensuring there are no holes for egg to sneak through.

Place one tomato slice in each cup. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Parmesan atop each tomato. Crack one egg into each cup. Sprinkle each with fresh cracked black pepper, to taste.

Bake 14-16 minutes, or until eggs are cooked as desired. Top with chives.

Cool 5 minutes before serving warm.

Eggy Lemon Sandwich Cookies
Recipe courtesy of the American Egg Board and “Joy the Baker”
Total time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Yield: 16-18 cookies

Dough:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Lemon Curd:
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes

Buttercream:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1-2 tablespoons warm milk
1 teaspoon poppy seeds

To make dough: In medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

In bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream together shortening and butter until well combined. Scrape down sides of bowl, add sugar and beat on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 3-5 minutes.

Add egg, milk and vanilla extract; beat until combined. Add dry ingredients and beat on low until dough forms. Scrape down sides of bowl to ensure no dry pockets at bottom. Wrap and refrigerate dough 30 minutes.

Place rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 350 F.

Roll half of dough on lightly floured counter to 1/4-1/2-inch thickness. Cut with 2-3-inch egg cookie cutter and place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Use 1-inch round or egg-shaped cookie cutter to cut yolk holes out of half the cookies. Bake 8-10 minutes until just golden around edges. Cool completely before filling.

To make lemon curd: In 2-quart heavy saucepan, whisk juice, zest, sugar and eggs. Stir in butter and cook over low heat, whisking frequently, until curd is thick enough to hold marks of whisk and bubbles appear on surface, about 6 minutes.

Transfer lemon curd to bowl and chill, covered with plastic wrap, until cold, at least 1 hour.

To make buttercream: In medium bowl using electric hand mixer, beat butter until well softened. Add powdered sugar, salt and lemon zest; beat on low. Add milk and whip to combine. Beat in poppy seeds. Transfer frosting to zip-top bag with corner cut off or piping bag with medium round tip. Leave buttercream at room temperature until ready to pipe.

To assemble cookies: Flip each whole egg cookie so bottoms are facing up. Pipe buttercream frosting around edges. Spoon 2-3 teaspoons lemon curd into centers of cookies. Top each with one cookie with hole; press gently and spoon 1 teaspoon lemon curd into cookie hole.