The Fantabulous Chronicles

Our daughter’s class went on a field trip to the Dinosaur Museum and her teacher asked if I would tag along to help chaperone. Of course I said YES and immediately thought of making these dinosaur eggs for the kids to take with them after the trip!

You have probably seen the egg shaped rocks that you can “dig” out a mystery dinosaur for about $5 a pop, well I’m here to tell you you can make your own and have twice the fun while saving money!

I used to make these when I was a teacher and my kindergarten kids loved being mini archeologists to discover what dinosaur (or any small type toy really) they were about to unearth…err break free.

These can also be called “Treasure Rocks” and you can add color or glitter to the dough and hide all sorts of goodies!

* I have made these with gluten free flour, and while it does work, it takes more flour and doesn’t quite look as much like a rock.

Ingredients
2 cups used coffee grounds
1 cup flour
1 cup salt
1/2 cup water

Directions

1. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 250°F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine coffee grounds, flour, and salt. Mix until the components are thoroughly integrated.
3. Gradually add water to the mixture, stirring until it reaches a play-dough-like consistency. Adjust the consistency by adding more flour if too wet or more water if too dry, one tablespoon at a time.
4. Shape the dough into a flat pancake and place the treasure or dinosaur figurine in the center.
5. Encapsulate the item by pinching the remaining dough around it to form a rock or egg-like shape. Add additional dough as necessary to achieve the desired appearance.
6. Position the formed stones on the baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced 1-2 inches apart. Proper spacing prevents them from merging and ensures a more authentic rock-like coloration.
7. Bake the stones for 40 minutes.
8. After the initial baking period, flip the stones and bake for an additional 40 minutes.
9. Remove the stones from the oven and allow them to cool completely. Notably, one side should exhibit a darker coloration. For optimal results, allow them to cool overnight.
10. Once fully cooled, package the stones or hide them in an outdoor area for a delightful surprise. The rocks or eggs can be broken open using hands or various tools such as a hammer, screwdriver, or stick.
11. Enjoy the fun and excitement of discovering the hidden treasures!