Make The Birds Happy With This Birdseed Wreath

I love to feed the birds, especially during the winter months when their food is a little harder to come by. I enjoy watching the many birds that this wreath attracts — it’s a great way to make sure they get fed!

This easy wreath has all the wonderful ingredients birds love. Suet is an added fat that birds need during winter when their normal day-to-day food isn’t available. Cranberries are always a favorite too. Of course, peanuts will be a hit as well.

Birdseed Wreath Ingredients

• 2 11-oz packs of suet
• Fresh cranberries
• 4 cups wild bird seed
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup unsalted peanuts

Equipment

• 6-cup bundt pan
• Extra wide ribbon for hanging

Instructions

1. Cut the suet into small pieces and place in microwaveable bowl. Heat until melted. This only takes about one minute.

2. Place fresh cranberries in the bottom of the bundt pan. You can form a pattern with them if you choose. I used clusters of three. You can add any remaining fresh cranberries to the mix as well. 

3. In a large bowl, combine the cups of wild bird seed, dried cranberries and unsalted peanuts. If you have any leftover fresh cranberries, add them as well. Mix all together.

4. Add the melted suet to your dry mix and thoroughly mix with a large wooden spoon. 

5. Once it is mixed well, fill the pan with the mixture and make sure to press it down very firmly into the pan as you go.

6. Allow the mixture to harden in the refrigerator or freezer.

7. Once it is completely cold, remove from the pan by carefully turning it upside down on a plate.

8. Tie the extra wide ribbon around the wreath and hang in your yard. The wide ribbon helps hold the wreath securely. Only place the wreath outside when the temperature is at freezing. Otherwise, the suet may start to melt and could spoil.

— Leilani Hampton