These easy 4 ingredient no-bake bird nest cookies are the sweetest Easter dessert. 10 minutes of prep time and an hour of chill time is all it takes!
Why this recipe works
Creamy peanut butter, chow mein noodles, chocolate chips, and chocolate egg-shaped candies make up these adorable bird nest cookies! Great for Easter and for making with the kids.
We loved the idea of a chocolate crunch version of our Rice Krispie Nests, and we know you’ll love them too!
Ingredients you will need
CHOCOLATE– We are using semi-sweet chocolate chips for these bird nest cookies. If you’d like to use butterscotch chips as well, use 1/2 bag of semi-sweet, and 1/2 bag of butterscotch chips (6 oz and 6 oz).
CHOW MEIN– The nests are created using dried chow mein noodles. Dried chow mein noodles are used as a topping typically on salads and casseroles or used to make the classic chocolate-covered haystacks. These are not to be confused with chow mein noodles that you boil.
PEANUT BUTTER– Creamy peanut butter works best in this recipe. Feel free to experiment with chunky peanut butter, we have not tested this version but I can imagine it would be tasty!
CANDY EGGS– We like to use Cadbury mini eggs for the top but jellybeans, M&M’s, and Whoppers malted milk robin eggs work just as well. You can also make a few of your nests with a Peep marshmallow bird on top!
BUTTER– The butter is used to grease the muffin pan which will make it easier for you to remove the chilled bird nests.
How to Make Bird Nest Cookies
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Thoroughly grease a muffin pan with butter.
- Heat the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in-between every interval until the chocolate is melted.
- Add the peanut butter to the melted chocolate and mix to combine until smooth and creamy.
- Add your chow mien noodles to the mixture and gently stir to coat.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, spoon the mixture into the muffin pan.
- Gently press down the center of each nest to create a shallow well where your eggs will be placed.
- Place the nests in the refrigerator to chill for about an hour or until hardened.
- Carefully remove your nests from the muffin tin and place three chocolate-coated candy eggs onto each nest. If you’d like, place a Peep on some of the bird nests! Wrap in a cellophane baggie for gift giving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use any kind of chocolate you prefer to make these bird nest cookies. Many people love to mix in butterscotch chips with their semi-sweet, to do so, use 6 oz of semi-sweet and 6 oz of butterscotch. Dark chocolate, white chocolate, and milk chocolate are other great options!
You can store these cookies in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
No, you do not need to cook the chow mein noodles for this recipe. We use dried chow mein noodles, there is no cooking involved as they are not pasta noodles. These noodles are an example of what you should use.
Yes, you can use pretzels, corn flakes, rice krispies, or even shoestring potato sticks in place of the chow mein noodles.
You can substitute peanut butter with sun butter if there are nut allergies involved.
These adorable bird nest cookies are quick and easy to make and are the perfect Easter dessert to make for friends and family.
More Easter Dessert Recipes
- Easter Bunny Cupcakes
- Easter Muddy Buddies
- Bunny Butt Cupcakes
- Easter Toffee
- Easter Chick Cupcakes
- Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
- Hot Cross Buns
- Easter Dirt Cake
- Bunny Butt Pancakes
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Bird Nest Cookies
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter for greasing the pan
- 12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips 1 bag
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 6 oz chow mein noodles dried chow mein, see La Choy Chow Mein Noodles in a can
- 36 mini chocolate candy coated eggs mini Cadbury eggs, 3 for each nest
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- The nutrition facts on this recipe card does not include the mini Cadbury eggs.
- We like to use Cadbury mini eggs for the top but jellybeans, M&M’s, and Whoppers malted milk robin eggs work just as well. You can also make a few of your nests with a Peep marshmallow bird on top!
Instructions
- Thoroughly grease a muffin pan with butter.
- Heat the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals, stirring in-between every interval until the chocolate is melted.
- Add the peanut butter to the melted chocolate and mix to combine until smooth and creamy.
- Add your chow mien noodles to the mixture and gently stir to coat using a wooden spoon.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, spoon the mixture into the muffin pan. Gently press down the center of each nest to create a shallow well where your eggs will be placed.
- Place the nests in the refrigerator to chill for about an hour or until hardened.
- Carefully remove your nests from the muffin tin and place three chocolate coated candy eggs onto each nest or top with a marshmallow Peeps.
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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Patricia France says
My grand-daughters made these and everyone loved them