While I will admit these adorable birds nest cookies are a bit of a sugar rush, they’re always one of the most talked about treats we serve each year at Easter. I mean, what’s not to love about clusters of chow mein noodles that are smothered in melted chocolate, butterscotch and peanut butter?
Plus this salty and sweet springtime treat holds the ultimate combination of everyone’s favorite Easter candies: jelly beans, chocolate and sugar coated marshmallow chicks! Colorful and fun to make with the kids, these bird nest cookies add a tremendous pop of color and charm to any place setting or springtime dessert table.
To sweeten the deal further, this is a no-bake treat that only has 4 ingredients at its core. It’s very easy to customize (you can always swap the jelly beans for pastel M&M’S or Cadbury Mini Eggs if you prefer), and of course feel free to use your favorite marshmallow chick color(s). Heck, you could even throw in some bunnies if you want to–it doesn’t matter if they don’t lay eggs!
While technically these aren’t cookies, we found that most chow mein birds nests recipes use that word to describe them. Maybe it’s because Birds Nest Cookies are sweet, fun, round and just as enjoyable to eat!
Why You’ll Love It
| Super easy recipe- These no-bake cookies are hassle-free and that’s just what we need around the busy holidays! Melt the chocolate, butterscotch morsels and peanut butter in the microwave, then stir with the crunchy chow mein noodles. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto parchment paper or into individual servings of a muffin tin, then decorate and you’re done! Crowd pleaser and great for spring entertaining- Kids AND adults love these sweet and crunchy bird nest cookies, making them a great choice for holiday cookie trays or place settings. Each tasty bite is so good and savory, they’re often the first treat to disappear! Highly customizable recipe- Feel free to decorate these adorable birds nests as you wish! This recipe is super rich and sweet, so just keep that in mind when you add your favorite festive candies and decor. |
Ingredients for Birds Nest Cookies
For a full list of ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card below
- Chow mein noodles- there are a lot of different sizes available in stores these days, but stick with the tiny La Choy cannister-type variety. Some birds nest cookie recipes use pretzels instead, but I think chow mein noodles are easier to mix. Plus they have an undeniable crunch and flavor that just can’t be beat! And don’t you think they also look like tree branches?
- Semisweet chocolate chips- you can also use milk chocolate baking chips or melting wafers
- Butterscotch morsels- these are sweet and pair so well with chocolate and peanut butter
- Smooth peanut butter- just a smidge is needed for flavor and to make the melted morsels smoother
- Decor of your choice- you can’t go wrong with a variety of small, colorful jelly beans (the smaller the better). Another good choice is Cadbury Mini Eggs or pastel M&M’S. And don’t forget the marshmallow chicks!
Click here for a list of equipment needed for this recipe.
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoon
- Large, microwave-safe bowl
- Rubber spatula
- Mixing spoon
- Large cookie scoop or ice cream scoop
- 12-count standard size muffin tin (my preferred choice to form the nests)
- Parchment paper (especially handy if not using muffin tin)
How to Make Bird Nest Cookies
For a more detailed set of instructions, see the printable recipe card below.
- Prepare your workspace by laying out a large sheet of parchment paper. Have your candy decor within reach and ready to go.
- Microwave the chocolate, butterscotch chips and peanut butter in 30 second intervals until almost smooth. Then stir to make it clump free.
- Add the chow mein noodles to the bowl. Use a rubber spatula to fully coat them with the melted mixture.
- Working quickly and using a greased scoop, place clusters into greased muffin tins. Form a little indentation by placing the scoop gently down in the center. Then immediately fill with jelly beans and top with a marshmallow chick so they stick. (Alternatively, you can place birds nest mounds on parchment paper to set.)
- Refrigerate for 2 hours for best results.
Helpful Tips for this Recipe
- You need to be a bit of a kitchen ninja with this recipe. Have your decorating station ready to go before you start and work fast! Melted chocolate starts solidifying the second it comes out of the microwave. Be prepared for that, and get your nest clusters into the prepared muffin tin and decorated without delay.
- Canola oil spray is your friend with this recipe. Use it to grease your measuring spoon for the peanut butter, the scoop you use to grab and form nest clusters, and for the muffin tin. You’ll thank me later.
- Gently press the marshmallow chicks on top so that they stick.
Storing Chow Mein Birds Nests
Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated. Enjoy within 5-7 days.
I like to take the birds nests out of the fridge about 5 minutes before serving so the candy can soften a little.
You can also freeze these (without candy) in freezer safe packaging. Wrap birds nests individually in wax paper and then place several in a freezer bag. Defrost overnight in the fridge.
What to Serve with this Birds Nest Cookie Recipe
- In an easy, no-bake treat kind of mood? Serve these Birds Nest Cookies alongside White Chocolate Haystacks (which are very similar to this recipe), Peanut Clusters, Christmas Bark, Pink Out Pretzels, and Patriotic Chocolate Dipped Strawberries. (All of these recipes can be easily customized for any holiday or occasion.)
- For other sweet and chocolaty Easter treats, make Buttercream Eggs and Mini Egg Cookie Bars.
- Other Easter dessert favs are Carrot Bundt Cake, Carrot Bread and Classic Lemon Squares.
- Take things up a notch with chow mein noodles! For a tasty family casserole, try Chow Mein Beefy Rice Casserole!
Birds Nest Cookies
Description
What's not to love about nest-shaped clusters of chow mein noodles that are smothered in melted semisweet chocolate, butterscotch morsels and peanut butter?
Plus this salty and sweet, no bake cookie holds a fantastic combination of everyone's favorite Easter candies: jelly beans, chocolate and sugar coated marshmallow chicks!
Colorful and fun to make with the kids, Birds Nest Cookies add a tremendous pop of color and charm to any place setting or springtime dessert table.
Birds Nest Cookies
How to Make Birds Nest Cookies:
-
Prepare your workspace by laying out a large sheet of parchment paper. Have your jelly beans and marshmallow chicks within reach and ready to go.
-
In a large mixing bowl, microwave the chocolate, butterscotch chips and peanut butter in 30 second intervals at 50 % power until almost smooth. Then stir to make it clump free.
-
Add the chow mein noodles to the bowl. Use a rubber spatula to fully coat them with the melted mixture.
-
Working quickly and using a greased scoop, place clusters into greased muffin tins. Form a little indentation by placing the scoop gently down in the center. Then immediately fill with jelly beans and top with a marshmallow chick so they stick.
Alternatively, you can place 12 birds nests mounds on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. -
Refrigerate for 2 hours for best results.
-
Store assembled leftovers in an airtight container and keep refrigerated. Enjoy within 5-7 days.
I like to take the nests out of the fridge about 5 minutes before serving so the candy has a chance to soften a little. -
You can also freeze these up to 1 month (without candy) in freezer safe packaging. Wrap birds nests individually in wax paper and then place several in a freezer bag. Defrost overnight in the fridge. (Please note: If choosing this option, you will not be able to make the candies stick).
Note
- Have your decorating station ready to go before you begin and work fast! Melted chocolate starts solidifying the second it comes out of the microwave. Be prepared for that, and get your nest clusters into the prepared muffin tin and decorated without delay.
- Canola oil spray is your friend with this recipe. Use it to grease your measuring spoon for the peanut butter, the scoop you use to grab and form nest clusters, and for the muffin tin. You'll thank me later.
- Gently press the marshmallow chicks on top so that they stick.
