Bird’s Nest Cookies

This post may contain affiliate links.  For more information, read my disclosure policy here  

These easy no bake Easter Bird’s Nest Cookies or Haystack Candy make for the perfect easter treat, with creamy chocolate and crunchy chow mein noodles. Kids love these no bake chow mein cookies.

A homemade Easter-themed bird’s nest cookies with pastel-colored candy eggs on a white plate.

SAVE THIS RECIPE!

Enter your email below and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.

Save Recipe Final

Why this Birds Nest Cookies Recipe is a Keeper

If you bring this haystack candy to the easter celebration, they will be the first thing to fly off the table. These chocolate haystacks are the perfect combo of creamy, crunchy, sweet, and salty. Not to mention these haystack cookies take 10 minutes to prep.

  • Easy Ingredients: All you need is a total of 5 ingredients to make chow mein noodle cookies.
  • No Bake Cookies: These no bake chocolate haystacks with easter eggs are the perfect treat.
  • Makes Great Leftovers: Chocolate haystacks will be good for up to 2 weeks.

If you’re looking for more inspired recipes, try these Chocolate Peanut Butter Haystacks | Chex Peanut Butter Truffles | Easter Brownies

Can I make this haystack candy recipe without a microwave?

A hand holding homemade bird’s nest cookies with colorful candy eggs.

Of course, you can make a double boiler. Place a large bowl on top of a pan of boiling water. Then add your chocolate and melt. Finally, follow this recipe to finish the easy cookies. Find even more tips for melting chocolate.

Ingredient Notes for Easter Cookies

  • Chow Mein Noodles: Chow mein noodles are those little crunchy, fried noodles that can be used to as a salad topping or served with food, you can find these in the Asian or international section of the grocery store.
  • Peanut Butter: It is best to use creamy peanut butter rather than crunchy for these bird’s nest cookies recipe.

See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

Meal planning printables
Get Our Free Meal Planning Bundle

With over 200 easy and delicious dinner ideas, you'll never have to worry about what to make for dinner again.

Variations and Substitutions to Make Haystack Candy

You can use cadbury candy eggs or other fun candies for this easy dessert. You can make this fun treat with dark chocolate or almond bark.

  • Butterscotch Morsels – You can also use butterscotch chips instead of white chocolate chips to make butterscotch haystack cookies. Or make a mixture of milk chocolate and butterscotch chips. Peanut butter chips are great for this recipe too.
  • Other Candy – Any egg-shaped candies will work, such as peanut m&ms, Hershey’s peanut butter eggs or robin’s mini eggs. You can use peep chicks for these adorable bird’s nest cookies. Egg shaped sugar cookies will work too.
  • Add Ins – To make this recipe you feel free to mix in other ingredients such as mini marshmallows, walnuts, cashew, almonds, or peanuts.

Fun Fact

You can make these Haystack Candies for bridal showers, or they are a fun way to celebrate a birthday party.

How to Make This Recipe for Easter Nests

These are the basic steps for making chowmein cookies. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.

Step-by-step visual guide for making bird’s nest cookies with candy-coated chocolates, peanut butter, chow mein noodles, and white chocolate chips.

1. Melt Chocolate

First, in a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips. Microwave for 15-30 second intervals until completely chips are melted. Then mix in powdered sugar and peanut butter. Mix until smooth. For darker nests, you can substitute equal amounts of semi-sweet chocolate chips.

2. Add Noodles to the Melted and Smooth Chocolate

Then add the chow mein noodles to the melted chocolate mixture. With a silicone spoon or spatula, gently fold the noodles into the mixture until evenly coated. Next grease your muffin tin.

3. Form the Haystack Candy

Add the chocolate haystacks to the pan using a rounded tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop a tablespoon into each slot and then press down with the back of the tablespoon to make an indent in the middle. Let Cool.

4.Add Chocolate Eggs to the Haystack Candy

Top with 3 candy eggs in the middle of the nests. Allow it to set in the fridge for 20 minutes or until solid. Remove from the tins and serve!

Recipe Frequently Asked Questions for this Easter Dessert Recipe

Store the candy in an airtight container. Make this easter treat a day or two in advance.

Substitute with pretzel sticks, cornflakes, or puffed rice cereal.

Of course, you can add toasted coconut, peanuts candy melts. They are fun to make with different ingredients.

A top shot of the finished dessert.

Expert Tips for Making Birds Nest Cookies Recipe

Make these adorable and delicious easter candies for a fun easter season treat. The creamy and flavorful chocolate covering the crispy noodles is amazing.

  • Easiest Easter Cookie: Fill these chow mein noodle cookies with jellybeans in place of the eggs on top. They are a great alternative to chocolate candy.
  • No Cupcake Tin: If you do not have a muffin tin, a parchment paper lined baking sheet will work simply fine. Just scoop each haystack onto the baking tray about 1 inch apart.
  • Cupcake Liners: To make the chocolate haystack candy easier to remove and to give a basket like look, line the muffin tray with layers before adding the haystacks.

SAVE THIS RECIPE!

Enter your email below and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.

Save Recipe Final

A homemade Easter-themed bird’s nest cookies with pastel-colored candy eggs on a white plate.
5 from 1 vote

Easter Bird’s Nest Cookies

Yield: 12 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cool Time: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
These easy and no bake Easter Nest Haystack Cookies make for the perfect easter treat, with the creamy chocolate and crunchy chow mein noodles.
Print Pin Rate Save
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 11 ounces White chocolate baking chips, 1 bag
  • 2 tablespoons Powdered sugar
  • ¾ cup Creamy peanut butter
  • 1 8 ounces Chow mein noodles, can
  • Cadbury Easter Candy Coated Mini Eggs, around 36 eggs

Instructions

  • First, in a microwave safe bowl, microwave the chocolate chips. Microwave for 15-30 second intervals until completely melted.
  • To the melted chocolate, mix in powdered sugar and peanut butter. Mix until smooth.
  • Then add the chow mein noodles to the melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture. With a silicone spoon or spatula, gently fold the noodles into the mixture until evenly coated.
  • Next, grease a standard sized muffin tin with cooking spray. Use a paper towel to wipe away excess oil.
  • Add the chocolate haystacks to the pan using a rounded tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop a tablespoon into each slot and then press down with the back of the tablespoon to make an indent in the middle.
  • Top each of the chow mein noodles cookies with 3 chocolate eggs in the middle of the nests.
  • Allow to set in the fridge for 20 minutes or until solid. Remove from the tins and serve!

Expert Tips

    • Double Boiler Method: No microwave? No problem, melt the chocolate over the stove using the double boiler method. Watch this video to see how to set one up.
    • Cupcake Liners: To make the chocolate haystacks easier to remove and to give a basket like look, line the muffin tray with layers before adding the haystacks.
    • No Cupcake Tin: If you do not have a muffin tin, a parchment paper lined baking sheet will work just fine. Just scoop each haystack onto the baking tray about 1 inch apart.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 225mg | Potassium: 165mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!Follow Me: @ItsAKeeperBlog or tag #itisakeeper
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Leave a Comment

Rate this Recipe