Bird’s Nest Cookies
These no-bake Bird’s Nest Cookies are a great choice if you’re looking for a cookie that’s easy and fun to make!
Cute and colorful, these cookies are the perfect treat for Easter or any springtime party. Using just 5 ingredients and a little bit of imagination, you’ll quickly have a treat that will impress your family and friends!
Versions of the Bird’s Nest Cookies have been around for years. Just like chocolate chip cookies and my almond flour peanut butter cookies, these cookies are popular favorites that endure and never go out of style. I’ve been making these for years because they’re easy to make and ideal for parties and family gatherings where both young and old love them.
While these are a common favorite during the Easter holiday, Bird’s Nest Cookies can be decorated for any occasion using the appropriate candy. Make these nests for a baby shower using blue or pink candy. Another name for these cookies is “haystack cookies” in which the mixture is simply piled up instead of forming a nest.
Table of Contents
- They’re the perfect combination of sweet and salty flavors thanks to the combination of chocolate with fried noodles.
- These cookies are made to resemble bird nests with pretty candy eggs that them the ideal Easter dessert just like my marshmallow bunnies and Italian Easter Bread.
- You can customize these cookies to suit your taste and your imagination using different chocolate, candies, and decorations.
- If you’re looking for more Easter dessert recipes to make with children this recipe is the one! Bird’s Nest Cookies don’t involve any difficult or time-consuming steps. Plus children love to decorate with candies!
For complete ingredient quantities and full instructions, please scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Ingredients
- Chocolate Chips – I use dark chocolate but choose white, semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips if you prefer. Use chocolate that is labeled for melting. You’ll easily find these in supermarkets
- Fried Noodles – also known as chow mein noodles or crunchy noodles. These are usually in the Asian food section of the supermarket.
- Hazelnuts – for ease purchase blanched and roasted hazelnuts.
- Nutella – I like Nutella Hazelnut spread but you can use any chocolate hazelnut spread that you prefer.
- Candy Eggs – for this recipe, I’ve used multi-colored eggs that are popular at Easter. Any mini chocolate eggs like Cadbury mini chocolate eggs would work for this recipe. Make these fun mini egg cookie bars if you’ve got leftover eggs.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Line two baking sheets with nonstick parchment paper.
Melt the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl over a pot of barely simmering water until smooth and fully melted.
Add the Nutella to the melted chocolate and stir until well combined.
Add fried noodles and hazelnuts to the chocolate mixture, stirring until the noodles and nuts are completely coated in chocolate.
Scoop heaped tablespoons of chocolate mixture into baking sheets, and form a well in the center to make the nest. Arrange mini eggs in each.
Then place the baking sheet in the fridge for at least 10-20 minutes to allow the chocolate to set.
Hint: Bird’s Nest Cookies can also be set in oiled muffin tins. Just scoop the chocolate mixture into the muffin tins then use a spoon to make the indentation. Decorate and set as recommended in the recipe.
Substitutions
- Chocolate Chips – use peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips for a different flavor.
- Fried Noodles – substitute shredded wheat cereal if you can’t find the fried noodles.
- Nutella – instead of Nutella, use creamy peanut butter.
Variations
- Salty Preztel – add a handful of broken, salted pretzels instead of the hazelnuts
- Coconut – add shredded, toasted coconut instead of hazelnuts
- Candy Eggs – instead of Cadbury mini eggs use any seasonal candy, like peanut butter eggs or malted milk eggs. You could use mini eggs wrapped in colored foil but add these after the bird nest cookies have set so that they can be removed before eating.
- Colorful – scatter colored sprinkles on the chocolate before it sets for an even more colorful treat!
How you decorate your bird’s nests is only limited to your imagination!
Equipment
These Bird’s Nest Cookies only need a heatproof bowl and a spoon to prepare. You don’t even really need a baking sheet. Use parchment-lined plates if you don’t have baking sheets.
Storage
These no-bake cookies will keep well in the fridge for up to two weeks in an airtight container. It’s a good idea to place a sheet of parchment paper in between the layers but isn’t completely necessary. I like to do that so the mini eggs aren’t marked with chocolate.
Top tip
- Use chocolate chips that are labeled for melting. Some chocolate will seize when mixed with ingredients like fried noodles and nuts but chocolate chips or buttons used for drizzling or melting will work.
- If the chocolate starts to set before you’ve finished scooping and shaping the nests, simply set the bowl over the pan of warm water again, stirring until the chocolate melts.
- Be sure to arrange the mini eggs before the chocolate has set so that they stick. The same goes for any other decorations you want to add to your Bird’s Nest Cookies.
FAQ
Absolutely! To melt chocolate in the microwave, place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the chocolate in 10-15-second intervals on medium power, stirring in between, until fully melted.
Take care not to burn it by stopping before you think it’s ready. You can always give the chocolate a couple more seconds if it’s not fully melted.
Yes! Bird’s Nest Cookies can be frozen for up to one month in a sealed container. To thaw, transfer the container to the fridge overnight.
Yes, this recipe is perfectly suitable for children to make. Depending on how old the children are, an adult may need to melt the chocolate.
Serving Suggestions
Follow Italian Easter favorites like Pizza Gaina and Torta Pasqualina with delicious sweet treats that all the family will love. These Bird’s Nest Cookies are a crowd-pleaser and a welcome addition to the Easter dessert table along with Pastiera, Crostoli and Baci di Dama.
For springtime parties, serve these along with Lemon Macarons and savoiardi.
Made this recipe?
Let me know if you liked it by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating and a review below. Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter – it’s free!
Bird’s Nest Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups (200 grams) dark chocolate chips See Note 1
- 1 ⅓ cups (100 grams) fried noodles (crispy chow mein noodles)
- ½ cup (65 grams) blanched and roasted and hazelnuts chopped
- 3 tablespoons Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread or other chocolate hazelnut spread
- 54 mini candy eggs See Note 2
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with nonstick parchment paper.
- Melt the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl over a pot of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth and fully melted.
- Add the Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread to the melted chocolate and stir until well combined.
- Add fried noodles and chopped hazelnuts to the chocolate mixture, stirring until the noodles and nuts are completely coated in chocolate.
- Scoop 18 tablespoons of chocolate mixture into prepared baking sheets, forming a indentation in the center to create the nest shape.
- Arrange 3 mini candy eggs in the center of each nest before the chocolate sets.
- Place the baking sheet in the fridge for about 10 minutes to allow the chocolate to set.
- Serve and enjoy your homemade chocolate Easter nests!
Notes
- Use chocolate chips that are specifically for melting.
- Candy eggs are mini solid chocolate eggs with a candy coating. Different brands produce different colors. Choose the ones you like.
- Rewarm the chocolate mixture if it starts to set before you’ve finished shaping the cookies. Just set the bowl over a pot of simmering water to rewarm.
- Arrange the mini eggs and any other decorations before the chocolate has set so that they stick.
Nutritional Estimate Per Serving
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. For accurate results, it is recommended that the nutritional information be calculated based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Thankyou for all your recipes. I’m so blessed as well as our 3 generation family we live together.
Happy Easter
Lynn
You are truely blessed, Lynn! Happy Easter to you all xx