These edible bird's nests with Peeps chicks are a fun and tasty Easter DIY craft for kids! Just 4 ingredients for the haystack nests + your favorite Easter candy to fill them...
Edible Bird's Nests Easter Activity
By the end of Spring Break my patience is typically wearing thin, so I was on the hunt for activities to keep my kids occupied. After I saw my friend share her adorable edible bird nest recipe on Facebook, I knew I'd hit upon a winner and had to ask her for the recipe.
She generously brought me the handwritten bird nest recipe to our daughters' gymnastics practice that night. Can I just say how refreshing it is to receive a handwritten recipe in this day and age? I can't remember the last one I've received prior to this...
Anyhow, a quick glance through the recipe showed that it's just a simple variation on Rice Krispies Treats, using chow mein noodles instead.
How To Make Edible Bird Nests For Easter
The ingredients are simply mini marshmallows, butter, vanilla extract and dry chow mein noodles. You can fill the nests with any type of candy your heart desires.
My kids chose Peeps of all colors and Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Pastel Candy Eggs. I've never been much of a Peeps fan, but the Reese's Pieces eggs are yummo!
The nests were super simple to make. I found that forming the balls fairly tight to start and then hollowing out the center was the easiest way to achieve a bird's nest look. Aren't they so cute?
While it didn't quite keep them occupied for as long as *I* would have liked, the kids had a blast decorating their nests — and then eating them, of course!
Easy Edible Bird's Nests With Peeps
Ingredients
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 cups chow mein noodles
- small decorative candies Peeps chicks, jelly beans, chocolate eggs, etc.
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the marshmallows and butter. When melted together, stir in the vanilla extract and chow mein noodles.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Let the mix cool slightly, and then coat your hands with cooking spray or a little butter.
- Working quickly, grab a small handful of the chow mein mixture and form it into a ball. Then press your thumbs into the center to hollow it out and create a nest shape.
- Allow the nests to cool and then have fun decorating with the Easter candy of your choice!
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More Easter Recipes And Ideas
If you like this fun Easter recipe/craft, you might also enjoy these other Easter recipes and ideas:
- How To Color Easter Eggs With Rubber Cement
- No Bake Carrot Patch Oreo Dirt Cups
- My Favorite Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs Method
- Classic Egg Salad Recipe
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @unsophisticook on Instagram and hashtag it #unsophisticook.
Judy says
These were easy to make, except this year we couldn't find any Chow Mein Noodles anywhere. After going to many stores and not finding any, I decided to improvise with what I already had at home. So I had a bag of the tiny thin stick pretzels and Cheerios and some Chex Mix. I broke up the pretzel sticks so they were small and mixed it all together to make up the 4 cups. I also added some butterscotch chips to make the color I wanted to the marshmallow mix and also to break up the salty taste. By the time I finished the birds nests were adorable and so yummy!
Tara Kuczykowski says
That's frustrating — I didn't realize there's a shortage of them right now. So glad you could find a substitute, and the butterscotch chips sound delicious!
Maggie says
How do you get the eggs to stick?
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
I actually just laid them on the nests, but I bet a little melted marshmallow would do the trick!
Jen says
Oh my goodness that was sticky! I don't think the nest-making is for kids!
Jeni says
I love the little nests! Great idea!
Heather says
These are adorable! I'm definitely making them this weekend! Pinned for sure!
Cindy says
Those nests are just tooooo cute!!! I love that idea and will keep it for next year!!
charlene says
Ive made a similar recipie when i was in elementry school for easter, but we add almond bark chocolate, and swap out the noodles for shredded wheat. Just crush them up before. :) oh and cadburys chocolate eggs complement the chocolate...