These no bake bird's nest cookies made with chow mein noodles are a tasty and fun Spring and Easter treat! Kids will adore helping make the 4-ingredient haystack nests and then filling them with their favorite chocolate candy eggs and more...
Edible Bird's Nests Easter Activity
By the end of Spring Break, my patience is typically wearing thin. I'm sure you can relate!
This year has been extra challenging, thanks to a ridiculous string of rainy days. So I've been on the hunt for simple activities to keep my kids occupied. After I saw my friend share her adorable no bake bird nest cookies on Facebook, I immediately messaged her for the recipe.
She generously brought me a handwritten copy of the bird nest recipe to our daughters' gymnastics practice that same night. Can I just say how refreshing it is to receive a handwritten recipe in this day and age? It's been ages since I've gotten one!
Bird Nest Cookie Ingredients
A quick glance at the recipe revealed that these sweet bird nests are just a simple variation on Rice Krispies treats and haystack cookies. Basically you stir chow mein noodles into a marshmallow base and form the mixture into little nests!
These no bake treats use just four simple ingredients and are SO easy to make:
- Dry chow mein noodles: These crispy noodles are ideal for giving these no bake cookies a nest-like appearance!
- Mini marshmallows: Large marshmallows will work in a pinch, but the mini ones melt more quickly.
- Unsalted butter: Substituting salted butter is not recommended since the chow mein noodles have a somewhat salty flavor profile.
- Pure vanilla extract: You could substitute almond extract instead.
You'll also need some Easter candy for filling the nests. This is the fun parts, because there are SO many fun options.
My kids chose Peeps chicks of all colors and Reese's Pieces chocolate peanut butter eggs. I've honestly never been much of a Peeps fan, but the Reese's Pieces candy eggs are YUMMO! Other good choices are Cadbury mini eggs and jelly beans.
How To Make Bird's Nest Cookies
These no bake birds nests are super simple to make! Older children can help with combining the ingredients for this birds nest recipe, while filling the cookie nests with candy is a great way to involve younger children.
- Prepare a couple of cookie sheets by lining them with wax paper, parchment, or a silicone baking mats.
- In a large saucepan, melt the marshmallows and butter over medium heat. Stir in the vanilla extract. Thoroughly combine the chow mein noodles with the marshmallow mixture and allow the mix to cool slightly.
- Coat your hands with cooking spray or a little butter. Working quickly, form a small handful of the chow mein mixture into a ball. Press your thumbs into the center of the ball to hollow it out and create a nest shape.
- Place the bird nests on the prepared cookie sheet and allow them to cool completely before filling with candy.
Tara's Tip: Forming The Nests
The mixture cools quickly, so have everything ready to go before combining the noodle and marshmallow mixture! The key to achieving a bird's nest appearance is to start by forming a fairly tight ball and then hollow out the center.
While this fun Easter treat activity 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!
These adorable Easter treats would be ideal for class parties, as well.
Printable Recipe ↓
No Bake Bird's Nest Cookies With Peeps
Key Equipment
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
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper, parchment, or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large saucepan, melt the marshmallows and butter over medium heat. When melted together, stir in the vanilla extract. Thoroughly combine the chow mein noodles with the marshmallow mixture and allow the mix to cool slightly.
- Let the mix cool slightly, and then coat your hands with cooking spray or a little butter.
- Coat your hands with cooking spray or a little butter. Working quickly, form a small handful of the chow mein mixture into a ball. Press your thumbs into the center of the ball to hollow it out and create a nest shape.
- Allow the nests to cool completely. Then have fun decorating them with the Easter candy of your choice!
Recipe Notes
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More Easter Recipes & 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?
I'd love to see how your birds nest cookies turn out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!
Zena Hunt says
Love this recipe. Tried it last week and my grandkids and grown daughter loved them. I sent some home with my class as well. I topped them with gummy worms or jelly beans
Tara Kuczykowski says
So happy they turned out well for you. Using gummy worms is such a cute idea!
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...