Chocolate Haystacks Birds Nest Cookies Recipe

Impress your friends and family with these homemade Chocolate Haystacks Birds Nest Cookies that are as fun to make as they are to eat. They’re perfect for Easter and require no oven!

Eggs in a Chocolate Nest

Chocolate Haystacks Birds Nest Cookies are a delightful and easy-to-make treat that is perfect for any occasion.

These sweet and crunchy confections resemble a bird’s nest, with chow mein noodles coated in melted chocolate forming the base, and candy-coated chocolate eggs nestled in the center.

Whether you are looking for a fun dessert to make with your kids or a unique addition to your holiday cookie tray, Birds Nest Cookies are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them.

Easter holds a special place in my heart, and besides loving eggs, I, Nanette adore pastel colors, Easter brunch, macarons, and marshmallows.

And it doesn’t get better than springtime weather mixed with your favorite people gathering, don’t you agree? 

eggs in a chocolate nest recipe

Ingredients and Tools Needed

There are several classic renditions for making bird’s nest cookies. While they’re easily customizable, chocolate haystacks and butterscotch haystacks are the most popular. 

  • Dried chow mein noodles — Ramen or any other dry noodles and nuts would work too.
  • Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips
  • Egg candy of any kind — We used the speckled Cadbury eggs.
  • Waxed paper for a lined cookie sheet
eggs in a chocolate nest recipe

How to Make No-Bake Chocolate Haystacks Birds Nest Cookies

1 — Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. Set aside.

2 — In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips in 20-second intervals, stirring after each interval until smooth and fully melted. Alternatively, melt the chocolate using a double boiler. 

3 — Once the chocolate is melted, crumple the noodles into smaller pieces and add them to the bowl. Gently fold until the noodles are evenly coated in chocolate.

4 — Scoop out portions of the chocolate-coated noodles onto the prepared baking sheet. Use your fingers or the back of the spoon to shape the mixture into nest-like shapes, making an indentation in the center of each nest.

eggs in a chocolate nest recipe

5 — While the chocolate is still soft, place mini chocolate eggs in the center of each nest to resemble eggs in a bird’s nest.

6 — If the chocolate mixture hasn’t been set within 20 minutes, transfer the baking sheet to the refrigerator and chill the chocolate birds nests for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate has set and the nests are firm. Once set, they’re ready to be served!

overhead photo of chocolate haystack cookies

Topping Ideas

The possibilities are endless if you’re looking for alternatives for making chocolate haystacks. Some ideas for Chocolate Haystacks Birds Nest Cookie toppings include:

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • If you want to make enough chocolate haystacks for a larger group, you can easily double the recipe and line 2 baking sheets with parchment or wax paper. 
  • Some recipes call for crispy rice cereal instead of chow mein or ramen noodles. Rice cereal does offers a lighter option, though it will be harder to shape.
  • Store any leftover chocolate birds nests in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Avoid storing them in direct sunlight or warm environments to prevent melting.
close up of a single chocolate haystack

More Easter Ideas and Inspirations that You Should Try

And in case you’re looking for more Easter ideas and inspirations, here are a few of my favorites from our archives —

Do you have any tried and true favorites for the traditional chocolate haystacks?! If so, be sure to share in the comments below; we’d love to hear them!

But if you’re searching for guilt-free Easter candy options, don’t miss out on these 15 mouth-watering treats! Trust us; your taste buds and waistline will thank you later.

side angle photo of birds nest cookies
close up photo of a chocolate haystack with cadbury eggs

Chocolate Haystacks Birds Nest Cookies Recipe

Print Recipe
5 from 16 votes
Whether it’s Easter or a just-for-fun dessert that the kids will enjoy, these classic birds nest cookies are always a hit.
Prep Time20 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course Desserts
Cuisine Cookies

Equipment

  • Parchment paper

Ingredients

  • 6 oz dried chow mein noodles 1 pack
  • 4 oz dark chocolate
  • Egg candy

Nutrition

Serving: 12g | Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 90mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 2mg
Servings: 12
Calories: 107kcal

Instructions

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. Set aside.
  • In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips in 20-second intervals, stirring after each interval until smooth and fully melted. Alternatively, melt the chocolate using a double boiler.
  • Once the chocolate is melted, crumple the noodles into smaller pieces and add them to the bowl. Gently fold until the noodles are evenly coated in chocolate.
  • Scoop out portions of the chocolate-coated noodles onto the prepared baking sheet. Use your fingers or the back of the spoon to shape the mixture into nest-like shapes, making an indentation in the center of each nest.
  • While the chocolate is still soft, place mini chocolate eggs in the center of each nest to resemble eggs in a bird’s nest.
  • If the chocolate mixture hasn’t been set within 20 minutes, transfer the baking sheet to the refrigerator and chill the chocolate birds nests for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate has set and the nests are firm. Once set, they’re ready to be served!
KEYWORD: birds nest cookies, chocolate haystacks

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5 from 16 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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18 Comments

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  4. This is so yummy and fit perfectly into my meal prep! Funny enough, I was very on the edge of trying a Keto diet because there’s so much info out there and I was really confused at the beginning lol. I read a blog post – https://blakestake.com/i-finally-tried-the-keto-diet-heres-what-happened-my-results/ .This is a review of a weight loss program called the Custom Keto Diet and the writer (Blake)’s journey with starting and achieving amazing results with the Keto diet. I can’t stress enough that people should try this before wasting money and their time on things that don’t work. It changed my life!5 stars

  5. we made these this past week and they were so much fun! my kiddos loved them and I’m making them again for easter!!5 stars

  6. I’m going to order these eggs tonight so we can make these next week. I know my kids will love making and eating them.5 stars

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  9. coming late to the party, but… The recipe for these is on the packets in Australia, called spiders. It calls for crunchy peanut butter to be added in when you melt the chocolate. It is perfectly delicious. More than highly recommended!

  10. I used to have these when I was little but we used broken up shredded wheat cereal! Might have to make some this Easter!5 stars

  11. We used to make these growing up and called them “haystacks” and I LOVE the idea of using them as nests for Easter! We use half butterscotch/half chocolate and it’s amazing! Thanks for sharing!5 stars