Chow Mein Noodle Bird's Nest Cookies

Sweet, Crunchy, and Cute!

Chow Mein Noodle Bird's Nest Cookies

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 3 mins
Refrigerate: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 23 mins
Servings: 15 servings
Yield: 30 cookies

Easter is no doubt one of the sweetest holidays of the year. Between the treats that come inside Easter baskets and the desserts that fill the brunch or dinner table, there are endless ways to sate one's sweet tooth.

For an easy, yet festive dessert that's as fun to eat as it is to make, look no further than these bird's nest cookies. These no-bake treats are so simple that you can get the kids involved as a fun Easter activity. Quick-cooked chow mein noodles—which are readily available at most supermarkets—are coated in peanut butter and melted chocolate, then spooned onto parchment and chilled. Once set, they resemble adorable little birds' nests, especially when topped with colorful jelly beans.

How to Melt Chocolate

This recipe calls for melting chocolate chips by zapping them in the microwave, but you can also do it on the stovetop in a double boiler or by using stainless steel bowl over and pan with simmering hot water. Stir constantly until the chocolate chips have melted. Keep the potholders or gloves ready. When the chips are melted, then stir in the peanut butter and continue following the directions.

Tips for Making Bird's Nest Cookies

  • Be sure to use a large bowl when melting the chocolate since the peanut butter and chow mein noodles also need to go in it.
  • The noodles are pre-cooked so they's completely edible as is. If you purchase a large bag and have leftover noodles, use as a salad topper or in any dishes where a bit of crunch is needed.
  • This recipe calls for using 1 heaping tablespoon per nest, but you can use more to make larger nests.

"These cute little bird's nest cookies are a big hit with kids! They come together with very little work and set up nicely in the fridge. I used peanuts as the topper since that's what I had available and added a sprinkling of coarse sea salt for a nice sweet-salty contrast. The cookie had a great crunch and I loved that using semisweet chocolate meant it wasn't too sweet."—Patty Lee

Chow Mein Noodles Bird's Nest Cookies Tester Photo
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

  • 1 cup peanut butter

  • 3 cups chow mein noodles (about 6 ounces)

  • 60 peanuts or jelly beans

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Chow Mein Noodle Bird's Nest Cookies ingredients

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.

    baking sheet with waxed paper

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  3. Place chocolate chips and peanut butter in a microwave-safe container. Heat on 50% power for 1 minute. Stir and repeat, until chocolate chips are melted.

    peanut butter and chocolate in a glass bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. Stir in chow mein noodles until fully coated.

    add chow mein noodles to the chocolate-peanut butter mixture

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. Drop by the tablespoonful onto a prepared baking sheet, forming a nest shape with your fingers.

    tablespoonfuls of the noodles mixture on a prepared baking sheet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  6. Place a few peanuts or jelly beans in the center of each nest for eggs.

    Place a few peanuts or jelly beans in the center of each nest for eggs

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  7. Refrigerate until firm.

    Chow Mein Noodle Bird's Nest Cookies on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Recipe Variations

  • Switch it up and use marshmallows in addition to the jellybeans or peanuts, or use them by themselves. Candy-coated mini chocolate eggs would also be an adorable topper!
  • Swap the peanut butter for another nut butter.
  • For sweeter cookies, use milk chocolate or white chocolate.
  • Haystacks Candy RecipeThis recipe comes together quickly in the microwave. Smooth or chunky peanut butter, along with chow mein noodles and butterscotch chips, are used to create a treat the whole family will love.
  • Chocolate Spiders RecipeSemisweet and milk chocolate chips are combined with chow mein noodles and chopped peanuts to make a spooky treat for Halloween or any time of year.

How to Store and Freeze

  • These cookies should be placed in an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator. These don't last very long, but if there are any of them left, they will last for up to one week in the fridge.
  • After these cookies have cooled and hardened, they can be put in a freezer-safe container or bag, and be frozen for up to two months.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
252 Calories
17g Fat
25g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 15
Amount per serving
Calories 252
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 175mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 19mg 1%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 200mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)