Easter Nest

Need a cute Easter treat that doesn’t require piping bags? Or baking?

You can crank out these Chocolate Easter Nests in a matter of minutes. They’re the same no-bake Chinese noodle cookies (aka haystacks) your mom probably whipped up for you at the last-minute for scout meetings, with a little added Easter swagger.

Just melt the chocolate chips (or butterscotch, peanut butter or white chocolate), stir in some Chinese chow-mein noodles and peanuts, and drop the mixture by spoonfuls onto wax paper. Then, use two spoons or a rubber spatula to gently shape them into nests, and place your candy eggs inside.

Cute. Delicious. Done!

Chocolate Easter Nests

From Rebecca Crump (EzraPoundCake.com)

Makes about 12 nests

  • 2 cups (10 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (Or, use 1 cup each chocolate chips and butterscotch chips; 1 cup each chocolate chips and peanut butter chips; or 1 cup each butterscotch chips and peanut butter chips.)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (use only with 2 cups chocolate chips)
  • 2 cups (4 ounces) Chinese chow-mein noodles (You could also use crumbled shredded wheat or broken pretzel sticks)
  • 1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) dry-roasted peanuts, sliced almonds or toasted chopped pecans
  • For the Eggs: your choice of candy-coated mini chocolate eggs, jelly beans, Jordan almonds, etc.

White Chocolate Variation: Substitute white chocolate for semisweet, 1/2 cup toasted coconut flakes, and use the toasted pecans.

  1. Line a baking sheet or work table with wax paper.
  2. Using a double-boiler (or a metal bowl set over a a pan of simmering water), melt the chocolate chips and butter together, stirring until the mixture is smooth. OR, place the chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave them at medium heat for about 2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
  3. Gently stir in the noodles and nuts.
  4. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto wax paper. Use a spoon to gently make an indentation on the top of each cluster for your candy eggs.
  5. Place the candy eggs in the nest. Let the clusters stand until set, about 1 hour.

STORAGE: The clusters can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 month.