Easy No bake Haystack Cookies that are made into cute Easter Nests! They are ready in under 20 minutes and the perfect recipe for kids to make! A delicious mixture of butterscotch, mini marshmallows, peanut butter and chow mein noodles that are topped with Mini Cadbury Eggs.
If you’re looking for fun Easter recipes to make with your kids this year, these Easter nest haystacks are for you! This is a super easy no-bake recipe that is perfect for the holiday.
We take classic haystack cookies for this recipe and turn them into adorable Easter egg nests. These are the best treats to add to your holiday spread, and it’s a great project to make with kids of all ages.
You Will Love This Easy Recipe
- The nest part is a peanut butter haystack cookie recipe made with butterscotch, peanut butter, marshmallows, and crunchy chow mein noodles.
- To give it a fun Easter twist, you add mini Cadbury chocolate eggs, so they look like birds nest cookies.
- This is a great make-ahead recipe! They keep well for up to a week at room temperature – give them out as gifts or add them to your menu for a fun Easter dessert.
This is such a fun, sweet treat that kids and adults will love! You’ll love how easy they are to make, too. We tend to make them as a snack to eat before we dye eggs. Oh, and you should check out how to dye eggs with fabric, it’s so cool!
I can’t wait for you to try these haystacks!
What are Haystacks made of?
- Butterscotch chips – Change this up with peanut butter or chocolate chips.
- Creamy peanut butter – Want more crunchy? Use crunchy peanut butter.
- Mini marshmallows – Optional, you can totally leave these out.
- Chow mein noodles – That crunch we all love.
- Cadbury mini chocolate candy eggs – Or any small Easter candy that looks like an egg!
Helpful Tools
Recipe Steps
Prep – Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Melt – Place the butterscotch chips and peanut butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Warm them in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until the mixture is smooth.
Mix – Add the chow mein noodles to the butterscotch mixture and stir to combine. Mix in the marshmallows.
Drop – Using a spoon drop the haystack mixture on the prepared baking cookie sheet. Shape the mounds into a nest shape and make a shallow indent in the center of each nest.
Top – Place three chocolate eggs in each indent and then let the nests set at room temperature. You can also place the pan in the refrigerator or freezer to speed up the process.
Store – Make sure to keep the haystack nests in an airtight container.
Mix up your Haystacks with these fun variations!
Want to change up your Easter nest haystacks? Here are different options you can try:
- Lighter colored nests: Instead of butterscotch chips, use the same amount of white chocolate chips to create a lighter-colored nest.
- Dark-colored nests: Instead of butterscotch haystacks, use chocolate chips to make peanut butter chocolate nests.
- Candy: Try other Easter candy for the eggs like jelly beans or other chocolate eggs. To make them look like robin eggs in a nest, fill each one with light blue eggs.
- Sprinkles: Add a little more fun with some pastel-colored sprinkles. You can add them on top of the nests before adding the eggs.
How do I store leftover Haystack Cookies?
These Easter treats store really well! You have a few options:
- Room temperature: Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
- Refrigerator: You can extend their shelf life by keeping them in the refrigerator.
- Freezer: I haven’t tested Easter egg nests in the freezer. Regular haystack cookies freeze well, but depending on the candy you use, they may not hold up as well. If you try it, store them in a freezer container with wax paper separating the layers. They should keep well for up to a month.
You will love making a batch of these Easter nest haystacks with your family! They’re so simple to make and almost too cute to eat. Give them a try and I know they’ll be a hit. Enjoy!
Want More Fun Ideas for Easter?
We love Easter activities so be sure to try some of these ideas, too!
- Salt Dough Easter Eggs are easy to make and a cute decoration to share with family and friends.
- Learn How to Dye Easter Eggs with a few simple ingredients!
- Or give our Speckled Easter Eggs project a try. It’s a fun way to dye eggs with rice!
- Peeps Rice Krispies Treats are another fun no-bake dessert idea!
Easter Nest Haystacks
Quick and easy no bake haystack cookies! A combination of butterscotch, marshmallows, peanut butter, chow mein noodles and topped with mini Cadbury Eggs to create an Easter Nest!
Ingredients
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
- 5 ounces chow mein noodles
- 72 Cadbury Mini Eggs
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper set aside.
- Combine butterscotch chips and peanut butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave ingredients for 30 seconds, stir and repeat until completely melted.
- Add the chow mein noodles to the peanut butter mixture. Stir until combined then add the marshmallows and stir to combine.
- Drop by spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet and shape into nests with an indent in the middle. Place three eggs in the middle of each nest..
- Let cool at room temperature or place in the refrigerator or freezer to speed up the process.
Notes
MIX UP YOUR HAYSTACKS WITH THESE FUN VARIATIONS!
Want to change up your Easter nest haystacks? Here are different options you can try:
- Lighter colored nests: Instead of butterscotch chips, use the same amount of white chocolate chips to create a lighter-colored nest.
- Dark-colored nests: Instead of butterscotch haystacks, use chocolate chips to make peanut butter chocolate nests.
- Candy: Try other Easter candy for the eggs like jelly beans or other chocolate eggs. To make them look like robin eggs in a nest, fill each one with light blue eggs.
- Sprinkles: Add a little more fun with some pastel-colored sprinkles. You can add them on top of the nests before adding the eggs.
HOW DO I STORE LEFTOVER HAYSTACK COOKIES?
These Easter treats store really well! You have a few options:
- Room temperature: Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
- Refrigerator: You can extend their shelf life by keeping them in the refrigerator.
- Freezer: I haven’t tested Easter egg nests in the freezer. Regular haystack cookies freeze well, but depending on the candy you use, they may not hold up as well. If you try it, store them in a freezer container with wax paper separating the layers. They should keep well for up to a month.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 536Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 117mgCarbohydrates: 63gFiber: 5gSugar: 50gProtein: 5g
Hi Julie, so glad you are doing well. I have never let you know how much I enjoy your recipes and how much my friends love it when I make things for them. At least one recipe of yours is made each week and my husband waits for it like the meal is a prize. Thank you so much.
PS More veggie meals, please.
I can try to do that. Glad you are enjoying them!
Woooooooooow