No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Birds Nest Cookies are a fun Easter treat made with marshmallow and cocoa pebbles for the nest, peanut butter for the filling, and mini eggs for the final touch. These bird’s nest cookies are a must-make this year!
Easter Birds Nest Cookies
If we’re talking Easter desserts, I love a classic strawberry shortcake cake as much as anyone, but whimsical desserts like an Easter bunny dessert cheese ball, Easter chick dipped wafer cookies, and these Easter birds nest cookies are much more my style!
When you think of a birds nest cookie recipe, you might think of haystacks with crunchy chow mein noodles but this version is made with cocoa pebbles, much like chocolate rice krispie nests.
They’re filled with peanut butter and topped with Cadbury mini eggs. They’re just as cute as my Easter basket cookie cups, except these are a no-bake dessert!
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Birds Nest Cookies are a perfectly portioned, fun treat for your guests to enjoy on the holiday table next to easy bunny bark!
As intricate and adorable as these sweet treats look, they’re so simple to make. If you can make rice krispie treats, you can definitely make these cookies.
If you’re after a savory bird’s nest option, try my Bird’s Nest Breakfast Cups!
Why you’ll love No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Birds Nest Cookies
Fun for the whole family – Making these cute treats is the perfect way to get both adults and the kids involved. Grown ups can deal with the stove and little ones can fill the cups when the nests are set.
Customizable – Switch up the cereal, the filling, and the candy on top! Get creative with them and make these cookies your own.
Simple ingredients – These are made with just a few accessible and budget-friendly ingredients which makes them a favorite on more than one occasion.
Perfect Easter treat – A warm welcome to spring and a special nod to the Easter season, but they can be enjoyed at any time!
Equipment you’ll need
- Cupcake pan
- Large cookie scoop – that holds approximately 3 tablespoons
- Silicone spatulas
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
- Salted Butter – We need the bit of salt to balance the sweetness, so if you’re using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt.
- Mini Marshmallows – When melted, marshmallows create a sweet and sticky mixture that holds the cereal together. I like to use mini because they melt quicker, but full sized can be used.
- Cocoa Pebbles Cereal – A chocolaty cereal that looks like corn flakes but has the texture of a lighter rice cereal. Perfect for making the nest.
- Creamy Peanut Butter – Adds a nice thick, creamy element to each bite. Use commercial regular peanut butter and not natural peanut butter so that it doesn’t become runny.
- Sprinkles – Pastel colored sprinkles to match the color of the mini eggs look so cute and spring like!
- Cadbury Mini Eggs – These are candy coated mini chocolate eggs that are available year round but in abundance around Easter time. If you have extra, make my Cadbury Egg Cookie Bars!
How to make adorable bird nest cookies
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Step One: Melt butter over low heat (add salt if using unsalted butter) and add in the marshmallows until fully melted. Remove the pot from the heat.
- Step Two: Pour in the cocoa pebbles cereal and gently fold it into the melted marshmallow mixture until fully coated.
- Step Three: Right away, use a large cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to scoop out about 3-4 Tablespoons of the cereal mixture and fill each cup of a prepared muffin tin. Press a groove into each one to form the bird’s nest shape. Allow them to sit and set for 30 minutes.
- Step Four: Once cooled and set, use a butter knife to carefully remove the nests from the muffin pan and fill each one with a spoonful of creamy peanut butter (or fill them while they’re still in the pan…up to you).
- Step Five: Top each nest with sprinkles and add 3 mini Cadbury eggs into the center. Enjoy!
What to serve with No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Birds Nest Cookies
Family gatherings require it all – appetizers, the main event, and of course desserts! Yeah, I said desserts, plural.
I have a ton of Easter recipes I turn to for dessert like slow cooker Easter candy and spring chick cupcakes that are family favorites, so I’ll usually have them on our table.
For the appetizers, I want something that will tide everyone over but not fill them up too much. Garlic and herb dip or an Easter cheese ball with crackers and veggies is always a good idea.
As for the main dish, it’s a safe bet there will be ham, either hot honey peach slow cooker ham or orange honey spiral ham. Both are amazing and so easy to make!
Tips & Suggestions
- Instead of cocoa pebbles, Fruity Pebbles or Rice Krispies can be used in its place, like in my reindeer poop cookies.
- You can also use oats, pretzel sticks, nuts, or crispy chow mein noodles if preferred.
- The peanut butter can be swapped out with Nutella, Biscoff spread, Cinnamon Toast Crunch spread, or your favorite frosting, or just leave it out completely. For class parties, it’s a good idea to have options that don’t include nuts.
- If you can’t get your hands on mini Cadbury eggs, you can also use Jordan almonds, jelly beans, or any chocolate eggs available.
How to store leftovers
They are best enjoyed the same day but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
How long will Easter Birds Nest Cookies last?
Keep them stored for up to 2 days. Do not refrigerate as they will harden.
FAQs
Are chocolate rice krispie nests gluten-free?
They certainly can be if you make sure to use gluten-free marshmallows. Read the label for certification because traditionally, regular marshmallows are not gluten-free. Cocoa pebbles are though.
What if I don’t have a muffin tin?
Place a sheet of wax paper over a baking sheet and add the scoops of marshmallow cereal mixture to the lined sheet pan. Once set, they should peel away easily.
How many cookies does this recipe make?
With the ingredient amounts listed, you’ll have 18 birds nest cookies, but you can double the recipe if you want more.
Need more no bake dessert recipes? Try these:
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies
Click here for my entire collection of dessert recipes.
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Birds Nest Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- 5 cups Cocoa Pebbles cereal
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- sprinkles
- 54 mini Cadbury eggs
Instructions
- Lightly spray two 12-cup cupcake trays with non-stick spray and set aside.
- To a large pot over low heat, add the butter and stir until melted. If using unsalted butter, add 1/8 tsp salt.
- Once melted, add in the mini marshmallows, stirring occasionally until fully melted. Remove the pot from the heat.
- Pour in the cocoa pebbles and gently fold until fully coated in the melted marshmallow mixture.
- Use a large cookie scoop to fill each muffin tin with approximately 3-4 tablespoons of the cereal mixture. Press it into each cup to form the nests. Let them sit at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes to set.
- Once the nests have set, carefully pop them out with a butter knife and then top each one with a small spoonful of peanut butter.
- Top each nest with sprinkles and three mini Cadbury eggs.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- If using unsalted butter, add 1/8 teaspoon salt to balance the sweetness.
- Fruity Pebbles or Rice Krispies can be used in place of Cocoa Pebbles.
- The peanut butter can be swapped out with Nutella, Biscoff spread, Cinnamon Toast Crunch spread, frosting, or omitted.
- They are best enjoyed the same day but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Do not refrigerate as they will harden.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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