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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!

chocolate bird nest cookie with a bite missing showing the peanut butter filling.

Easter Birds Nest Cookies

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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!

overhead shot of chocolate birds nest cookies on a plate.

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!

side view of a chocolate bird nest cookie with mini eggs and sprinkles.

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!

overhead shot of labeled ingredients laid out to make chocolate bird nest cookies.

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.

collage of 4 photos showing the process of melting marshmallows & cocoa pebbles in a pan.

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.

overhead shot of cocoa pebbles birds nests in a cupcake pan.

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).

overhead shot of peanut butter filling in bird nest cookies in a cupcake pan.

Step Five: Top each nest with sprinkles and add 3 mini Cadbury eggs into the center. Enjoy!

overhead shot of chocolate bird nest cookies in a cupcake tray topped with cadbury eggs and sprinkles.

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.

closeup of chocolate bird nest cookies on a plate.

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

No Bake Praline Pecan Cookies

Click here for my entire collection of dessert recipes.

bird nest cookie with a bite missing showing the peanut butter filling.

5 from 3 votes