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    Home » Easy Recipes » Desserts & Treats

    Chocolate Haystacks

    Published: Mar 21, 2025 · Modified: Mar 21, 2025 by Susan Moncrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Looking for an easy, festive treat to make this Easter? These Chocolate Bird Nests are made with just two ingredients and come together in minutes! Also known as chocolate haystacks, these adorable no-bake treats are a classic Easter recipe that kids and adults both love.

    chocolate nest with jelly beans as eggs

    They’re perfect for Easter dessert tables, classroom parties (I remember making these in elementary school), or a fun springtime activity with the kids. All you need is melted chocolate and crunchy chow mein noodles—top them with candy eggs, and you’ve got the cutest edible bird nests!

    Here are a few more Easter Themed treats. These Surprise Inside cereal covered Easter Eggs are also fun. And these Hershey Kiss M&Ms with Candy can also be made with Easter Colors or even Easter Jelly Beans.

    Why I Love This Recipe

    It only takes two ingredients, and I almost always have both on hand—chocolate chips and a can of chow mein noodles.

    These are no-bake, which makes them the perfect treat to whip up quickly without turning on the oven.

    They’re incredibly kid-friendly—fun for little hands to help shape and decorate, especially around Easter.

    This recipe is super versatile—switch out the chocolate type or the candy in the middle to fit different holidays or whatever you’ve got in your pantry.

    Chow Mien and chocolate Easter bird nests

    Chocolate covered chowmain noodles in piles on a baking sheet

    These can be made without any candy in the middle. However, during Easter we use chocolate eggs, candy eggs, or even jelly beans to resemble eggs making this the perfect Easter treat (called Easter Bird's Nests in the spring)!

    Ingredients

    chocolate and chow mein noodles
    2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

    1 - 5 oz can of chow mein (see picture above)

    candy eggs, or chocolate eggs or Cadbury mini eggs (optional - for Easter!)

    Ingredient substitutions

    Milk chocolate chips work well if you don't have semi-sweet chocolate chips. I have tried these when made with 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup butterscotch chips and that is delicious too. Or you can even use white chocolate chips.

    chocolate banana muffins
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    As for the candy treat, use what you like if you would like. You can make these reflective of different holidays. Red treats for Valentine's Day, Green for St. Patrick's Day etc.

    Instructions

    Step 1
    Make sure to have either a piece of parchment or waxed paper ready to create your birds nest cookies on. The prep time goes quickly and it helps to have this ready.

    Step 2
    Pour chocolate chips into a large microwave-safe bowl.
    Microwave for 60 seconds then for 30-second increments until melted.
    If you aren't used to melting chocolate, make sure to try to stir between microwave heating increments. The chips keep their form and you need to stir them to make them smooth.

    melted chocolate chips

    Step 3
    Pour the 5-ounce can of chow mein noodles into the bowl with melted chocolate and using a rubber spoon or spatula, gently stir into the melted chocolate.

    stirring chow mein into melted chocolate

    Once the noodles are well covered in chocolate, take a large spoonful and place on parchment.
    If making a "nest" Use the spoon and/or your fingers to create a dip to help make it nest-shaped.

    bird nest made with chocolate covered chow mein noodles

    Aim to make a dozen nests. It's ok to break some of the noodles when doing this!

    FAQs

    How do I melt the chocolate on the stove?

    Place chocolate in a double boiler with simmering water to melt the chocolate. If you don't have a double boiler, place a small pot or metal bowl into a larger pot. The smaller pot/bowl should be in the water, not touching the bottom of the larger pot.

    Can I add nuts?

    Sure! Just add them with the chow mein noodles and cover with chocolate.

    Storage

    These can be stored in a container at room temperature for three days. They will keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge. If freezing, use parchment paper between layers. They should keep 3 months in the freezer.

    Other No-Bake Desserts

    • marshmallow treats
      Cheerio marshmallow treats
    • chocolate peanut butter cereal marshmallow treats
      Chocolate Peanut Butter Cereal Marshmallow Treat
    • Puppy chow in a small bowl.
      Easy Puppy Chow Recipe
    • two special K Bars on a white plate.
      Special K Bars
    chocolate nest with jelly beans as eggs
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Chocolate Haystacks – two ingredients!

    These chocolate-covered chow mein noodle chocolate haystacks are so easy to make!  There are only two ingredients in this no-bake dessert.
    Prep Time6 minutes mins
    Cook Time4 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 174Kcal
    Author: Susan Moncrieff

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips usually the small bag
    • 1 can chow mein noodles large can containing 5 oz.
    • Optional garnishes for your bird's nests (Optional) jelly beans, marshmallows, chocolate eggs etc.

    Instructions

    • Pour chocolate chips into a microwave safe large bowl.
    • Melt at 50% power for 60 second then at 30 second increments until melted and smooth.
    • Add chow mein noodles. All of them! Stir gently.
    • Scoop about a tablespoon of the chocolate chow mien mixture onto parchment on a baking sheet.
    • Put a little dent in the top if using candy garnishes for bird nests.
    • Put them in the fridge so the chocolate hardens. That's it. You are done!

    Notes

    Substitutions - You can also use milk chocolate chips or 1 cup chocolate chips with 1 cup butterscotch chips.
    Chocolate can also be melted in a double boiler over simmering water. 
     

    Nutrition (I am not a nutritionist. These are estimates only)

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 174Kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 170mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 2mg

    These are fun for the kids to help with.  They will get a little covered in chocolate.

    Originally published Feb. 13, 2014.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    1. Karen

      March 21, 2025 at 8:31 am

      Thanks Susan! I’m planning on making these with my granddaughter!

      Reply
    2. Rosemary Palmer

      March 17, 2022 at 6:02 pm

      5 stars
      These sound so good and crunchy. I've done them with coconut but like the look of the noodles better.

      Reply
    3. Brooke Fedigan

      March 17, 2022 at 8:58 am

      5 stars
      I love these treats and yours turned out perfect. Thank you for sharing how easy it is.

      Reply
    4. Marty Walden

      March 16, 2022 at 10:15 am

      5 stars
      You had me at chocolate! This is such a great activity for kids! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    5. Doreen

      March 14, 2022 at 6:12 pm

      5 stars
      This looks like so much fun. I saved this to make for Easter

      Reply
    6. Sara

      March 14, 2022 at 9:22 am

      5 stars
      How fun and these don't need to be neat at all!

      Reply

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    I'm Susan! I love sharing easy recipes, especially those that take less than 30 minutes and have less than 5 ingredients. I'm passionate about gardening and creating flower planters. My home is 100 years old and sometimes you will see it in my posts! It was a true fixer upper and I love it!

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