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Bird’s Nest Cookies

Bird’s Nest Cookies

These no bake bird’s nest cookies – also known as haystack cookies – are quick and easy to make and the kids will love them!

Aren’t these bird’s nest cookies just adorable?  My kids were completely enthralled. Now that’s either because they are, in fact, adorable; or because I don’t make enough cutesy kid stuff for the various holidays.  

They’re going to outgrow the stage where they enjoy that kind of thing before I actually start doing it on a regular basis.

Bird's nest cookies with chocolate mini eggs for Easter

I don’t usually bother with the cutesy food thing, but the kids do love it when I make that little extra effort.  And really?

These were no extra effort at all.  They may just be the easiest cookie to make in the history of cookies.

Bring a few ingredients to a boil, stir in a few others and drop that mixture onto wax paper.  Doesn’t get much easier than that.

So I decided to get all fancy and add some mini eggs.  Apparently that equates to fancy at my house. I may need to get out more.

No bake bird's nest cookies

This recipe is one that I got from a friend in high school. So… I’d rather not do the math on how long I’ve been making these!  These cookies are one of my favourites.

When I make these no bake bird’s nest cookies, also known as haystack cookies, I cannot stop eating them.

They’re chewy chocolate, coconut and oatmeal, no bake cookies that are completely and totally addictive. The mini eggs just add to that addictive quality, which likely isn’t a good thing!

They’re way too tough to stop eating when they’re hanging out in my kitchen – so I try not to make them too often.

I think they actually need to be relegated to an “only at Easter” treat since they’re way too hard to stop eating to have around more often then that. Besides, then I have an excuse to add mini eggs. Which is always a good thing.

Easy to make bird's nest cookies

How to make Bird’s Nest Cookies:

  • Make sure to boil the syrup for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. If you don’t cook it long enough your cookies may be crumbly.
  • The mixture will be sticky, so you can’t really shape it into bird’s nests. Just drop the oat mixture onto a baking sheet and then press the chocolate eggs into the top. You don’t need to do any shaping.

Here are some more great Easter treats for you:

Yield: 24 cookies

Bird’s Nest Cookies

Bird's Nest Cookies for a kid's Easter treat

These no bake bird's nest cookies - also known as haystack cookies - are quick and easy to make and the kids will love them!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • mini eggs

Instructions

  1. Line two baking sheets with wax paper and set aside.
  2. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, milk and butter and heat over medium heat, stirring with a rubber spatula.
  3. Once the mixture starts to boil, continue to cook, stirring, for two minutes.
  4. Remove from the heat and add the oats, coconut, cocoa powder and vanilla.
  5. Stir until it is well combined.
  6. Drop the oatmeal mixture onto the prepared baking sheets by the tablespoonful.
  7. Press 3 mini eggs into the middle of each cookie and let them set at room temperature.
  8. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Notes

Source: This recipe was given to me by my friend Kim many, many years ago!

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 176Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 5mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 2gSugar: 18gProtein: 2g

Nutrition Information is estimated based on ingredients used and may not be exact.

Mary B

Sunday 10th of April 2022

Just made these! I noticed the mixture became crumbly has it cooled and was hard to work with, so I reheated the mixture for the last 4 or 5 cookies, much better! What do you think about adding peanut butter to the mixture? Think it would work? Thanks for the recipe, love it! Mary

Stacey

Monday 11th of April 2022

I haven't tried these with peanut butter but it would probably be good. I'd probably try replacing half the butter with peanut butter.

Bonnie

Tuesday 25th of January 2022

Sorry I meant my daughter-in-law can not eat coconut, can I use extra oatmeal instead. Thanks

Stacey

Thursday 3rd of February 2022

Yes I think it would be fine to use extra oatmeal instead.

Bonnie

Tuesday 25th of January 2022

My daughter-in-law can eat coconut is there something else I can use. Thanks

Jolene

Saturday 21st of December 2019

Can you freeze these?

John

Monday 21st of December 2020

Ensure you use Minute Quaker Oats. If you use large flake oats, the cookies are too loose.

Stacey

Saturday 21st of December 2019

They should freeze just fine. I'm not sure if I've frozen them or not in the past, but I think so. Just freeze them in an airtight container or large freezer bag, I think it will work well!

Diane

Thursday 29th of March 2018

Can you replace milk with almond milk, my grandson is allergic to milk.

Stacey

Friday 30th of March 2018

I haven't tried that, but I think it would be fine. If you need to replace the butter too, I would recommend using the hard margarine rather then the soft kind.

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