Bird’s nest cookies are a classic no-bake treat! Made with butterscotch chips, chow mein noodles, peanuts, and chocolate egg candies—the perfect Easter treat!
You might also like our chocolate peanut butter eggs, our coconut poke cupcakes for Easter or our peeps sugar cookies!
Watch our step by step video!
Butterscotch haystacks or bird’s nest cookies—call them what you want, they are a classic treat that have been around for decades. I first had them at my grandma’s house when I was a child. I was putting dishes away for her and found a container full of curious butterscotch treats in the cupboard. I asked her about them and she said, “Oh! I forgot about those!” I’m glad I was so helpful that day because I might not have discovered these unique cookies!
What are Haystack Cookies?
I was a little hesitant to try them, after my grandma said that they were made out of chow mein noodles, but I took a bite and fell in love with the sweet and salty combination of ingredients. I now make them for my own kids and sometimes we add candy to the top to make birds nests. Without the candy on top, they are called butterscotch haystack cookies. With the candy eggs, they are called birds nest cookies.
These bird’s nest cookies are made out of butterscotch chips, peanuts, and dried chow mein noodles. All ingredients can be found at your local grocery store and come together in under 30 minutes! You can also make bird’s nest cookies with pretzel sticks or potato sticks instead of chow mein noodles, but I’ve only ever made them with chow mein noodles. Just like my grandma’s version.
Butterscotch Bird’s Nest Cookie Ingredients
- 2 bags of butterscotch chips
- 1 cup unsalted peanuts
- 5 ounces chow mein noodles
- candy eggs
Other Add In Ideas:
- Cadbury mini eggs
- Peanut M&Ms
- Hershey’s chocolate eggs
- Jelly Beans
- Robin Eggs (Whoppers)
How To Make Butterscotch Haystack (Birds Nest) Cookies
Melt butterscotch chips in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat an additional 30 seconds. Continue heating in 10-20 second intervals until melted and smooth. DO NOT OVERHEAT or the butterscotch chips will seize and become hard. Alternatively, you can melt the butterscotch chips in a double boiler.
Stir in peanuts and chow mein noodles.
Scoop mixture onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
Top each cookie with candy eggs.
Allow cookies to set completely.
Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks. This recipe makes 20-24 cookies.
Butterscotch Bird’s Nest Cookies Recipe
Butterscotch Bird's Nest Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 bags of butterscotch chips (11 ounces each)
- 1 cup unsalted peanuts
- 5 ounces chow mein noodles
- candy eggs
Instructions
- Melt butterscotch chips in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat an additional 30 seconds. Continue heating in 10-20 second intervals until melted and smooth. DO NOT OVERHEAT or the butterscotch chips will seize and become hard. Alternatively, you can melt the butterscotch chips in a double boiler or on the stove over low-medium heat.
- Stir in peanuts and chow mein noodles.
- Scoop onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
- Top each cookie with candy eggs, pressing down into the melted chocolate (butterscotch) with your thumb.
- Allow cookies to set completely on the counter or in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you!
Where can I get that cute bunny dish?
I bought it from oriental trading, but it is discontinued. 🙁