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I vividly remember this delicious sweet and crunchy butterscotch chow mein noodle candy at my Great Grandma’s holiday parties when I was a child. I would go back to that candy dish over and over when my parents weren’t looking!
Some call these butterscotch candies Easter Haystacks since the butterscotch-covered chow mein noodles stack up to look like little mounds of golden hay. But as candy haystacks, this homemade butterscotch candy recipe can be used for any holiday or event. My grandma served them in a candy dish at her Christmas party. But, they would be perfect as adorable treats at a kids farm-themed Birthday party or baby shower.
Make Easter Haystacks or Butterscotch Bird Nest Candy!
But I think they look like little golden birds nests, don’t you? With the addition of some pretty pastel Easter egg candies, we turned our butterscotch haystack candies into cute Easter Bird Nest Candy!
And, with only a few ingredients and simple steps, this butterscotch candy recipe is easy enough for kids. If your child knows how to use a microwave, they can make these Easter bird nest candies!
Ingredients for Easter Haystacks & Butterscotch Candy Birds Nests
You only need 4 simple ingredients for this easy butterscotch candy recipe…
Chow mein noodles give this Easter treat its signature haystack or bird’s nest look. Plus, the chow mein noodles provide that satisfying crunch we all love so much.
Now, no need to make your own butterscotch. Butterscotch chips are the magic ingredient for the sweet flavor of this butterscotch candy recipe. With just a little time in the microwave, butterscotch chips turn into smooth butterscotch for coating your chow mein noodles.
Finally, pastel Easter egg candies turn typical butterscotch haystacks into adorable Easter birds nest candy! We used pretty pastel Cadbury Mini Eggs, but if you can’t get your hands on them, you can use any candy eggs, little chocolate eggs or even jelly beans.
Make No-Bake Butterscotch Chow Mein Noodle Candy Mixture
It doesn’t get much easier than this easy butterscotch candy recipe! You simply melt butterscotch morsels, in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave, at 30-second intervals, stirring in between. Then mix the melted butterscotch with chow mein noodles and stir until they’re evenly coated.
Now, what you do next with your butterscotch chow mein noodle mixture depends on which butterscotch Easter treat you want to make: Easter Haystacks or Bird Nest Candy.
Butterscotch Easter Haystacks Instructions
To make simple butterscotch Easter haystacks, you simply scoop spoonfuls of the butterscotch chow mein noodle candy mixture onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet or tray.
Then, pop your Easter haystack candies into the fridge to cool and harden before serving. Easy peasy!
Easter Bird Nest Candy Instructions
To make cute butterscotch birds nest candy for Easter, skip the wax paper and drop spoonfuls of butterscotch chow mein noodles into muffin pan cups instead. If it isn’t a silicone muffin pan, use cupcake liners to keep them from sticking to the pan.
Then, use two forks to form the still-warm butterscotch chow mein noodle candy into little candy birds nests. This is where the muffin pan helps, since you can pull the chow mein noodle candy mixture apart in the center and the sides of the muffin cup support the candy nest shape.
Finally, add a few candy Easter eggs to each Easter candy nest, then allow them to cool and harden before removing from the pan.
Variations & Substitutions for Your Butterscotch Chow Mein Noodle Candy
Now, there are so many ways you can change up this simple butterscotch candy recipe. Here are some of our favorite haystack candy variations and substitutions…
Chocolate Peanut Butter Birds Nest Candy — Skip the butterscotch and use a combination of semi-sweet chocolate chips and peanut butter baking chips instead. Then, top your chocolate peanut butter birds nests with Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Eggs.
White Chocolate Peanut Butter Bird Nests — Use white chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Then top each candy birds nest with one or two Reese’s White Creme & Peanut Butter Eggs.
Butterscotch Birds Nest Cookies — Drop your chow mein noodle candy mixture on top of some soft Scott’s Cakes Butterscotch Chip and Macadamia Nut Cookies. Then flatten a bit in the center to turn them into birds nest cookies, and add a few mini candy eggs. Or skip the egg candies altogether for some simple Easter haystack cookies!
Dark Chocolate Easter Haystacks Candy — Use Hershey’s SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chips instead of butterscotch baking chips to make rich chocolate Easter haystacks.
Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Easter Nest Candy — Or, try using thin pretzel sticks instead of chow mein noodles for your Easter nest candy! Then swap out the butterscotch chips for milk chocolate chips and top with M&M Eggs.
Easter Haystacks & Butterscotch Birds Nest Candy Recipe:
Easter Haystacks & Butterscotch Bird Nest Candy Recipe
Equipment
- sheet pan (optional)
- parchment paper (optional)
- muffin pan (optional)
- cupcake liners (optional)
- 2 fork (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 (11 ounce) package butterscotch morsels
- 1 (5 ounce) package chow mein noodles
- 36 Cadbury Mini Eggs (or other small egg candies)
Instructions
To Make Butterscotch Candy Mixture:
- Pour 1 (11 ounce) package butterscotch morsels into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted and smooth.
- Combine melted butterscotch and 1 (5 ounce) package chow mein noodles in a large mixing bowl and stir gently until noodles are fully coated in butterscotch.
To Make Butterscotch Haystacks:
- Drop 1/2-cup portions of butterscotch candy mixture onto a parchment paper-lined sheet pan.
- Allow to sit at room temperature for around 1 hour, or until butterscotch candy is fully hardened.
To Make Butterscotch Bird Nest Candy:
- Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners, then add about 1/2 cup of butterscotch candy mixture to each cup.
- Use two forks to form the butterscotch candy mixture in each cup into a nest-like shape.
- Add 3 36 Cadbury Mini Eggs to the center of each butterscotch candy nest.
- Allow the butterscotch candy nests to sit at room temperature for around 1 hour, or until fully hardened, before removing from muffin pan and/or cupcake liners.
Easter Haystacks Candy Ingredients & Tools on Amazon:
Now, get everything you need to make your own Easter Haystacks or Birds Nest Candy right on Amazon…
Nestle Toll House Butterscotch Baking MorselsCadbury Candy Coated Mini EggsLa Choy Chow Mein NoodlesCozihom Silicone Muffin Pan, Cupcake Pan SetMilk Chocolate Candy Coated Mini Eggs Variety PackPyrex Smart Essentials 3-Piece Prepware Mixing Bowl SetReynolds Kitchens Cookie Baking SheetsHOTEC Silicone Spatula SetcasaWare 3pc Multi-Size Cookie Sheet Set
And, find all of our favorite kitchen tools for kids in B-Inspired Mama’s Amazon Shop: Fun Finds for Kids in the Kitchen
Like this Easy Easter Haystacks Recipe? Save It & Share It!
Then, don’t forget to save this bird’s nest recipe to come back to. And, share it with friends! Simply use the buttons at the top or bottom of this post. Or, click here: Share on Facebook | Tweet It | Pin It | Email to a Friend
More Kids Easter Treats Recipes from B-Inspired Mama
- 13 Adorable Bunny Themed Easter Treats
- Cute Hatching Chicks Easter Treats
- Easy Bunny Butt Easter Cupcakes
mable says
how many nests does this recipe yield?
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Good question – I honestly don’t remember exactly. Sorry to not be more specific. I know at least a dozen (12).
Martha Angelloz says
I made these this year as a treat for my grandchildren…..they were a huge hit and I thank you for the simple little recipe. I love the fact that it is so simple that, that beautiful little boy could make them !!! Interestingly I messed up my first batch melting the butterscotch morsels in the microwave. LOL Ran to the store and restocked the ingredients and thought I would try a different method with the morsels. I poured morsels, directly out of the bag into the bowl full of the chow mein noodles, mixed together and microwaved 1 minute 30 seconds at 30 second intervals. Removed from microwaved and blended the mixture and completed the set up. So easy….such a cute Easter treat 🙂 I thank you
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says
Oh – awesome tip for melting! I bet that WAS easier. 🙂 So glad you enjoyed them with your grandkids!!
Sky says
These are adorable! I just made them for the family get-together tomorrow and they were super easy. Now if I can just keep my DH out of them until tomorrow. 🙂
Krissy @ B-InspiredMama says
Aww – I love that you made them and loved them, too! YAY!
Jess says
Hi, what consistency are these when set? I’m looking for something less crunchy than cereals.. for a medical need..
Krissy @ B-InspiredMama says
Hi Jess,
They are pretty crunchy when set. Definitely as crunchy as cereal.
Glenda says
How much of each do you use? How many of these does a batch make? Did you use a standard muffin tin or a mini one?
Krissy @ B-InspiredMama says
Hi Glenda! I’ve updated the post to include more specifics to answer your questions. Thanks for the comment. 🙂
Scribble Doodle and Draw says
I Love it! They look so yummy! I featured this post today on my blog!
Zina :: Let's Lasso the Moon says
Oh YUM. Thanks for sharing on the Kid's Co-op. I just love butterscotch recipes. So cute too!
Michelle DuPuis says
These are adorable! I really need to start cooking with my little guy. I’m doing an Easter link up today over on my blog…http://rustsunshine.blogspot.com. Would love it if you joined us!
LocalFunForKids says
The butterscotch is the perfect color for the nest. Very cute. Thanks for linking up with us. : )
Sailing with bare feet says
Super cute !! I love these !! yummy !! and FUN !!
You can visit me here http://sailingwithbarefeet.blogspot.com/
Kelsey@inspirationthief says
These look yummy and fun to make with your kids.
Rachel says
These look wonderful! We made bird nests from coconut and meltable vanilla baking squares last year. Those were good too, but going to give these a try this year for something different. Just shared the link with my FB friends.
Nicole Maki says
My boys would absolutely love making these. I'm definitely going to give your recipe a try. Thank you.
Also, thanks for visiting my blog and becoming a follower. So cool of you!
Warmly,
Nicole