Looking for a quick and easy allergy-friendly Easter treat? These no-bake Easter birds nest treats are made with just 2 ingredients and are naturally vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free. Perfect for kids, these fun Easter nests come together in minutes using chocolate and rice cereal, then are topped with mini eggs or your favourite candy for a festive finish. They’re simple, budget-friendly, and ideal for making together as a family.
Originally posted in April 2022 and updated in March 2025 to include more helpful tips and tricks.
Why I Made these Easter Birds Nests
As someone with nearly two decades of baking experience and a focus on allergy-friendly recipes, I love creating treats like this that are both safe and fun for families to enjoy together.
I used to love making these when I was a child, and now we are carrying on the tradition with our kids. These Easter birds nest treats are vegan and gluten-free. And as we are using plant-based chocolate, these are safe for those with dairy allergies as well.
Why You Need to Make These
Finding allergy-friendly treats can be both tricky and pricey. But these birds nests come together in minutes, using just two inexpensive ingredients, and take away the stress of trying to find store-bought treats.
These no-bake Easter birds nest treats are the perfect solution when you need something quick, safe, and fun to make with kids.
- 2 Ingredients – simple pantry staples.
- Allergy-Friendly – vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
- No-Bake Recipe – ready in minutes.
- Kid-Friendly – fun, messy, and perfect for little helpers.
- Budget-Friendly – cheaper than store-bought treats.
Ingredients and Substitutions
You only need 2 simple ingredients to make these Easter nests, making this one of the easiest no-bake recipes for kids.
Cereal: Did you know that rice cereal is not always gluten-free? Some brands contain barley or malt. Always check labels and choose certified gluten-free cereal if needed. You can sub with corn flakes, frosted flakes or shredded wheat if you prefer.
Chocolate: I use plant-based chocolate chips to keep these dairy-free and vegan. If you are not avoiding dairy, feel free to use chopped bars of chocolate or regular chocolate chips.
How to make Easter Birds Nest Treats
These Easter nests come together in just a few simple steps. Gather all of your ingredients and equipment, then place 12 cupcake cases in the cupcake pan.
Add 270 grams (1.5 US cups) of vegan chocolate chips to a microwavable bowl and heat in 30-second intervals until melted. This usually takes 2-3 minutes, and I highly recommend stirring every 30 seconds.
In a large mixing bowl, add 84 grams (3 US cups) of rice cereal then pour on the melted chocolate.
Fold together with a spatula until the cereal is fully coated.
Add scoops of the treat mix to the cupcake cases. I like to use an ice cream scoop to do this so that it is less messy. It also ensures that the nests will have the same amount of filling in them.
Once all of the mix has been distributed, use the underside of the scoop to make a dent in the middle of the nests. This will help to hold the candy in place once they have set.
Place the cupcake pan in the fridge for 30 minutes to allow the nests to firm up. Once firm, decorate with mini eggs, jelly beans or other candies.
How easy was that? This is just about as simple as it gets for making a quick Easter treat with the kids.
Enjoy! And yes, they’re messy, but that’s all part of the fun. If you make them, I’d love to see! Share a photo and tag me on Instagram @itsbakeangel or leave a comment below to let me know how they turned out.
Common Questions
This recipe makes 12 Easter birds nest treats which are both vegan and gluten free. Feel free to sub the rice cereal for corn flakes or shredded wheat if preferred.
You can use any type of chocolate. I prefer to use chocolate chips but you can cut up bars of chocolate and even mix and match white and regular chocolate for a fun twist.
Nests should be stored in the fridge as the chocolate will start to melt quickly at room temperature. Remove from the fridge just before serving and decorate as desired.
Store for up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
This recipe is nut-free already! Always double-check your ingredients if you need to cater to specific food allergies.
Absolutely! You can even use candy melts for a more colourful Easter Nest! Melt in the same manner as the chocolate chips used in the recipe.
Yes! You can make these up to 3 days in advance and store them in the fridge in an airtight container.
Craving More Easter Desserts?
If you loved these no-bake Easter treats, here are a few more allergy-friendly Easter desserts to try:
- My Ultimate carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is so full of flavour with the creamiest frosting!
- Red Velvet Donuts are a fun twist on a classic baked treat.
- Hot Cross Buns are perfect for Easter brunch.
- Easter Rice Krispie Treats – a festive twist on a nostalgic snack.
- Deep-Dish Easter Cookie Cake – a slice of heaven for cookie lovers.
Which one will you try next? Let me know in the comments!
Easter Birds Nest Treats – No Bake, 2 Ingredients Vegan Gluten Free
Equipment
- Small bowl
Angela’s Top Tip
Weigh your dry ingredients in grams with a scale for best results!
Ingredients
- 84 grams Rice Cereal (3/4 US Cup)
- 270 grams Vegan Chocolate Chips (1 1/2 US Cups)
Instructions
Prep:
- Gather all of your ingredients and equipment. Place 12 cupcake cases in the cupcake pan.
To make the Birds Nests:
- Add 270 grams of vegan chocolate chips to a microwavable bowl and heat until melted. This usually takes 2-3 minutes and I highly recommend stirring every 30 seconds.
- To a large mixing bowl, add 84 grams of rice cereal then pour on the warm chocolate. Fold together with a spatula until the cereal is fully coated.
- Add scoops of the treat mix to the cupcake cases. Once all of the mix has been distributed, use the underside of the scoop to make a dent in the middle of the nests. This will help to hold the candy in place once they have set.
- Place the cupcake pan in the fridge for 30 minutes to allow the nests to firm up. Once firm, decorate with mini eggs, jelly beans or other candies.
- Enjoy! And yes, they are messy to eat but that's all part of the fun.
Video
Notes
- Yield: This recipe makes 12 easter nests which are both vegan and gluten free. Feel free to swap the rice cereal for corn flakes or shredded wheat if preferred.
- Chocolate: You can use any type of chocolate. I prefer to use chocolate chips but you can cut up bars of chocolate if you prefer. White chocolate also works so well in this recipe!
- Storage: Nests should be stored in the fridge as the chocolate will start to melt quickly at room temperature. Remove from the fridge just before serving and decorate as desired.
- Nutrition: Nutrition information is provided as a guide only and is based on the actual ingredients that I used to create this recipe.
OMG! I used to have these as a kid. Will be making this for Easter for sure!
They’re so fun, aren’t they!