No Bake Chocolate Coconut Nests
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Published Apr 10, 2019, Updated Apr 14, 2022
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These no bake chocolate coconut nests are such an easy Easter treat only require three ingredients: shredded coconut, chocolate chips and candy eggs! Gluten-free.
Of all treats I’ve been making lately, and there have been quite a few, these little nests are Isaac’s favorite! I’m pumped because they’re also the easiest and fastest to make. Plus they involve my favorite Easter candy ever, Cadbury Mini Eggs.
These chocolate nests are inspired by the traditional chocolate nest candies. Except these are not made with chow mein noodles and corn syrup. You’re welcome! Whether these are for you or kiddos in your life, no one needs to feel guilty about snacking on these. They are the cutest little treat for Easter or springtime in general.
WATCH HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE COCONUT NESTS:
How to Make Coconut Chocolate Nests
- You’ll start by toasting your coconut. Either spread the shredded coconut on a baking sheet or toast in a saucepan. No matter which method you choose, pay close attention! Shredded coconut can burn easily so don’t get distracted.
- After your coconut is done toasting (remember, watch it carefully), let it cool while you melt the chocolate. You’ll mix the melted chocolate with cooled shredded coconut in a medium bowl and then scoop 2-3 Tablespoons of the mixture to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and roughly shape into a nest.
- Add 2-3 candy eggs to each nest and let sit at room temperature or pop into the refrigerator to speed up the process.
If you have a sweet tooth like me, it’s HARD to pass by the treat aisle in the grocery store. Sure, there’s always a treat aisle, but around Easter and Halloween I swear they clear out two to four aisles for sweets. Makes me wonder if candy consumption really grows that much that they need to increase their inventory 4x?! I’m looking at you, Target!
Anyway, I love my sweets but I am also mindful of what I’m putting in my body so I love when I can recreate childhood favorites with better ingredients. And with this one, I still get to enjoy a few of my favorite candies. Win, win!
More Easter Dessert Recipes
No Bake Chocolate Coconut Nests
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¾ cup chocolate chips, I used Lily’s chocolate chips
- 24 Cadbury mini eggs, jelly beans or macadamia nuts*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread the shredded coconut onto a baking sheet for toasting. Place in oven for 5-10 minutes, until coconut is a light golden brown color. Make sure to stay in the kitchen watch the coconut, as it can easily go from toasted to burnt. Alternately, you can toast the coconut in a pan on the stove-top.
- Let toasted coconut cool on baking sheet while melting chocolate. Add chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl and melt in 20-30 second increments until the chocolate is melted. Add cooled coconut and melted chocolate into a large bowl and toss to combine. Use a spoon or ice cream scoop to scoop about 2-3 Tablespoons of the coconut chocolate mixture onto a piece of parchment and shape into a nest. Top each nest with 2-3 eggs. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Let nests set at room temperature or place in the fridge or freezer to speed up the process. Store leftover nests in an airtight container at room temp for 4-5 days or in the fridge for longer storage. If you store them in the fridge, let sit for about 5-10 minutes before eating.
Video
Notes
- Vegan: If you want these to be vegan you’ll need to use non-dairy chocolate chips and vegan jelly beans, vegan candy eggs or macadamia nuts.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These look so good! Im going to try and make these for Easter this year!
XO, Katie | http://www.meshkomoments.com
Cadbury mini eggs aren’t vegan I’m afraid!
No, they definitely aren’t. To make these vegan you can use vegan candy eggs or jelly beans or use the macadamia nuts.
I cannot seem to find the longer shredded coconut anywhere! I searched Whole Foods, Target, and Amazon. Any suggestions?
Bummer. Maybe places are sold out because the Easter/Passover? I know Target usually has it! Do you have a Trader Joe’s nearby. They definitely sell it. Nuts.com also sells it. https://nuts.com/driedfruit/coconut/organic-shredded.html And the Baker’s brand sells unsweetened shredded coconut too! I found it online at Walmart.com but they’re sold out. :/
Hi Brittany! These look awesome. How do you think coconut flakes would turn out instead of shredded coconut?
Yes, I think so! Let me know if you try it!
Wow – those look amazing. I have family in from out of town this weekend – these look like a perfect treat to have around the house for my guests to snack on!
So simple and flavourful! An instant hit! I will surely make again all year round, without the mini eggs. Even my husband and daughter, who often find the flavour of coconut to be overpowering, loved these!
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Nancy!! I’m so glad these nests were a hit. Thanks for trying them and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. It means the world to me. <3
So easy to make, and looked pretty in my granddaughters Easter Baskets, or at least the ones that like coconut. Saved 2 for my husband and I they are so good!
Ahh I love that you added them to her Easter basket. 🙂 I’m so glad they were a hit! Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. It means the world to me!
Easy but video is expanded too much
These are so easy to make and absolutely adorable once assembled!! Could only find finely shredded unsweetened coconut and they still came together and 3 mini Cadbury eggs sit atop. Made these for our adult kiddos who will be visiting us on Sunday for Easter Brunch. These will be perfect to make next year together with our grandson who will be over 2 by next Spring, can’t wait!!
Oh yay!! So glad these turned out for you, Vicki. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
I haven’t tried the finished product yet but I’ve been tasting as I went through the recipe. Toasting the coconut is such an amazing touch. The recipe is easy and fast! Be sure to watch the coconut in the oven
I hope you love them, Natalie!!
Yearly tradition for us! Perfect for little helpers who like to help in the kitchen and SO yummy!
Yay!! So glad these nests have been a hit! Thanks for the review, Kelsey. I so appreciate it!
Fell in love with your Instagram post on these cute little bird nests. I toasted frozen flaked coconut and I toasted sweetened coconut… both turned out great. I have my first nest in the refrigerator now waiting for it to set up. I toasted the majority of my coconut today. Will toast a small batch tomorrow to show my littles the process and then let them make the nests and place the eggs. I’m sure they will love this! Thanks for a great idea!
Yay!! So glad you loved these. Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
I loved the recipe!
Yay, I’m so glad you loved it!!
I have a question. My grandkids don’t like chocolate. Could you substitute white chocolate and use like food coloring for spring colored nests?
Thank you
Hi Shirley. White chocolate should work great! I haven’t tried it but someone actually messaged me this weekend and said they made these with white chocolate. I’m not sure if food coloring affects the texture or melting of white chocolate so you may want to google how to add food coloring. Let me know how they turn out!!
Made this recipe twice already after Easter. I going to make it with carmel chips and pistachio for someone with a chocolate allergy for their May birthday, can’t wait. Found sea salt carmel chips on Amazon , Scotts cakes no chocolate in them and Hershey’s makes some too . Love these there so yummy! Thank you for posting this.
Ohh the caramel and pistachio version sounds yummy!! You’ll have to let me know how they turn out. 🙂
What brand of coconut is that? I can’t find any long shreds like that. Just short ones. Thanks so much!
I’ve found them at Trader Joe’s and Kroger before!
What could you use instead of coconut to make the nests?
Hi, Denise. Unfortunately, shredded coconut is one of the main ingredients in this recipe and there isn’t a good substitute for it.
So fun. I used to make these as a kid.
Yay! I love when recipes can spark memories. Thanks for sharing, Ella.
Do you use milk chocolate chips or semi sweet? I was thinking semi sweet may be too overpowering with chocolate??
Also, mine are not holding together well. Should I do more chocolate next time? I couldn’t find long shreds of coconut so used unsweet shredded. Maybe that is why? I also used milk chocoate. They are as cute as can be and I will use one next to each Easter diner plate. Just not holding together.
Hi, Pamela! Using shredded as opposed to the longer shreds is probably the culprit of why they aren’t holding together. As for the milk vs semi-sweet chocolate, I used Lily’s milk chocolate chips but semi-sweet would be okay too, just personal preference or whatever you have on hand!
These are amazing! So flavorful and perfect. I love how pretty they are too.
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that, Kori. Thank you so much for making them and leaving a review, I appreciate it so much 🙂
Perfect for Easter! I highly recommend using OliveNation chocolate for this recipe. They have highly quality chocolate for low prices and it really makes a simple recipe like this taste even better.
Glad this recipe turned out great, Kourtney. Thank you for sharing your review + star rating, I appreciate it!
Thanks for this recipe. It reminds me of the candy my mom got us as kids for Easter. Just perfect.
Of course! I am so glad you found this recipe and it can bring back some childhood memories. Hope you enjoy these, Holly. Thank you for coming back and sharing your review + star rating, I appreciate it!
We love these! My kids request we make these every year for Easter. They’re so easy and so adorable!
Ah yay! I am so glad this recipe is a hit for you and your kids, Christine. Thank you so much for sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!