No-Bake Rice Krispie Nests – Perfect For Easter and Spring!

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Whether you need an easy dessert for spring or Rice Krispie treats for Easter, these Rice Krispie Nests are bound to be a hit! Fun and tasty any time of year!

Three No-Bake Rice Krispie Nests next to blue and pink plastic Easter eggs

Rice Krispie Bird Nests

These fun Rice Krispie Easter Nests are going to be a fun addition to your next Easter gathering! As Rice Krispie treat ideas go, if you have a muffin pan handy, anyone can make these.

While this is one of those recipes that is great for the spring holidays, it is also a cute homemade craft! Place some edible grass and M&M’s robin’s eggs on top of your Rice Krispie nests and you’re set!

My kids like to help me in the kitchen, but they always like to see the full picture of what we’re making before we begin. So if your children can envision what a regular bird’s nest looks like, they’ll easily be able to put together these Rice Krispies Nests.

These Easter treats are so much fun to make and a great activity for kids of all ages. They’re a no bake dessert that is perfect to serve at Easter brunch alongside every other fun Easter treat. Plus, since they fit right into a greased muffin tin, they’re a perfect dessert to transport to an Easter party!

There are so many other places that these would come in handy as well – everywhere from a school bake sale to a birthday party to a fun treat on the sports field. This is the kind of unique dessert that you can break out every season and be known for bringing!

Three No-Bake Rice Krispie Nests on an Easter polka dot placemat next to blue and pink plastic eggs

How To Make Rice Krispies Nests Recipe

No-Bake Rice Krispie Nests Ingredients:

10 oz bag miniature marshmallows
3 tablespoons butter
6 cups Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal (or any crispy rice cereal)
1 tub vanilla frosting

1 large bag M&M’s Easter peanut chocolate candy
1 package green edible Easter grass (green apple)

Supplies Needed:

Large muffin tin
Non-stick spray
Large microwaveable bowl
Large kitchen spoon or wooden spoon
Pastry bag or small kitchen spoon

Ingredients for Rice Krispie Easter Nests: Rice Krispies cereal box, edible grass, candy eggs, marshmallows and butter

Directions:

Step 1: Grease a large muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Melted marshmallows in a measuring cup with Rice Krispies being mixed in for Rice Krispie Easter NestsStep 2: Empty your bag of marshmallows and butter into a large microwave-safe bowl.

Heat them in the microwave for 2 minutes or until your mini marshmallows get puffy and your butter is slightly melted. Remove the bowl and stir in 30-second intervals during the 2 minutes. 

A clear mixing bowl with marshmallow covered Rice Krispies being mixed in with a metal spoon for Rice Krispie Easter NestsNote – If you’d prefer not to use the microwave, melt your butter and marshmallows in a large saucepan over medium to low heat instead.

This will make the first step take longer, but please do what you’re most comfortable with.  

Marshmallow and Rice Krispies in muffin tins  for Rice Krispie NestsStep 3: Remove your bowl from the microwave and mix your cereal into your melted marshmallow. Stir until the cereal is evenly coated. It will be sticky, but it should be!

Rice Krispies treats in a muffin tin, pressed down in nest shapes for Rice Krispie Easter NestsStep 4: With a spoon, scoop your coated Rice Krispies marshmallow mixture into your greased muffin cups, pressing the center down to make a nest-like shape.

You can use a small juice glass or the back of a spoon to help with the nest shapes, but it’s not necessary if you feel able to do it with your fingers.

Three Rice Krispie Nests on an Easter polka dotted placemat next to a clear bowl of Easter M&M's and green edible grassStep 5: Freeze your pan for 15 minutes to help the marshmallow and Rice Krispies harden and retain their nest shape.

Rice Krispies nests with melted marshmallow inside each, edible grass and eggs on the sideStep 6: After 15 minutes, fill each nest with a small amount of frosting. I used a piping bag, but you can use a spoon if that’s easier. 

Rice Krispies nests for Easter with frosting piped in and green candy grass on topStep 7: Break apart your edible grass and stick it onto the frosting.

Step 8: Add three peanut M&M’s to each nest and serve!

How To Store Leftover No-Bake Rice Krispie Nests

Store these Rice Krispies treats in an airtight container so that the whole family has time to enjoy these little nests. 

Three No-Bake Rice Krispie Nests on an Easter polka dotted placemat next to edible green grass

How Long Does It Take For Rice Krispie Treats To Harden?

If you place the muffin tin in the freezer, it will accelerate the hardening process and they should be hard enough to work within 15 minutes.

If you leave them out at room temperature, I would give them an hour to cool and harden before moving to the next step. 

Why Are My Rice Krispie Treats Falling Apart?

There are two reasons that your krispy treats might be falling apart. First, you have to make sure to have enough marshmallows to bind everything together.

If you are using the full 10 oz bag in this no-bake recipe, you won’t have a problem. If you use less, they may fall apart.

Second, be sure to give the Krispie treats enough time to set. If they are still hot or even warm, they haven’t had enough time to bind. 

Can I Turn These Into Chocolate Rice Krispie Easter Nests?

Yes! The easiest way to do this is to substitute Cocoa Krispies for standard Rice Krispies in the recipe.

Follow all of the instructions for the Rice Krispie Treat Nests the same as you normally would, just swap that ingredient.

If you’d prefer to have a layer of chocolate over the Easter Rice Krispie treats themselves, follow those instructions in my Rice Krispie Treats Ice Cream Bowls

Three No-Bake Rice Krispie Nests on a polka dotted placemat next to a pink and blue plastic egg

What If I Can’t Find The Easter Ingredients Used Here?

If you can’t find the exact mini chocolate eggs that I use, try to make do. Use jelly beans, Cadbury mini eggs, peanut butter Easter eggs, or any other candy eggs or egg-shaped candy that you can get your hands on. 

If you have trouble finding “grass” during the off-season, you can opt for something like apple fruit leathers or green Fruit Roll-Ups.

Just cut them into small strips or even tiny squares and layer them the way you see in the photos. You could also create some green coconut flakes with some green food coloring!

Is There An Easy Way To Package These Easter Desserts? 

This is a fun recipe to share with friends, so you may want to take care if you are trying to transport them. There are two good options for getting this done safely.

First, leave the crispy nests in the cupcake tin, cover them with plastic wrap, and carefully bring them with you.

Second, you can take a large Tupperware container and place one layer of nests on the bottom. Place a few sheets of wax paper on top of them and add a second stacked layer on top of the wax paper. Cover the container and take it with you. 

Are You Looking For More Easy Spring Desserts? Here Are Some Of My Favorites:

Wilton Recipe Right Nonstick 12-Cup Regular Muffin Pan (2, STANDARD)Wilton Recipe Right Nonstick 12-Cup Regular Muffin Pan (2, STANDARD)Wilton Recipe Right Nonstick 12-Cup Regular Muffin Pan (2, STANDARD)Amazon Basics Nonstick Muffin Baking Pan, 12 Cups - Set of 2Amazon Basics Nonstick Muffin Baking Pan, 12 Cups – Set of 2Amazon Basics Nonstick Muffin Baking Pan, 12 Cups - Set of 2COOK WITH COLOR Mixing Bowls - 4 Piece Nesting Plastic Mixing Bowl Set with Pour Spouts and Handles (Ombre Blue)COOK WITH COLOR Mixing Bowls – 4 Piece Nesting Plastic Mixing Bowl Set with Pour Spouts and Handles (Ombre Blue)COOK WITH COLOR Mixing Bowls - 4 Piece Nesting Plastic Mixing Bowl Set with Pour Spouts and Handles (Ombre Blue)Edible Easter Grass Green Apple Flavor (3 pack)Edible Easter Grass Green Apple Flavor (3 pack)Edible Easter Grass Green Apple Flavor (3 pack)Assorted Strawberry, Blueberry, Green Apple Fruit Flavored Edible Easter Grass, Pack of 6Assorted Strawberry, Blueberry, Green Apple Fruit Flavored Edible Easter Grass, Pack of 6Assorted Strawberry, Blueberry, Green Apple Fruit Flavored Edible Easter Grass, Pack of 6OXO Good Grips 3- Piece Wooden Utensil SetOXO Good Grips 3- Piece Wooden Utensil SetOXO Good Grips 3- Piece Wooden Utensil Set

 

Yield: About 12 Nests

Rice Krispies Nests

Three No-Bake Rice Krispie Nests on an Easter polka dotted placemat next to edible green grass

Whether you need an easy dessert for spring or Rice Krispie treats for Easter, this Rice Krispies Nests recipe is bound to be a hit! Fun and tasty!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Additional Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 10 oz bag miniature marshmallows
  • 3 Tbsp butter
  • 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
  • 1 tub vanilla frosting
  • 1 large bag M&M's Easter peanut chocolate candy
  • 1 package green edible Easter grass (green apple)

Instructions

  1. Grease a large muffin pan with non stick cooking spray.
  2. Heat your marshmallows and butter in a microwave safe bowl for 2 minutes or until your marshmallows get puffy and your butter is slightly melted. Feel free to stir every 30 seconds if you'd like.
  3. Remove your bowl from the microwave and mix in your cereal. Stir until the cereal is evenly coated. It will be sticky, but it should be!
  4. With a spoon, scoop your coated Rice Krispies into your greased muffin cups, pressing the center down to make a nest like shape. You can use a small juice glass to help with the shape, but it's not necessary if you feel able to do it with your fingers.
  5. Freeze your pan for 15 minutes to help the marshmallow and Rice Krispies harden and retain their shape.
  6. After 15 minutes, fill each nest with a small amount of frosting. I used a piping bag, but you can use a spoon if that's easier.
  7. Break apart your edible grass and stick it onto the frosting. Add three peanut M&M's to each nest and serve!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 342Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 191mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 0gSugar: 43gProtein: 2g

This calculation is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a doctor or dietician. This calculator is a guide, but makes no guarantee of being exact or fully accurate.

Rice Krispies Nests with pink, blue and yellow eggs inside on a grey wooden table with a blue, green and pink plastic egg next to them
Two pictures of Rice Krispie Nests with blue, yellow and pink eggs inside
Rice Krispies nests with edible grass and candy eggs with Easter eggs around them

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