Birds Nest Cookies (easy to make and healthy!)
These birds nest cookies are super easy to make and just require 7 ingredients! They can easily be made paleo or vegan. This Easter cookie recipe is also an easy one for kids to help with and uses pantry ingredients.
As I go through these pictures, I’m realizing… whoops. I meant a few to have raspberries in them for the paleo option.
Sorry about that. The raspberries really look good in these cookies and are super tasty with the macaroon base and chocolate!
A lot of bird nest cookie recipes have some funky ingredients in them. Not these!
They just call for coconut butter, maple syrup, coconut, vanilla and salt. Plus chocolate + either Easter eggs or raspberries.
If you don’t have coconut butter on hand and don’t want to brave a trip to the grocery store, you can make it with just shredded coconut and a food processor. Here’s how to make coconut butter.
The base of these bird nest cookies is my vegan macaroon recipe, formed into nests. I don’t have many Easter recipes, and I wanted to post one this year, but due to my missing sense of taste (which I think is starting to come back!), I couldn’t come up with a new cookie recipe.
But I think that’s totally okay with this recipe because these cookies couldn’t be any more delicious!
I make these macaroon cookies more than any other recipe on my blog. If you dip and drizzle them in chocolate, they seem to last for weeks.
People always flip for them!
If you go with the Easter egg candy option, make sure they’re on the smaller side. You’ll want to use three candies to make them look nice and 3 large Easter egg candies + chocolate + the cookie is just too much, I think.
I hope you all have a lovely Easter, if you celebrate, and that you all are staying safe! For more Easter recipes, check out this gluten-free carrot cake, these paleo vegan lemon bars or gluten-free lemon cookies (which are also paleo + vegan!).
These Easter Chocolate Covered Strawberries are also super cute!
Questions about these bird nest cookies?
Easter egg candies aren’t paleo! Are you crazy?! What’s wrong with you?! Grrr.
I talk about this at the very beginning of my post. :)
Can I use something other than maple syrup?
I’m guessing another liquid sweetener would work fine, but since I haven’t tried, I can’t say for sure.
Can I use something other than coconut butter?
Unfortunately not. There’s no sub for coconut butter, and coconut oil will absolutely not work.
Can I use something other than shredded coconut?
These won’t come out properly if you don’t use shredded coconut. I don’t think flaked coconut (those are the longer strands) would work, and coconut flakes / chips definitely wouldn’t work. Desiccated coconut probably would. I used Bob’s Red Mill.
Can I reduce the maple syrup?
I used the least amount that I thought was enough. You could try reducing it slightly, but the macarons will be drier and crumblier. They might not even hold together. So I really don’t recommend reducing it!
Do I have to let the dough sit?
When I didn’t let them sit, they didn’t hold their shape as nicely. The edges were overbaked, and the cookies were overall kind of greasy. I also tried chilling them to speed things up, but letting them sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes was better.
Birds Nest Cookies (easy to make and healthy!)
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons (80 grams) coconut butter NOT coconut oil! Please weigh this as it's hard to measure correctly and different brands vary quite a bit
- 6 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cup (120 grams) shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 cup (43 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped, melted; make sure to use paleo / vegan chocolate
- about 36 small Easter egg candies for 3 candies/nest; make sure to use vegan chocolates if you need these to be vegan or raspberries for the paleo option
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix together the first 4 ingredients (coconut butter through salt).5 tablespoons (80 grams) coconut butter, 6 tablespoons maple syrup, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Stir frequently until everything is melted and well combined. Remove from the heat.
- Stir in the coconut. Let the mixture sit for 30-60 minutes at room temperature.1 1/2 cup (120 grams) shredded unsweetened coconut
- Preheat the oven to 325 °F (163 °C) and line a cookie sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
- Use a 1.5 tbsp cookie scoop (the scoop is important so they have the right rustic look – if you just roll them into balls, they don’t have little bits of coconut sticking slightly out) to form 12 25-gram balls. Place at least 2″ apart of the cookie sheet. Use a teaspoon measuring spoon to form a little indentation in the center of each cookie. You can use a different tool if you have something better.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned. Let cool on the cookie sheet and let cool completely before adding the chocolate. I used about 3/4 teaspoon per nest, but you might only be able to use 1/2 teaspoon depending on how deep your holes are and how big the candies are.1/4 cup (43 grams) semi-sweet chocolate
- Add the Easter eggs (3 per nest would look best) and let chocolate harden.
- These will keep well in an airtight container for at least 5 days.
Notes
- Make sure to use the shorter type of shredded coconut. Not the only strands. I used Bob’s Red Mill.
- The nutrition information provided is calculated as a courtesy and is only an estimate. I am not a licensed nutritionist or dietitian. For the most accurate nutritional data, consult a professional or use your preferred calculator. The nutrition information does not include the Easter egg candies.
Nutrition
Categories:
Cookies, Dairy-free, Desserts, Easter Recipes, Gluten-free, Gluten-free Cookie Recipes, Gluten-free Desserts, Gluten-free Vegan Desserts, Gluten-free Vegan Recipes, Grain-free, Holiday Recipes, Paleo, Paleo Cookie Recipes, Paleo Desserts, Paleo Vegan Desserts, Seasonal Recipes, Special Diets, Spring Recipes, Vegan, Vegan Cookies, Vegan Desserts,
Just a couple questions on the recipe. Did you mean combine the first 4 ingredients or am I missing something? Also, do we melt the chocolate chips first or let the heat from the cookies melt them? Thanks!
That should say 4. Thanks for pointing that out! And the chocolate should be melted.
Thanks, Erin! I made the cookies yesterday and they were delicious. Definitely a keeper.
I’m glad that they came out well! Thanks for your feedback (and sorry for my slow reply!).
So cute and very easy to make. I dropped the chocolate chips on while hot and just let the chips sit untouched. These are crunchy and delicious. Thank you for the recipe!
Oh, that’s a great idea! Thanks for the tip and for your great feedback. :) Happy Easter!
These are adorable! I’m going to make the raspberry version for Easter :)
I hope you enjoyed them!
Hi Erin, I could only find sweetened shredded coconut. Is this going to affect the cookies and make them too sweet?
Hope that you’re safe and well.
Thank you,
Reecey
Hi there! It’ll definitely make them sweeter than intended but I don’t think they’ll be too sweet. I’d love to hear how they come out if you try them!
Hi Erin,
I was able to find unsweetened coconut and made the cookies—twice! I posted photos of them and got lots of compliments. Plus, they taste delicious, so I’ve made them twice already, with chocolate eggs and raspberries. Thank you!
Love your recipes,
Reecey
These are so cute! I could eat that cookie base by itself all day.
Haha. I have indeed done that before. ;)
These turned out perfect and are delicious!
Yay! I’m so happy you liked them! Thanks for your comment. :)
What a cute idea, Erin! I make your macaroons all the time…we love them! The coconut butter is key in this recipe.
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! I’m glad to hear that you all like the macaroons. :) And yes, coconut butter does wonders when mixed with maple syrup!
SO cute!!! Can’t wait try this for Easter this weekend.
Hope you’ll enjoy them! :)
Erin, how are you feeling lately? I didn’t get to read the post yet just clicked on the recipe from my email…Are these similar to your macaroon recipe?
It’s the same exact recipe. I talk about it in the post. ;) My taste is coming back a little, yay! Thanks for asking. I hope you’re safe and well!
So your taste has not come back yet?? WOW! That has ben a long time.
These are cute and sound very tasty.
Nope! Been gone since November but it recently improved a little so I have hope. :) I hope you’re well, Charlotte!