Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests are the perfect cute and delicious cookies to make this Easter. Made with rolled oats, peanut butter, cacao powder, coconut oil, and maple syrup. It takes less than 5 minutes to prep them and are a no-bake dessert. These Easter cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar free and vegan friendly.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests

We all know Easter is the perfect day to indulge on chocolate and all other sweets. Kids get Easter baskets flooded with Easter candy that seem to never end. It’s hard to turn down all those delicious chocolate eggs but truth is there’s nothing wrong with enjoying one or two.

If you read my blog regularly then you know I’m all about balance. There’s nothing wrong with allowing yourself and your kids indulge in a few sweets every now and then. Holidays are the perfect time to have some treats and feel absolutely no guilt about it.

So to keep things balanced and not feel bad about having or allowing your kids and yourself to consume some of that candy on Easter, I am sharing this recipe with you guys. These Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests are super healthy and guilt-free.

Ingredients needed to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests:

• Gluten-Free Rolled Oats– Also known as old fashioned oats. Make sure they are gluten-free certified.
• Peanut Butter– I like using creamy but you can use crunchy if you’d like. Definitely use unsalted peanut butter.
• Maple Syrup– To sweetened the cookies.
• Coconut Oil– You can use unsalted butter or ghee too if you don’t need these to be dairy-free.
• Cacao Powder– You can also use unsweetened cocoa powder.
• Vanilla Extract– To elevate flavors.
• Pink Salt– Balances the sweetness.

Equipment needed to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests:

• Large Baking Sheet Pan– To place nests on and chill them.
• Parchment Paper– For lining baking sheet pan with.
• Small Sauce Pan– To melt ingredients on stovetop.
• Large Mixing Bowl– To mix all of the ingredients in to make nests.
• Ice Cream Scooper– To scoop out mixture and shape into nests.

How to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests:

• Step 1– Place a small sauce pan on stovetop and turn heat on medium-low. Add in peanut butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract and pink salt. Simmer for about 5 minutes stirring occassionally. Make sure all ingredients are dissolved and combined. Remove sauce pan from heat and stir in cacao powder. 
• Step 2– Add oats into a large mixing bowl. Pour melted ingredients over oats and give them a toss making sure oats are well coated with wet mixture. 
• Step 3– Line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Step 4– Using an ice cream scooper or a spoon, scoop out about 2 tablespoons of mixture and shape into a nest. Place on prepped sheet pan and repeat until all mixture is gone and has been turned into nests. You should end up with 6 nests that are about 4-5 inches wide. 
• Step 5– Place nests in the fridge and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until nests are harden.
• Step 6– Remove nests from fridge and decorate with shredded coconut and favorite Easter eggs. Enjoy!

Tips and Substitutions:

1. Stir wet mixture occasionally while dissolving- You want to make sure that none of the ingredients are sticking to the bottom of the pan and that they completely dissolve.
2. Line baking sheet pan with parchment paper- This will prevent nests from sticking to the sheet pan and will make clean up much easier after.
3. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours- The more time they spend in the fridge the better.
4. Substitute for peanut butter- You can use any other nut butter like almond butter or even tahini for a nut-free option.
5. Substitute for maple syrup- Use honey if you don’t mind nests not being vegan.
6. No cacao powder?- Use unsweetened coco powder.

How to serve Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests:

Make sure to chill your cookies for at least 2 hours. Once they have hardened enough, remove them from the fridge and decorate them. These are so cute when decorated for Easter. I like to add some shredded coconut to each nest and then top them with a few small chocolate Easter eggs. These are always a hit on Easter and the kids love them!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests FAQ’s:

Can I double this recipe?

Yes. You can easily double this recipe for more fun cookies. 

What if I’m allergic to peanut butter?

If you are specifically allergic to peanut butter, substitute for any other nut butter like almond or cashew. If you are looking for a completely nut-free option, use sunflower butter or tahini. 

Why do I have to chill my Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests?

Because these are no-bake cookies, they will need some time to harden. As the cookies chill in the fridge, the fat in the coconut oil solidifies and will make the chocolate get hard. This will make the cookies set making them easy to grab and eat.

How to store your Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests:

Keep your nests in a Tupperware dish. Preferably one that has an airtight container. Maintain your oatmeal nests in the fridge until you are ready to serve them or have them. These will last up to 5 days refrigerated.

Did you like this Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests recipe? You may also like these chocolate treat recipes:

• No-Bake Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cups
• Chocolate Fruit Cups
• Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
• Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
• Healthy Homemade Fudgsicles
• Hot Cocoa Cookies
• Copycat Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies

Looking for more fun Easter recipes you can make with your family? Check these out:

• Carrot Cake Cookies
• Lemon Raspberry Muffins
• Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Natural Easter Egg Dye

5 from 2 votes

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests are the perfect cute and delicious cookies to make this Easter. Made with rolled oats, peanut butter, cacao powder, coconut oil, and maple syrup. It takes less than 5 minutes to prep them and are a no-bake dessert. These Easter cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar free and vegan friendly. 

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests

Prep Time 5 minutes

Servings 6 cookies

Calories 297 kcal

Author Angelica Arias

Ingredients

• 1 cup gluten-free Rolled oats
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 2 tbsp cacao powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 pinch pink salt

Instructions

1. Place a small sauce pan on stovetop and turn heat on medium-low. Add in peanut butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract and pink salt. Simmer for about 5 minutes stirring occassionally. Make sure all ingredients are dissolved and combined. Remove sauce pan from heat and stir in cacao powder. 

2. Add oats into a large mixing bowl. Pour melted ingredients over oats and give them a toss making sure oats are well coated with wet mixture.

3. Line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper.

4. Using an ice cream scooper or a spoon, scoop out about 2 tablespoons of mixture and shape into a nest. Place on prepped sheet pan and repeat until all mixture is gone and has been turned into nests. You should end up with 6 nests that are about 4-5 inches wide.

5. Place nests in the fridge and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until nests are harden.

6. Remove nests from fridge and decorate with shredded coconut and favorite Easter eggs. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Tips and Substitutions:

1. Stir wet mixture occasionally while dissolving- You want to make sure that none of the ingredients are sticking to the bottom of the pan and that they completely dissolve.
2. Line baking sheet pan with parchment paper- This will prevent nests from sticking to the sheet pan and will make clean up much easier after.
3. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours- The more time they spend in the fridge the better.
4. Substitute for peanut butter- You can use any other nut butter like almond butter or even tahini for a nut-free option.
5. Substitute for maple syrup- Use honey if you don’t mind nests not being vegan.
6. No cacao powder?- Use unsweetened coco powder.

Nutrition Facts

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Nests

Amount per Serving

Calories

297

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

21

g

32

%

Saturated Fat

 

10

g

63

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

3

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

6

g

Sodium

 

101

mg

4

%

Potassium

 

227

mg

6

%

Carbohydrates

 

24

g

8

%

Fiber

 

3

g

13

%

Sugar

 

11

g

12

%

Protein

 

7

g

14

%

Calcium

 

34

mg

3

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.

**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used. 

 **Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.