Muesli Easter nest cakes

It only takes 10 minutes to prepare these chewy, crunchy muesli chocolate nests for Easter.

They're a fun take on the traditional chocolate Easter nest cakes, made with a fruity muesli for extra flavour and texture.

To make them, all you’ll need is fruity muesli, milk chocolate and mini eggs. 

You’ll melt the chocolate, stir in the muesli and then pile spoonfuls into a mini muffin tray. You’ll then top each nest with a mini egg and leave to set before lifting out and digging in.

Chocolate nests are a staple when it comes to Easter baking. They're easy, quick and popular with the whole family.

In fact, we're such fans that I've shared several Easter nest varieties here on A Mummy Too over the years, including this chocolate egg chick nest recipe and this chocolate Easter nest cupcake recipe.

The muesli variety recipe makes 24 Easter chocolate muesli nests. I had loads of fun making these with the kids. 

To get the full recipe, read on. I've also included lots of step-by-step photographs to help you along the way. 

Instructions

Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl.

Melt in the microwave in 30-second blasts.

Add the muesli.

Mix well.

Put a couple of teaspoons full of mixture into each hole of a mini muffin tray. (If you don't have one, you can use mini cupcake cases, doubling the cases up to help them keep their shape.)

While the chocolate is still soft, gently push a mini egg into the centre of each one.

Place in the fridge for an hour or the freezer for 10 minutes.

Remove from their tray and enjoy!

Tip: If you find that your nests don’t want to come out of the muffin tray, stand the whole tray in a flat, shallow tray of warm water. Within 30 seconds, you should be able to grip the mini eggs and twist to lift the nests free from the pan.

Easy peasy and super crunchy yumminess!

Which is your favourite version of chocolate nests?

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect Muesli Easter nest cakes

Are Muesli Easter nest cakes easy to make?

These Easter nest cakes are so easy to make that you’ll be tempted to make them every day, even when it isn’t Easter!

The recipe is made of just 3 ingredients, and there’s no ‘proper cooking’ involved whatsoever! All you need to do is melt some chocolate, mix it with the muesli, shape the cakes and then leave them to set with some eggs on top.

Will I need any special equipment to make Muesli Easter nest cakes?

This recipe is so simple, you’ll only need a spoon, some scales, a bowl and a cupcake/muffin tray. Less equipment x less washing up = the perfect recipe?

There's always a complete list of suggested equipment on the recipe card below my recipes if you're in doubt. In addition, I always include links to example products, to show exactly what I used to make each recipe.

What kind of muesli should I use?

I used fruity muesli in this recipe, but feel free to use any kind of muesli with a similar texture. Try to use something with more uniform-sized pieces so it sticks together as well as classic muesli. 

You’ll find various types of muesli on the cereal aisle of your supermarket, or in your local corner shop.

Are Muesli Easter nest cakes suitable for vegetarians?

As far as I’m aware, all muesli should be vegetarian. Unless there’s some sort of beef muesli out there (eugh). So if you use the ingredients that I used for this recipe, it should be entirely vegetarian.

Some brands of candy-coated chocolate can contain non-vegetarian ingredients like shellac, so make sure that you check the ingredients labels to ensure that they're vegetarian.

Also, don't forget to check anything extra that you intend to serve with your recipe.

Are Muesli Easter nest cakes suitable for vegans?

This recipe contains chocolate and Mini eggs, which aren’t vegan. Luckily it should be really easy to substitute them with vegan ingredients. 

For the chocolate, you can use a bar of vegan milk chocolate. Many mainstream chocolate brands like Dairy Milk or Lindt offer vegan versions of their chocolate. So check the confectionary aisle or Free From section of your local supermarket. Or if you can’t get to a store, you can find vegan milk chocolate on Amazon.

Vegan chocolate melts and sets similarly to dairy chocolate so the melting and setting time shouldn’t be impacted.

For the Mini Eggs you can use Doisy and Dam vegan Good Eggs or other vegan chocolate eggs. You can usually find vegan chocolate eggs on the seasonal aisle of supermarkets in the run up to Easter, or online year round.

Make sure that you double-check all of your ingredients labels to ensure that they’re vegan. Also, don't forget to check anything extra that you intend to serve with your recipe.

Are Muesli Easter nest cakes gluten-free?

These Easter nest cakes aren’t vegan as muesli contains gluten.

However, you could swap out the muesli for a gluten-free version. Many supermarkets sell gluten-free muesli in the Free From or cereal aisles. Don’t worry if you can’t find gluten-free muesli in store, you can usually get it from Amazon or other online food retailers.

At the time of writing Cadbury Mini Eggs are considered gluten-free, and most chocolate is gluten-free. However, check the labels, as some brands of chocolate and chocolate eggs can carry trace elements or a cross-contamination warning for gluten.

Double-check all of your ingredients labels to make sure that they are gluten-free. Don't forget to check anything extra that you intend to serve the recipe with.

Are Muesli Easter nest cakes keto-friendly?

Unfortunately, these Easter nest cakes are the opposite of keto-friendly, as they are mainly carbohydrates and sugar. Sorry!

Are Muesli Easter nest cakes healthy?

These Easter nest cakes are on the healthier end of Easter treats, as they're mainly made out of muesli. However, they still contain chocolate, so they’re definitely not suitable for an everyday snack.

Are Muesli Easter nest cakes safe to eat while pregnant?

There’s nothing in this recipe that would be a risk to someone who is pregnant. So as long as you prepare your nests safely and hygienically they would make a lovely treat for a pregnant loved one! 

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. Please seek help from a medical professional if you need further information or have any concerns.

What goes well with Muesli Easter nest cakes?

These Muesli Easter nest cakes would go well with a nice cup of tea or coffee. Or they’re great on their own! 

They're the perfect treat for giving as a gift, so you could take a box full as a gift for a friend or neighbour.

Can I make the Muesli Easter nest cakes without Mini Eggs?

The Mini Eggs in this recipe are only for decoration. So if you can’t find Mini Eggs, or don’t like them, feel free to use any other small chocolate egg! You could even make a chocolate chick to place inside the nests instead.

How should I store Muesli Easter nest cakes?

The best way to store your Easter nest cakes is to pop them into a biscuit tin or lunchbox and seal the lid securely. Then place the container in a cool dark place like a cupboard or pantry.

How long will Muesli Easter nest cakes keep?

Your Muesli Easter nest cakes should keep for 3-5 days if you store them in a sealed container somewhere cool and dark.

Can I leave Muesli Easter nest cakes out on the counter?

No, your Easter nest cakes will melt or attract bugs if you leave them out for too long. So it’s best to store them in a sealed container when you aren’t eating them.

Can I make Muesli Easter nest cakes ahead?

Sure! Your Muesli Easter nest cakes will need at least an hour to set, so it's best to make them a few hours ahead so they have plenty of time to set. Or you can make them up to 3 days ahead and keep them in an airtight container. 

The longer you leave them the more likely they are to go soft, so keep that in mind if you’re making them for a party or event.

Can I keep Muesli Easter nest cakes in the refrigerator?

You can keep your Easter nest cakes in an airtight container in the fridge, but they’ll keep just as well in a cupboard. However, if you live somewhere very warm, it would be best to store them in the fridge.

Can I freeze Muesli Easter nest cakes?

Sure! Just place the container of Easter nest cakes into the freezer as you would if you were refrigerating them. 

You might want to pop a bit of baking paper between each cake to protect them from breaking. Freezing the nest cakes will make them a little more brittle and prone to cracking.

What is the best way to defrost Muesli Easter nest cakes?

The best way to defrost your nest cakes is to pop them into the fridge for a couple of hours. The nest cakes don’t have much water content, so they shouldn’t take long to defrost at all.

Can I make these Muesli Easter nest cakes in a different quantity?

If you want to make more or less of this recipe then go right ahead. This recipe doesn’t require any cooking and the cakes are set in individual portions. So it’s perfect for scaling up or down, as there’s no temperature or time difference.

I find it best to use an online recipe calculator, so you can adjust the ingredients to the same ratio as the original recipe. 

If you've got some Mini Eggs left over why not check out my chewy Easter cookies with mini eggs.

Can I make these Muesli Easter nest cakes as one big cake?

Feel free to make one big cake! You’ll just need to set the nest for longer than 10 minutes. I have a recipe for an Easter chocolate egg chick in a wheaty Easter birds nest, so you could follow that method with the ingredients for this recipe and it should work well. 

Remember to use a spring-form cake tin so you can remove your giant nest neatly. 

Can I make this recipe in a different tin/tray?

Feel free to use any size or shape tin you like! Keep in mind that the chocolate might take longer to set if you make one very big and deep chocolate Easter nest.

Can I make Muesli Easter nest cakes in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

There’s no area of this recipe that requires a stand mixer so that should save you some washing up!

Can I make Muesli Easter nest cakes with a food processor?

No, if you used a food processor you would end up with a muesli and chocolate paste. It's best to gently but thoroughly mix your ingredients together with a spoon.

How can I make sure my Muesli Easter nest cakes turn out perfectly?

This recipe is really easy to follow, and difficult to get wrong. So you should be able to get great results very easily. I’ve included pictures to go with every step of the recipe, so if you ever get lost you can see what your recipe should look like. 

To get picture-perfect Muesli Easter nest cakes, here are some points to watch out for:

• The best way to melt your chocolate is by microwaving it in 15-second bursts. This will allow you to check the chocolate before it burns. You can also melt your chocolate in a heatproof bowl over some simmering water if you don't have a microwave. For some more advice and chocolate recipes, I have some chocolate melting tips in my free Easter eBook!
• Use an even-sized muesli: It’s best to use muesli that has even-sized pieces. For example, if you use a tropical blend it may contain toasted coconut strips which could poke out of the nest. So either choose a more simple muesli or break bigger pieces down before you combine it with the chocolate.
• Combining the nest mix: Make sure you mix the chocolate and wheat well, so the nest doesn't have any areas without chocolate. The wheat should be well coated and consistently chocolate looking.
• Set your nest cakes in the freezer if you’re in a hurry.

Why did my Muesli Easter nest cakes turn out dry/crumbly?

If your Easter nest cakes have turned out too crumbly to hold together then it sounds like the ratio of ingredients isn't’ right.

For example, if you have too much muesli or too little chocolate the mix won't bind together and hold. So make sure that you weigh or measure your ingredients out before you begin, so you know exactly how much to add and you don’t forget anything.

Your Easter nest cakes might also turn out crumbly if you don’t evenly distribute the melted chocolate. So make sure you mix the muesli and chocolate thoroughly, otherwise, there will be loose, crumbly patches of muesli.

Why did my Muesli Easter nest cakes turn out wet?

If your Easter nest cakes are wet, then they aren’t fully set yet. Luckily you can just pop them into the freezer for 10 minutes to help them along.

How can I add/change the flavours in these Muesli Easter nest cakes?

The best way to change the flavours in your Easter nest cakes is to change the chocolate you use. 

White chocolate would work really well and you could even drizzle melted milk chocolate across the top too. Or you could use melted flavoured chocolate like orange or mint chocolate!

You could add some extra chopped nuts, mini marshmallows or chocolate chips to the muesli mix. However, you might want to add some extra melted chocolate to ensure it glues together properly.

Where is the origin of muesli?

Muesli is thought to have been invented in the late 1800;s in Switzerland by a doctor looking for a dish to give enough nutrients to hospital patients. 

According to some sources, Dr Maximilian Bircher-Benner was inspired by a dish he was given at an inn in the mountains of Switzerland. Overnight oats or Muesli mixed with yoghurt is sometimes called Bircher Muesli because of Dr Bircher-Benner.

The name Muesli comes from a regional German language word “Müesli” which means “mush”.

Here's the recipe for these Easter nest cakes with muesli again in a printable format.

Pin these Easter chocolate muesli nests for later

More egg-citing Easter recipes to try

Want still more inspiration? Check out my roundup of cracking Easter recipes! Or try my family-friendly Easter craft ideas.