Meet Ting-A-Lings: The no-bake Easter dessert that comes together in minutes

They’re endlessly customizable.

With Easter just weeks away, I’ve been hunting for recipes that come together quickly, so I can focus on more time-consuming main dishes like braised lamb or honey-glazed ham. Recently, my editor shared a charming no-bake dessert from her mom’s vintage Betty Crocker cookbook that is perfect for this occasion.

The dessert, called “Ting-A-Lings,” lives up to its cute name. The recipe combines melted chocolate with cereal to form crunchy, sweet mounds, which reminded me of dainty birds' nests.

I decided to make a batch myself. Below, you’ll find the recipe along with tips for turning these treats into a festive Easter delight.

How To Make Betty Crocker’s Ting-A-Lings

In the top of a double boiler, melt 2 packages (6 ounces each) of semisweet chocolate or 12 ounces of milk chocolate over hot water. (Check out these easy ways to melt chocolate!) Gradually stir in 4 cups of whole wheat flakes cereal, mixing gently until all the flakes are evenly coated.

Drop the mixture by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper. This recipe makes 3 1/2 dozen confections. Chill for about 2 hours, or until firm. For extra heartiness, fold 1/3 cup of chopped toasted almonds into the cereal mixture before adding the melted chocolate.

Tips for Making Betty Crocker’s Ting-A-Lings

It took less than five minutes to go from melting the chocolate to dropping the Ting-A-Lings onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. You can shape them into ovals to resemble Easter eggs or drop them more rustic to mimic a bird's nest—I chose the latter. From there, the fridge did the rest of the work.

I didn’t have high expectations for this dessert, since it’s such a simple combination, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised after tasting one. Each bite delivered rich chocolate notes, balanced by the salty crunch of the cereal. Adding almonds gave it an even more delightful nutty flavor.

Enjoy these treats on their own, or read on for a few tips to turn them into a fun, festive Easter dessert.

Fill the chocolate nests. After baking, the Ting-A-Lings resemble real birds' nests. For a playful touch, fill them with mini candy eggs or top each with a Peeps chick marshmallow.
Swap the ingredients. Replace the whole wheat flakes with Fruity Pebbles and mix in white chocolate for a fun, colorful twist on this dessert.
Add mix-ins. Just like a bird’s nest, you can customize these treats with all kinds of mix-ins—pretzels, roasted nuts, or dried fruit all work beautifully.