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These simple No-Bake Haystack Cookies are a classic treat! Made with butterscotch, chocolate, peanut butter, and crunchy chow mein noodles, they’re ready in about 10 minutes and perfect for a sweet treat, cookie exchange, or a fun party!
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Are haystack cookies just a rite of passage for all children? I swear, I can’t be the only one who fondly remembers these classic no bake cookies! There’s nothing quite like a family tradition of making Christmas cookies around the holiday season. With some festive sprinkles, haystack cookies are an easy treat you can make any time of year, not just around the holidays!
This is such a great recipe because the microwave does the work, and you can modify the recipe to suit your tastebuds. I can’t think of a more fun surprise to stick in a lunchbox or to share with friends. Plus, no bake haystack cookies can be made ahead of time and can sit on your counter for days. So convenient when we’re all racing around – whether we’re in the middle of the holidays, school events, or summer! No last-minute stress necessary!
What Are Haystack Cookies?
Haystack cookies, also called chow mein cookies, are a sinfully sweet combination of butterscotch morsels, milk chocolate chips, and peanut butter mixed together with crunchy chow mein noodles. The chow mein noodles have a pretty neutral flavor, leaving the sweet and nutty melted chocolate mixture as the star of the show.
Every family has their own version of a haystacks recipe, which makes them staples in family cookbooks, at family get-togethers, and passed down from mothers and grandmothers for generations. If it’s your first time making little haystacks, get ready to make the easiest cookies you’ve tried!
Ingredients for Chocolate Butterscotch Haystack Cookies
You only need a few simple ingredients to make these chow mein noodle cookies – and if you’re an avid baker, you probably have them on hand already! As always, be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for the complete ingredient list and directions.
- Butterscotch Chips: I love these sweet, caramelly morsels in haystack cookies!
- Chocolate Chips: you can use semi-sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or dark chocolate chips, depending on your preference.
- Peanut Butter: mixes perfectly with the chocolate and butterscotch flavors!
- Chow Mein Noodles: these crunchy Chinese noodles can be found in most grocery stores.
What else can I add to haystack cookies?
One way to make these already delicious cookies even better is by adding mix-ins! There are so many options that go well with the sweet peanut butter and chocolate mixture. Here are some tasty ideas:
- Mini marshmallows
- Nuts like chopped-up peanuts, cashews, or pecans
- Sweetened shredded coconut flakes
- Crushed toffee pieces or M&Ms
- Holiday sprinkles for any season
What’s a good substitute for chow mein noodles in haystacks?
If you can find chow mein noodles or just don’t want to use them, the best substitute is skinny pretzel sticks. The sweet and salty combination of chocolate, pretzels, and peanut butter is oh-so-good. I’ve even seen haystack recipes using Cheerios, which I think is so smart!
How to Make No-Bake Haystack Cookies
Ready to learn how to make this sweet treat? You’ll need to gather some supplies – a large bowl, baking sheet, parchment paper, and utensils (spatula and cookie scoop or spoon for scooping the cookies) – before getting started.
- Melt butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and peanut butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.
- Add the chow mein noodles next and stir until they’re completely coated.
- Drop the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment.
- Place the no bake cookies in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes, or until hardened and set.
Fool-Proof Way to Melt Chocolate Chips in the Microwave
If you’ve ever melted chocolate before, you know that it can sometimes go very wrong. There are a few different ways to melt the chips and peanut butter together, both of which are relatively easy.
- Microwave Method: combine butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30-second intervals, stirring regularly, just until the mixture is all melted.
- Double-Boiler Method: Bring a pot of water to a simmer/low boil over low to medium heat. Combine the chips and peanut butter in a heat-safe bowl that easily rests inside the pot (but does not touch the bottom). Continually stir until the chips are melted and combined with the peanut butter.
- Cook’s Tip: Because of the oil in peanut butter, you do not need to use any additional oil (like coconut oil) to melt the chocolate. If you were to omit the peanut butter, you’d want to use about a tablespoon of coconut oil to help the chips melt smoothly.
How to Store Haystack Cookies
So, what’s the best way to store haystack cookies? You can keep them in the fridge, and they will stay fresh for at least 1 week. However, they’re definitely very hard when refrigerated, so my family prefers to leave them in an airtight container at room temperature. Trust me… a batch doesn’t last long!
Can Haystack Cookies be Frozen?
Yes! If you want to prep a batch of these no bake cookies far in advance (hello, Christmas cookies!!!), you can place the cooled, hardened cookies in a Ziploc bag and freeze them for at least 1-2 months.
No matter when you make haystacks, they’re crunchy, sweet, salty, and rich. Truly, the BEST little haystack cookies EVER!
Haystack Cookies Recipe Variations
- I make my haystack cookies with peanut butter, but you can replace the peanut butter with an equal amount of almond butter or other nut butter of choice.
- These haystack cookies have no coconut, but they do include chow mein noodles. If you’d like to add a touch of coconut, I suggest replacing some of the chow mein noodles (not all of them) with a bit of shredded coconut instead.
- Chocolate Haystack Cookies: use 1 1/4 cups of chocolate chips and omit the butterscotch.
- Butterscotch Haystacks: use 1 1/4 cups of butterscotch chips and omit the chocolate chips.
- Peanut Butter Haystacks: use peanut butter chips instead of chocolate chips or butterscotch chips! If you want to incorporate chocolate, chop up some Reese’s Pieces candies or Reese’s Cups as your mix-ins.
- White Chocolate Haystacks: use 1 1/4 cups of white chocolate chips and instead of peanut butter, use marshmallows! Did somebody say snowy haystacks?!
- We use creamy peanut butter, but crunchy peanut butter would be equally as delicious!
- This recipe yields a small batch (about 12 haystacks). If you want to have more haystack cookies to enjoy, I suggest doubling or tripling the recipe.
More No-Bake Treats to Try
No Bake Haystack Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1 Tbsp peanut butter
- 1 ½ cups chow mein noodles heaping cups
- Optional garnish: sprinkles
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and peanut butter. Microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Repeat until the mixture is just melted.1 cup butterscotch chips, 1/4 cup chocolate chips, 1 Tbsp peanut butter
- Add noodles and mix well.1 ½ cups chow mein noodles
- Drop the batter by heaping tablespoons onto prepared baking sheet. Add sprinkles on top, if desired. Refrigerate until set, approximately 30 minutes.Optional garnish: sprinkles
- Store in airtight container to maintain crunch.
Notes
- I make my haystack cookies with peanut butter, but you can replace the peanut butter with an equal amount of almond butter or other nut butter of choice.
- These haystack cookies have no coconut, but they do include chow mein noodles. If you’d like to add a touch of coconut, I suggest replacing some of the chow mein noodles (not all of them) with a bit of shredded coconut instead.
- Chocolate Haystack Cookies: use 1 1/4 cups of chocolate chips and omit the butterscotch.
- Butterscotch Haystacks: use 1 1/4 cups of butterscotch chips and omit the chocolate chips.
- Peanut Butter Haystacks: use peanut butter chips instead of chocolate chips or butterscotch chips! If you want to incorporate chocolate, chop up some Reese’s Pieces candies or Reese’s Cups as your mix-ins.
- White Chocolate Haystacks: use 1 1/4 cups of white chocolate chips and instead of peanut butter, use marshmallows! Did somebody say snowy haystacks?!
- We use creamy peanut butter, but crunchy peanut butter would be equally as delicious!
- This recipe yields a small batch (about 12 haystacks). If you want to have more haystack cookies to enjoy, I suggest doubling or tripling the recipe.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in August, 2013. It was updated in October, 2018.
I remember these fondly from my youth. If you add mini marshmallows, it breaks up the crunchiness by adding another delicious texture.
Great tip, Brian!