For an easy sweet Christmas treat, make a batch of Haystack Cookies! This no bake cookie recipe features crunchy chow mein noodles covered in a blanket of melted butterscotch and peanut butter. This classic holiday treat takes just 5 minutes to make!
If you're looking for an easy Christmas cookie exchange idea that requires NO baking, this is the perfect solution!
Butterscotch haystacks are seriously simple to make, yet so danged tasty. I've perfected the recipe, using the perfect combination of crunchy chow mein noodles, gooey mini marshmallows, sweet butterscotch morsels, and salty peanut butter.
There are other names for this festive holiday cookie/candy. One of the most well known is chow mein noodle cookies. Let me show you how easy it is to make them!
Why Haystack Cookies Will Become a Favorite
- Easy to make. Butterscotch haystacks are one of the easiest holiday treats you can make. You only need 4 ingredients, and there's no baking involved!
- Nostalgic. Every family has a classic Christmas treat that they enjoy making together. Whether you make them using creamy or crunchy peanut butter, or no peanut butter at all!
- An easy and affordable homemade gift to share. This recipe is super simple to double or even triple. So, make a LOT, then, gift them to your neighbors, friends, family, and/or coworkers.
This recipe is a must-make this holiday season, along with other classics like snowball cookies, saltine cracker candy, and homemade fudge!
Ingredients
See ingredient substitutions in the next section. ⬇️
To make a batch of peanut butter and butterscotch haystacks, you'll need:
- butterscotch morsels
- creamy or crunchy peanut butter: To prevent the treats from being greasy, use a no-stir variety.
- dry chow mein noodles - You'll find these in the ethnic ingredients aisle of most grocery stores. Because haystacks are such popular Christmas cookies, the noodles are sometimes stocked in the baking aisle during the holidays.
- mini marshmallows: The size of the marshmallow is important - the larger sizes don't work.
This being said, if you have full-sized marshmallows, you can use them to make my recipe for Christmas Rice Krispie Treats.
Supplies
You'll also need sheets of parchment paper or wax paper, and a 4-quart (or larger) sauce pan or pot.
This may seem obvious, but be sure to use a pot that holds at least 4 quarts. Otherwise, it will be too difficult to stir in the noodles and marshmallows.
Substitutions and Recipe Variations
- butterscotch morsels: This is the classic flavor for a haystack cookie recipe, but feel free to use any flavor of morsels you like. White and semi-sweet chocolate chips are both great flavors to pair with the marshmallows and peanut butter.
- chow mein noodles: If you're unable to find these, you can make haystacks with thin pretzel sticks.
- peanut butter: Creamy is what I use, but crunchy peanut butter is a good option to use for extra crunch factor. You can completely change the flavor of your peanut butter haystack cookies by using almond butter, Sun butter, or even a chocolate hazelnut spread like Nutella.
- marshmallows: For a boost of festive holiday color, you can use red or green mini marshmallows. Some people like to make butterscotch haystacks with marshmallow fluff, but I think it makes them too messy to eat. Feel free to omit the marshmallow altogether if you don't care for it.
How to Make Butterscotch Haystacks
Summary only. The complete recipe instructions are in the card at the bottom of this post ⬇️
- Melt the chips and peanut butter over low or medium-low heat on the stove.
- Stir in the marshmallows and chow mein noodles.
- Coat the chow mein noodles and marshmallows with butterscotch/peanut butter mixture.
- Drop portions onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or waxed paper.
- Chill haystacks until firm. This will take about 30 minutes in the fridge, or 15 minutes in the freezer.
Liz's Tips for the Best Cookies
- Chill the chow mein noodle cookies in the fridge until the coating sets up. If they sit out too long and start to soften, place them in the freezer or fridge for 5-10 minutes.
- Do not use water-based food coloring to color the coating. This will cause it to seize.
- If the mixture sticks to your fingers/hands when portioning out the haystacks, you can spritz non-stick cooking spray on your hands.
Serving and Gifting Ideas
The treats can be presented on a cookie plate or dessert platter, but for a more festive touch:
- Wrap them in cellophane bags to give as a holiday food gift
- Display in cupcake liners for an easy to grab treat at a party
- In a holiday tin lined with parchment paper or colorful tissue paper
Storage
If you live somewhere with high humidity, it's important to store these no bake cookies in the fridge. Otherwise, they tend to sweat, which can cause the peanut butter to become sticky and messy.
If your house is cool and dry, then it's fine to store your haystack cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
To get a jump on the holidays, you can make these treats ahead of time! They last for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze butterscotch haystack cookies! Store them and freeze for up to 3 months.
Haystack Cookie Recipe FAQs
To melt the butterscotch chips for haystacks, you can cook on the stove on low, microwave in 15 second increments, or use the double boiler method (place a metal bowl over the top of a pot of boiling water). Stir the chips until they’re fully melted with no lumps.
I don't recommend using ramen noodles, because they are too thin and don't have the same consistency. However, if you can't find chow mein noodles, you can make the cookies using thin pretzel sticks.
They are not the same. Although the flavors are similar, caramel is made with white sugar, while butterscotch are made with brown sugar.
Other No-Bake Treats
- Best Ever No Bake Cheesecake
- No Bake Oatmeal Cookies
- 4-Ingredient Nutella Pie (No-Bake)
- Easy Peanut Butter Pie (No Bake Recipe)
- No Bake Oreo Cheesecake
No Bake Haystack Cookies
Ingredients
- 11 oz butterscotch chips
- ¾ cup peanut butter creamy or crunchy
- 8 oz chow mein noodles or thin pretzel sticks
- 3 ½ cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Set aside.
- In a 4 quart (or larger) pot, melt butterscotch morsels and peanut butter together. Add noodles and marshmallows, stirring until everything is coated in peanut butter mixture.
- Drop the haystacks in 1 tablespoon piles onto the baking sheet.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes until chilled and firm before removing from the baking sheet.
Video
Helpful Notes and Tips From Liz
- Use other baking chip flavors - You don’t have to stick with butterscotch chips. It’s the classic flavor haystacks come in, however, they’re now commonly found in milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and even white chocolate. There are a ton of baking chip flavors to choose from.
- Make them different colors - Use white chocolate chips and candy coating coloring to change the color of the chocolate. This way, you can make your haystacks any color you choose for your occasion. Do not use water-based food coloring to color your chocolate. This will cause it to seize.
- Be sure to chill the haystacks until they're completely firm. You can do this by chilling in the fridge for 30 minutes, or freeze for 15-20 minutes.
Danielle mcgre
Delicious and easy to make
Sue Powers
I add a cup of salted peanuts to the haystacks I make????????????????Deeeeeelicious????