Who knew crunchy chow mein noodles could turn into one of the most irresistible cookies you’ll ever make? These no bake Haystack Cookies combine rich chocolate, buttery butterscotch and creamy peanut butter for a sweet, salty and delightfully crunchy treat made with just five ingredients!
I love recipes that look impressive but require almost no effort, and these chocolate haystack cookies certainly fit the bill. There’s no oven, no cookie dough to chill and no complicated techniques- just melt, mix, scoop and let them set!
Why These Haystack Cookies Are The Best
- The perfect sweet and salty crunch. Crispy chow mein noodles are covered in a smooth combination of semisweet chocolate, butterscotch and peanut butter, giving every bite a satisfying crunch and rich, candy-like flavor.
- Only five simple ingredients. There’s no flour, eggs or special baking equipment needed. A microwave, mixing bowl and baking sheet are all you need to whip up these easy no bake cookies.
- Perfect for parties and holiday cookie trays. These little chocolate clusters are easy to make ahead, portion into bite-sized treats and customize with festive sprinkles or other toppings for any occasion.
Ingredients for Haystack Cookies
A handful of super simple ingredients is all you need to make this incredibly easy sweet treat. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips – While I prefer this type of chocolate, you can use any kind of chocolate that you like — dark chocolate or milk chocolate chips will work well, too.
- Butterscotch chips – You can find these in the baking aisle near the chocolate chips.
- Peanut butter – I prefer to use creamy peanut butter, but you can use crunchy peanut butter if you like. If you use natural peanut butter, be sure to stir it well so that the oil is evenly dispersed.
- Vegetable shortening – This helps to create the creamy and silky texture of the mixture.
- Chow mein noodles – These noodles give the cookies their crunchiness.
How to Make Haystacks (Step-by-Step)
You are going to love how easy it is to make these no bake cookies!
- Melt. Combine butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and shortening in a large microwave-safe bowl. (Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips using a double boiler and then mix in the other ingredients.) Microwave the ingredients in intervals of 30 seconds, stirring after each.
- Add Crunchies. When the melted chocolate mixture is silky smooth, gently fold in the chow mein noodles, covering them completely.
- Form. Then, create the haystacks by making even-sized mounds with two spoons. You can also use a medium cookie scoop. Place each mound on a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper.
- Chill. Refrigerate the haystacks so that they can set.
Chef Tips for Perfect Haystack Cookies
- Don’t overheat the chocolate. Chocolate and butterscotch chips can scorch if heated too quickly. Use short microwave intervals and stir thoroughly between each one. The residual heat will help melt any remaining chips.
- Use crispy chow mein noodles. The ready-to-eat noodles are what give these cookies their signature crunch. Soft noodles or regular dry pasta won’t produce the same results.
- Fold gently. Avoid aggressively stirring or crushing the chow mein noodles. Keeping them mostly intact creates those wonderful little haystack shapes.
- Work while the chocolate is warm. Once the melted mixture begins to cool, it thickens and becomes more difficult to scoop. Have your baking sheet lined and ready before you start melting.
- Keep the cookies small. Smaller mounds are easier to eat and offer the perfect balance of crispy noodles and chocolate coating.
- Don’t skip the parchment paper. Parchment or wax paper makes it easy to remove the cookies without breaking them once they’ve set.
- Chill until completely firm. Don’t rush the setting process. The cookies should hold their shape and lift easily from the paper before serving.
Variations
This haystack cookies recipe is a great base that you can get creative with!
- Spices – Add cinnamon or nutmeg for warm flavor, or sprinkle in some cayenne for some fiery little haystacks.
- Pretzels – For a sweet and salty treat, substitute pretzels for the chow mein noodles.
- Dried fruit – Fold in some raisins or craisins.
- S’mores – Add crushed graham crackers and mini marshmallows.
- White chocolate – Swap out the semi-sweet chips for white chocolate chips.
- Other flavors – Eliminate the chocolate and butterscotch to make peanut butter haystacks or take out the peanut butter and chocolate to make butterscotch haystack cookies. Just increase the chips as needed.
- Sprinkles – Add some festive sprinkles on top before refrigerating. At Christmas time, add holiday sprinkles! For Halloween, use orange and brown, or use green for St. Patrick’s Day.
Storage and Freezing
After they have set in the refrigerator, you can store these in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Storage: Place the cookies in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. They can be left at room temperature, but in a cool, dry place out of the sunlight.
Freezing: Freeze these cookies in resealable plastic bags for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature. Take out the whole batch or just one at a time.
Common Questions About Haystack Cookies
These sweet treats are called haystack cookies because they look like just that — little stacks of hay.
Haystacks are a simple no-bake treat made with a variety of chips like chocolate and butterscotch, as well as a scoop of peanut butter and lots of crunchy noodles.
One reason that haystack cookies may be sticky is that the mixture of the sweet chips was not fully melted. Be sure to microwave the chips enough so that they are completely melted before adding the noodles.
They may need additional chilling time, especially if your kitchen is warm. Changes to the chocolate, shortening or peanut butter can also affect how firmly they set. If the coating remains soft after thorough chilling, review the ingredient proportions and any substitutions.
Not typically. Most traditional crispy chow mein noodles contain wheat. To make a gluten-free version, use certified gluten-free crispy noodles and verify that all the other ingredients meet your dietary requirements.
More Scrumptious Cookie Recipes
I’m generally a lazy baker, but I love a good cookie! Here are some of my favorites!
Haystack Cookies Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup butterscotch chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vegetable shortening
- 6 ounce can chow mein noodles
Instructions
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, heat the 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 3/4 cup butterscotch chips, 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1 teaspoon vegetable shortening in 30 second increments, stirring between each until smooth.
- When smooth, fold in the 6 ounce can chow mein noodless, folding until fully covered.
- Using two spoons, make small mounds of noodles on a parchment or wax paper lined baking sheet.
- Place the haystack cookies in the fridge to set.
- If you have tried this recipe, come back and let us know how they were in the comments or star ratings.
Notes
Nutrition
These Haystack Cookies are my go-to when I need a quick and delightful treat. The chocolate, butterscotch, and peanut butter create a flavor symphony that’s hard to resist!
Easy enough for the kids to help, so loved that. Great afternoon activity and delish!
I had no idea you could use chow mein noodles to make cookies!! These were crunchy, sweet, and totally delicious!
I absolutely love these haystack cookies. They are so easy to make and are a great addition to any dessert table.
Whipped up a batch of these this afternoon and they did not disappoint! Delicious and easy with the perfect amount of crunch!
Delicious yet simple recipe that the whole family loved. Can’t wait to make it again!