These easy haystacks are a classic no-bake candy recipe made with crunchy chow mein noodles, creamy peanut butter and butterscotch chips. Also known as haystack cookies, they’re sweet, crunchy and ready in just a few simple steps.
If you love old-fashioned candy recipes, try fantasy fudge and rocky road candy, too!
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Key Takeaways: Butterscotch Haystacks Recipe
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Cook time: 5 minutes
- Cooling time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 haystacks
- Texture: Crunchy chow mein noodles coated in smooth, creamy butterscotch and peanut butter.
- Difficulty: Easy! Just 3 ingredients, no baking and only a few minutes of hands-on prep. Perfect for beginners.
- What they are: A classic no-bake treat that falls somewhere between candy and cookies, with a sweet and salty flavor.
Why I Love This Recipe
These haystacks are one of my favorite easy no-bake cookies because they only need 3 ingredients and a few minutes to make. They’re perfect for holiday cookie trays, gifting or whenever you need a quick treat without turning on the oven.
I love the sweet and salty combination of creamy butterscotch and peanut butter with crunchy chow mein noodles. You can also mix in peanuts or swap in chocolate chips for a fun variation, similar to my avalanche cookies.
Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Chow Mein noodles: This type of fried noodle is sold in a can in the Asian section of a grocery store. La Choy is a mainstream brand. Do not use lo mein noodles.
- Butterscotch chips: I prefer using butterscotch chips for butterscotch haystacks so these actually do resemble haystacks!
- Peanut butter: Creamy peanut butter adds a salty flavor that balances the sweet butterscotch hay stacks.
Variations
- Type of chips: Haystacks can also be made with semi-sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate or white chocolate chips. A combination can also be used.
- Mix-ins: A handful of dry roasted peanuts or red skinned peanuts adds some additional crunch. Marshmallows can be folded in with the chow mein noodles.
- Peanut free: For peanut butter allergies, you can make a 2 ingredient haystack cookie! It will still be amazing.
How to Make Haystacks
In a medium sized, microwave-safe bowl, melt butterscotch chips and peanut butter in 30 second intervals until melted and smooth. You can also use a double boiler if preferred.
Add chow mein noodles and stir until completely coated.
Drop mixture using heaping teaspoons onto parchment paper or wax paper lined baking sheets to form 2-2.5 inch piles. Cool haystack cookie recipe until butterscotch is hardened.
Recipe Tips
- Melt gently: Heat the butterscotch chips and peanut butter slowly, stirring often so the mixture stays smooth and doesn’t scorch.
- Fold carefully: Stir in the chow mein noodles gently so they stay crunchy and don’t break into tiny pieces.
- Work quickly: Scoop the haystacks onto parchment or wax paper before the butterscotch mixture begins to set.
- Let them set completely: Allow the haystacks to firm up at room temperature or pop them in the refrigerator to speed things up.
Haystacks Recipe FAQs
A good ratio is 1 cup of chocolate or butterscotch chips to 2 cups of chow mein noodles. This gives you enough melted coating to cover the noodles without making the haystacks too heavy or overly sweet. For this recipe, the 1/2 cup peanut butter also helps create that smooth, creamy coating.
If you don’t have chow mein noodles, try broken pretzel sticks, cornflakes or another crispy cereal. The texture and shape will be a little different, but you’ll still get that delicious sweet and crunchy combination.
Yes! Replace the butterscotch chips with semi-sweet, milk or white chocolate chips. You can also use a combination of chocolate and butterscotch chips for a different flavor.
Use a spoon to drop heaping spoonfuls of the mixture onto a parchment or wax paper-lined baking sheet. Gently mound the noodles into loose 2 to 2 1/2-inch piles rather than packing them tightly, then let them sit until the coating has completely hardened.
Summarize and Save This Recipe Content On:
Need more no bake desserts? Other classics include scotcheroos, cornflake wreaths and no bake cookies.
More No Bake Dessert Recipes
Haystacks Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 2 cups chow mein noodles
Instructions
- Combine: In a medium sized, microwave safe bowl, add 1 cup butterscotch chips and 1/2 cup peanut butter.
- Microwave on 50% power for 1 minute, then stir. Continue microwaving the mixture in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each, until it is smooth.
- Stir: Add 2 cups chow mein noodles and stir until completely coated.
- Drop: Drop the mixture onto parchment paper to form 2-2.5 inch piles. Let them cool until the butterscotch is fully hardened.
Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Diana Concannon
Can’t wait to try and make those
Whitney
These reminded me of when I was a little kid! I haven’t had them in forever and loved that my kids loved them too
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So glad everyone enjoyed them, classic recipes are always a win!