Looking for a sweet holiday treat this Christmas? Look no further than these easy no-bake haystack cookies! Ditch store-bought dough and make a simple, delicious homemade cookie in minutes.
These are the perfect easy Christmas cookie because they have only 4 simple ingredients and don’t need to be rolled out, decorated, or even baked. Plus, they last for weeks, so you can easily make them ahead of time.
And everyone will love them because they combine peanut butter and chocolate, which is always fantastic! They’re an excellent choice for any Christmas party, office party, or in batches as school treats for your kids’ classmates.
So get the recipe below and make a batch of these Christmas no-bake haystacks this holiday season!
Find more easy cookie recipes! Make these cute Oreo Reindeer Cookies, Ruby Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sour Cream Cookies, or make 4 Christmas cookies from 1 dough.
🎄4 Simple Ingredients
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Chocolate chips
- Butterscotch chips
- Creamy peanut butter
- Chow mein noodles
🥣How to Make Chocolate Haystack Cookies
- Prepare – Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, wax paper, or a silicone baking sheet.
- Melt – Combine the butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals until the chocolate is almost melted. (You can use a double boiler if you prefer.)
- Stir – Mix the melted chocolate mixture until it is smooth. Then add the chow mein noodles and stir until well coated with chocolate.
- Scoop – Use a cookie or ice cream scoop to make mounds on the prepared baking sheet.
- Harden – Let the chocolate butterscotch haystacks harden on the cookie sheets for 1-2 hours.
💭How to Store
Store the no-bake haystack cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. You can keep them in either the fridge or at room temperature. In a humid environment, they will keep better in the refrigerator.
The cookies freeze well. Package them in freezer bags, and they will keep for about 2 months. To thaw, leave the haystacks on the counter overnight.
🎅Variations
There are lots of ways to change up these easy no-bake cookies! Here are some of my family’s favorite suggestions to make the recipe your own.
- Different combinations of chocolate chips – Use white chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet. Or make the haystacks with all chocolate chips or all butterscotch chips.
- Sprinkles – Add in some holiday sprinkles to make the haystacks more Christmas-y.
- Mixins – Throw in up to 1/2 cup of extras like mini marshmallows, roasted peanuts, coconut, or pretzel sticks.
🍪Tips for Making the Best Haystack Cookies
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Make sure the bowl you microwave the chips in is completely dry since water will make the chocolate seize and not melt.
- Stop microwaving before the chocolate is completely melted. Stirring will melt the remaining chocolate.
- Use a cookie scoop or spoon to scoop out the cookies.
- Make sure the baking sheet is lined to prevent sticking.
- Put the haystack cookies in the fridge to make them harden more quickly.
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Haystack Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 11 ounces butterscotch chips (1 bag)
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 12 ounces chow mein noodles (1 bag)
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, a silicone baking mat, or wax paper.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and peanut butter.1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 11 ounces butterscotch chips, 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- Microwave the bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate is almost melted. Then mix until smooth.
- Add the chow mein noodles and stir until they are well coated.12 ounces chow mein noodles
- Using a large cookie scoop or ice cream scoop, put scoops of the mixture on the lined baking sheet.
- Let it rest until the haystacks hardened, about 1-2 hours. Or refrigerate them, so they harden more quickly.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- Make sure the bowl you microwave the chips in is completely dry since water will make the chocolate seize and not melt.
- Stop microwaving before the chocolate is completely melted. Stirring will melt the remaining chocolate.
- Use a cookie scoop or spoon to scoop out the cookies.
- Make sure the baking sheet is lined to prevent sticking.
- Put the haystack cookies in the fridge to make them harden more quickly.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
I’ve been looking for this recipe for years. Remember the ingredients but couldn’t remember the quantities. Thank you!
I would love to make these, but I can’t use peanut butter. Is there anything else you can suggest instead of the peanut butter?
Sunflower seed butter or almond butter would also work. Just make sure they are well stirred if they are natural nut butters, because the oil separates.
Is there a good substitute for peanut butter?
I think cashew butter or almond butter would work pretty well, just stir them really well if they are natural nut butters. But I haven’t actually tried them!
If you can find them, shoestring potatoes work equally well as chow mien noodles. You just have to adjust the nutritional information.
Kids love these and so fast to make. Substitute cashew butter or other nut butters for variety.