Haystack Cookies with Butterscotch and Peanut Butter
Haystack cookies are the simplest holiday treat to make, and everyone enjoys them!
About
These haystacks look just like little piles of hay. They’re sweet, salty, crunchy, and hard to resist.
No-bake haystack cookies are a Christmas staple. I make at least 4 batches of them every year to gift in my annual cookie boxes and appease my family. I’m not allowed to skip them at this point.
These no-fail candies always come out perfect. They’re perfect, low-stress holiday treats.
If you’re trying to streamline your holiday cookie factory like I am, you can actually whip up a batch of haystacks while cookies are baking and cooling. Maximum holiday efficiency, y’all! By the way, you can do the same with sweet and salty chocolate bark.
Ok, let’s get to it.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- This is a great recipe for kids to help with. Haystacks are beginner-friendly, and making Christmas treats is a great way for families to connect and bond.
- It’s the easiest, no-bake Christmas treat.
- You only need 4 simple ingredients (plus the optional sprinkles).
- Haystacks are a perfect way to add diversity to your cookie lineup with a no-bake option.
Ingredients
- You can find butterscotch morsels (chips) in the baking aisle with the chocolate chips.
- You’ll need to use regular store-bought creamy peanut butter for these. Not the natural kind that separates. The peanut butter needs to emulsify smoothly into the melted butterscotch.
- You’re looking for La Choy Chow Mein Noodles (the little crunchy fried kind).
- Use dry-roasted, lightly salted peanuts, without skin.
- If you’re feeling festive, add colorful holiday sprinkles.
How to Make Haystacks
Here is a visual guide to help you make haystacks. See the recipe card for ingredient amounts and full details.
What you’ll need
- Microwave
- Large, microwave-safe glass bowl
- Wooden spoon or heavy-duty rubber spatula
- Parchment paper or wax paper
- Baking sheet
Instructions
You can make a single or double batch. Just make sure to use a big enough bowl for mixing!
Pour the butterscotch morsels into a large microwave-safe glass bowl. Then, microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval. Repeat until the butterscotch is melted and smooth.
Add the creamy peanut butter and stir until smooth.
Then, add the chow mein noodles and peanuts to the bowl. Use a wooden spoon or heavy-duty rubber spatula to stir until combined. The chow mein noodles will break a little as you stir. That’s fine, it will help them stick together.
Use 2 spoons to drop spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet. I think it’s easiest to use 1 spoon to scoop up the mixture and the other spoon to push it onto the pan in little mounds.
If you want to add sprinkles, decorate the haystacks before they harden. Otherwise, they won’t stick.
Let them sit at room temperature for about 45 minutes, or until hard. This may take longer, depending on the temperature in your house.
How to Store
Store haystacks at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Serving Tips
- You can make these quick and easy haystacks any time of year, but they are especially perfect for holiday candy and cookie making!
- They’re a great addition to holiday packages and hold up well in the mail.
- Make a batch for holiday get-togethers and gifting.
- Serve them at your hot chocolate party!
- Enjoy them with a cup of hot coffee or hot cocoa.
More Holiday Treats
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is making candy and cookies. What are your favorite holiday traditions? Tell me about your traditions in the comments section below!
PrintHaystack Cookies with Butterscotch and Peanut Butter
Haystack cookies are the easiest holiday treat to make, and everyone loves them!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Plus time to harden: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 2 minutes
- Yield: 30 Haystacks 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stir
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 11-ounce bag of butterscotch morsels/baking chips
- 5-ounce can of La Choy chow mein noodles
- 3 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter*
- 1 cup of dry roasted, lightly salted peanuts (without peels)
- Optional: festive sprinkles
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper and set it aside.
- Add the butterscotch morsels to a large microwave-safe glass bowl. Then, microwave it on high in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval. Continue until the butterscotch is melted and smooth.
- Add the creamy peanut butter and stir until smooth.
- Add the chow mein noodles and peanuts, and stir until they’re fully coated. The noodles will break while you stir. That will actually help them stick together.
- Drop spoonfuls onto the lined baking sheet. It helps to use two spoons. Use one of them to scoop the mixture and the other to push it onto the sheet into little mounds.
- Optional: Decorate with sprinkles.
- Let the haystacks sit at room temperature until hardened. This takes around 45 minutes. It might take longer depending on your room temperature.
Notes
- *You need to use regular store-bought creamy peanut butter such as JIF, Skippy, or Peter Pan. The natural kind or homemade versions won’t melt properly into the butterscotch.
- If you’re planning to add sprinkles, do so before the butterscotch hardens, or they won’t stick.
- Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
