Quick, easy, old fashioned no bake haystack cookies recipe that's crispy and crunchy and homemade with simple ingredients. Full of chocolate chips, butterscotch, coconut, peanut butter and chow mein noodles.
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These chocolate covered crunchy noodles give off the seem feel as the Birds Nest Cookies. In fact, you could probably use them for the same purpose. But when it comes to classic cookies, chocolate oatmeal cookies like these No Bake Cookies are at the top of the list. However, this recipe is a very close second in my opinion. My Mom, however, thinks these Church Window Cookies should be second. Try them all to see which recipe is your number one.
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Key ingredients for chow mein cookie clusters
- Chocolate chips- I like to use semi-sweet.
- Butterscotch chips- You will use an entire 12 oz bag.
- Peanut Butter- Use your favorite brand.
- Shredded coconut- You want to use the sweetened kind.
- Chow mein noodles- This is the cooked, crunchy kind.
Variations
- Holiday haystacks- Bring in a splash of color to match a Christmas, Easter, or other special event. You can use mini colored candies like M&Ms or various sprinkles. Check out these Christmas Food Ideas (For Kids) and Easter Cake Ideas (Baking Ideas) for more Holiday inspiration.
- Use white chocolate chips- To make a white colored base with a new flavor. You can also try milk chocolate to change things up.
- Drizzle on some chocolate sauce- Like this Nutella Syrup (2 Ingredients). Or even try some Homemade Caramel Sauce on top.
- Add some marshmallow- Because these are often referred to as campfire haystacks, I think mini marshmallows mixed in or even a little marshmallow fluff on top would be a nice addition. You could even make a s'more using these instead of graham crackers and chocolate. It may end up looking similar to Chocolate Whoopie Pies (With Cake Mix).
- Add in extracts- Such as almond, maple, or even mint for a new flavor profile,
- Try adding spices- Including cinnamon, Pumpkin Spice, or ginger.
- Toss in some chopped nuts- Like peanuts, pistachios, cashews, pecans, or almonds.
- Use chopped up candy bars- Like Snickers, Butterfinger, or Twix on the top or mixed right in.
- Try crushed cookies- In the mix, including Oreos, Chips Ahoy, or some leftover Easy Peanut Butter Cookies.
How to make easy no bake butterscotch chocolate haystack cookies recipe?
1. Mix together- Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and peanut butter.
2. Melt in the microwave- In intervals until smooth.
3. Add in- The shredded coconut.
4. Dump in- The entire bag of chow mein noodles.
5. Stir everything together- Until noodles are fully coated.
6. Spoon mixture- On to lined tray and chill in the fridge.
Tips and techniques
- You must line the pan- To prevent clusters from sticking and it also makes for easy removal.
- Don't let the clusters touch each other- Because they will stick together, so be sure there is some space between.
- Make clusters even- Scoop out even quantities so that all the cookies are all about the same size.
- Don't skip chilling these in the fridge- This way they can set up and keep their shape. You don't want them all melty.
- You can use crunchy or smooth peanut butter- Depending on what texture you desire.
Recipe FAQs
No, they do not need to be cooked because they come precooked in sealed bags. They are different than those soft noodles you get with your Chinese take out.
They can be found in Asian stores or the international aisle at most grocery stores.
No. Some people know of the simple Hawaiian haystack dinner recipe using white rice as a base. This is a totally different recipe that makes an easy dessert using chow mein noodles and chocolate.
Storage
- Make ahead- These can easily be made up to 1 week in advance if properly kept in the fridge.
- Room temperature- You can store these for up to 2 days if left on the countertop.
- Refrigerate- Place in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
- Freeze- I don't recommend freezing these, because the noodles get soggy when thawed and don't keep that needed crunch.
More no bake desserts
- Rainbow Cereal Balls (No Bake)
- No Bake Breakfast Muffins
- Easy Smores Bars (No Bake)
- Easy Homemade Granola Bars (No Bake)
- Mini Oreo Bites (No Bake)
Recipe
Chocolate Haystack Cookies (No Bake)
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Ingredients
- 1 bag Chocolate chips Semisweet, 12 oz. bag
- 1 bag Butterscotch chips 12 oz. bag
- ¼ cup Peanut butter I used creamy but you can use chunky if you want additional texture
- 2 tablespoon Shredded coconut Sweetened
- 1 bag Chow mein noodles 12 oz. bag. These are already cooked
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter.
- Heat in the microwave at 30 second intervals and mix after each interval until mixture is fully melted and smooth.
- Add coconut and chow mein noodles and mix until noodles are fully coated.
- Drop spoonfuls of this mixture onto a baking tray, lined with wax paper or parchment paper.
- Chill in the fridge until the chocolate sets and the cookies become firm. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If you are not fond of coconut, you can omit it completely without affecting the recipe.
- For a pop of color and decoration, toss some sprinkles on top of each cluster before the chocolate sets.
- The amount of cookies you get from this recipe can vary depending on how big or small you are making your clusters. I like to make 14 big ones.
- Try other add-ins such as crushed Oreos, chopped candy bars, nuts, extracts, other flavors of chocolate chips.
- You must line your pan with wax paper or parchment paper to prevent these clusters from sticking to the pan and it also makes clean up easy.
- Read additional tips and variations above.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
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