No-Bake Haystack Cookies
Easy No-Bake Haystack Cookies are ready in under 20 minutes and the perfect recipe for kids to make! A delicious mixture of butterscotch chips, mini marshmallows, peanut butter and chow mein noodles.
Haystack cookies are a super fun and EASY no-bake cookie recipe! They’re a little crunchy, sweet and a hint of salty for that addictive salty-sweet combo. This is a classic butterscotch haystack recipe your whole family is going to love making together.
What I love best is that I don’t have to turn on the oven. This is an easy microwave cookie recipe that my kids love to help make. This is one of the first recipes I remember making all by myself in my parent’s kitchen when I was growing up!
These little haystacks are so cute and even better to eat. Butterscotch, peanut butter, and marshmallows – who can resist that combination? My family can’t, and I know you’ll love them, too!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- You only need four ingredients to make these treats. They are pantry ingredients that I almost always have on hand so it is easy to whip up a batch when we are craving something sweet.
- They’re ready in about 20 minutes – this no bake haystack cookie recipe is quick and easy.
- They keep well at room temperature, and you can even freeze them so double up the batch, freeze some and they will be ready whenever you want a sweet-salty treat.
Ingredients For No-Bake Haystack Cookies
- Butterscotch chips – Use your favorite brand of butterscotch chips. You can also mix in semi-sweet, milk or dark chocolate chips in or swap butterscotch for white chocolate chips.
- Creamy peanut butter – I don’t recommend natural peanut butter because it will seize up in the microwave. If you want more crunch you could also use crunchy peanut butter.
- Mini marshmallows – Make sure you buy white and not the flavored, multi-colored marshmallows.
- Chow mein noodles – These are the crunchy noodles in a can. Look for them near the Asian cooking ingredients at the store.
How To Make Haystacks
Combine butterscotch chips and peanut butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and warm in 30-second intervals until they are completely melted and smooth.
Add chow mein noodles to the butterscotch and peanut butter mixture. Stir until combined and then fold in the marshmallows.
Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop the mixture in little mounds on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Leave them at room temperature until they are set. You can also chill them in the fridge or freezer so they set faster.
Pro Tips
- Be sure the bowl you melt your chips in is dry! If there is any water in it, it will have quite the affect on their melting abilities.
- The haystacks need time to set completely otherwise they will be too gooey to handle.
If you’re looking for an easy dessert to make with your family, you have to try this no-bake haystack cookies recipe. It’ll be a hit and the kids will be asking to make these all the time!
No-Bake Haystack Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows white
- 5 ounces chow mein noodles
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Combine butterscotch chips and peanut butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave ingredients for 30 seconds, stir and repeat until completely melted.
- Add the chow mein noodles to the peanut butter mixture. Stir until combined then add the marshmallows and stir to combine.
- Drop by spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Let cool at room temperature or place in the refrigerator or freezer to speed up the process.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Variations
This is such an easy recipe to switch up with different mix-ins. Feel free to get creative with your haystacks! When we have extra time to make these as a family, I like to divide up the butterscotch and peanut butter mixture between everyone in the family so everyone can customize their own haystacks.
- Add more crunch – Mix crushed pretzels in with the chow mein noodles. Shredded coconut will also add a little more texture.
- Nuts – Chopped peanuts, pecans, almonds, cashews or walnuts would work great.
- Chopped candy or small chocolate candies – Just make sure the pieces are chopped unless you use something like mini M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces.
- Sprinkles – My kiddos love to add some sprinkles on top of each haystack before they set. This is great for holidays, too – red and green to make them Christmas cookies or other fun colors to match!
Storage
If you store the haystack cookies in an airtight container they will keep for up to a week or longer at room temperature.
Fridge: If your house is quite warm and it seems like your haystacks are softening at room temperature, you can keep them in the fridge for about a week.
Freezer: Make sure haystacks are fully set and then place in a single layer in a freezer-safe container. For best results, separate them with layers of parchment or wax paper. This will keep them from sticking to each other.
More No Bake Treats
- The best combination is sweet and salty. Pretzel Hugs are treats made with Hershey Hugs, M&Ms and pretzels that you can customize for holidays, too.
- Yogurt Bark is sweet and topped with fruit for a colorful, healthier snack. You can use red and blue fruit to make this for Memorial Day or 4th of July!
- Mermaid Dip is an easy dessert dip made with cream cheese, marshmallow cream and sprinkles. Scoop it up with cookies for a fun, magical treat.
- Cereal, peanuts, and M&Ms tossed in a peanut buttery sauce are a treat that dreams are made of. Next time you’ve got a sweet tooth, whip up a batch of Peanut Butter Cereal Bars to share.
Made these haystacks some with butterscotch and some with chocolate. My grandkids loved making them The are great!
So glad you liked this recipe!