These no-bake butterscotch haystacks are one of our family’s favorite christmas cookie recipes. Get the recipe for these and many more delicious holiday cookies.
Welcome to my virtual holiday cookie exchange. I’ve gathered Christmas cookie recipes from some of my foodie blogger pans, and I’m bringing my family-favorite no-bake butterscotch haystacks to the party.
They’re a family holiday tradition, just like my grandma’s icebox fruitcake and these fruitcake cookies. (Seriously, give fruitcake a chance — it’s so much more than a punchline!)
Jump to:
Christmas Cookie Party
The good thing about a virtual cookie party is that you get to enjoy all the yummy goodness and temptation without the calories! Although you’ll definitely want to make these Christmas cookie recipes to enjoy with your family.
You may even be inspired to host a cookie exchange or cookie swap party. It’s a great way to try lots of different types of holiday cookies without having to bake them all yourself.
In this collection, you’ll find recipes for so many types of Christmas cookies:
- chocolate chip cookies
- monster cookies
- oatmeal cookies
- cranberry cookies
- snowball cookies
- cookie bars
- sugar cookies
- no-bake cookies
- peppermint cookies
- Christmas thumbprint cookies
- peanut butter cookies
- gingerbread cookies
- shortbread cookies
- iced cookies
Pretty much any kind of cookie you might want to bake for the holidays! The classics and some new recipes you’ll definitely want to add to your holiday baking list.
Warning: do not view these recipes on an empty stomach. We are not responsible for any snack attacks that result!
First up, I’m sharing my easy-to-make, no-bake Butterscotch Haystacks. (You’ll find the rest of the recipes after the recipe card.)
What are Haystack Cookies Made Of?
I’m pretty sure this recipe originated in the 1960s or 1970s, the heyday of chicken chow mein from a can.
Because Chinese chow mein noodles are one of the three ingredients you need to make them, along with butterscotch chips and peanuts.
Yep, you read that right. These tasty morsels require only three ingredients! And no turning on the oven. Heck, you don’t even have to use the stove to melt the butterscotch chips. Just zap those babies in the microwave.
That’s my kind of holiday baking! Quick, easy and ready to eat in minutes!
Some haystacks recipes include other add-ins, such as peanut butter, marshmallows or different types of nuts. Our family prefers the 3-ingredient version.
To Make Butterscotch Haystacks, You Will Need:
- Crunchy chow mein noodles – Find these on the international aisle in the grocery store with the soy sauce, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots and other prepackaged Asian food
- Dry roasted peanuts – Some recipes leave these out, but I like the flavor and crunch dry roasted peanuts add
- Butterscotch morsels – Find these on the baking aisle near the chocolate chips and other baking morsels. You could substitute chocolate chips, peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips, but the butterscotch version is the best, in my opinion.
- Double boiler or large microwave-safe mixing bowl – I find it easiest to melt the butterscotch chips in the bowl where I’m making my cookies. You could also use a double-boiler to melt the morsels.
- Baking sheets or wire racks – Use these, lined with parchment or wax paper, to allow the haystack cookies to cool and set
- Wax paper or parchment paper – To keep the cookies from sticking as they cool and harden, line your baking sheets or wire racks with paper
- Rubber spatula – Use this to gently mix the ingredients
- Spoons – You’ll need spoons to portion out the cookies.
How to Make Butterscotch Haystacks
When you make these haystack cookies, you need to work quickly. You’ll find that the melted butterscotch cools and hardens pretty quickly. That’s a good thing because you can eat these cookies just minutes after you make them. But it also means you can’t dawdle over the process.
Want to see a brief overview of the process before diving into the recipe? Click here to watch my web story on how to make butterscotch haystacks.
Begin by lining several baking sheets or wire racks with wax paper or parchment paper.
Measure out the peanuts and crunchy noodles so you can add them to the butterscotch as soon as it’s melted.
Next, use a double boiler over low heat to melt the butterscotch chips, stirring frequently.
You can also melt the morsels in a large bowl in the microwave, following the melting instructions on the package. Be careful not to overheat the butterscotch chips.
Once the butterscotch chips are melted, quickly combine with the crunchy noodles and peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Use a spatula to stir well and ensure the dry ingredients are well coated with butterscotch.
Finally, drop by spoonful onto lined, prepared baking sheets. Allow to cool and harden.
Variations
- Feel free to omit the dry roasted peanuts if you have allergies or don’t like the taste
- Try making these with other nuts, such as pecans or walnuts.
- Try adding mini marshmallows to a batch. You may need to use additional melted butterscotch as you add ingredients to the recipe.
- Instead of butterscotch morsels, try making these haystack cookies with white chocolate chips, semisweet morsels, milk chocolate chips or peanut butter chips.
When I hosted my extended family on my dad’s side for Christmas I served Grandma’s butterscotch haystacks. They were a big hit and a source of many shared memories. The memories and stories make the cookies even sweeter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Haystacks cookies should remain fresh for up to two weeks when stored in an airtight container in the pantry. They can be refrigerated to extend the shelf life. I would recommend letting them return to room temperature before serving so they can soften.
While it’s safe to freeze some no-bake cookies, I don’t think I would do it with these haystacks. I would worry about the chow mein noodles getting soggy when they thawed.
Printable Recipe Card
Butterscotch Haystack Cookies
Equipment
- double boiler
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
- baking sheets
- spoons
- microwave (optional)
Ingredients
- 10 ounces Chinese chow mein noodles
- 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
- 16 ounces butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Line baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper.
- Combine the chow mein noodles and dry roasted peanuts in a large bowl.
- Melt the butterscotch chips in the microwave or over a double boiler.
- Pour the melted butterscotch over the noodles and peanuts. Use a spatula or your clean hands to stir the mixture, making sure the noodles and peanuts are completely coated in butterscotch. (If the mixture seems too dry, add more melted butterscotch.)
- Drop by spoonful onto wax paper or parchment and allow to cool.
Notes
Variations
- Feel free to omit the dry roasted peanuts if you have allergies or don’t like the taste
- Try making these with other nuts, such as pecans or walnuts.
- Try adding mini marshmallows to a batch. You may need to use additional melted butterscotch as you add ingredients to the recipe.
- Instead of butterscotch morsels, try making these haystack cookies with white chocolate chips, semisweet morsels, milk chocolate chips or peanut butter chips.
Nutrition
Pin This! Christmas Cookie Recipes
I’m glad I got to share this easy, family recipe as part of the virtual cookie exchange. Please visit the following blogs to see the other Christmas cookie recipes.
More Christmas Cookie Recipes
Do you have any Christmas cookie recipes you make year after year?
Leslie Stewart @ House on the Way
So yummy! It’s been wonderful to be a part of this cookie exchange with you! Merry Christmas!
Leslie
Kelly
Amy! Love butterscotch and LOVE no bake! Perfection!
Thank you…
Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique
Certainly never seen a recipe for these in Australia…. can’t wait to try these and surpise my friends. Thank you.
Atta Girl Amy
Let me know how they go over with your friends. This is definitely a mainstream American recipe! 🙂
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking
Love easy recipes! These would be great for my girls to make!
Christina
I didn’t heed your advice and read this on an empty stomach lol- They look so yummy (and easy) Thanks for sharing, I had never seen these before- now on to check out your icebox cake 🙂
Cheers
Christina
Atta Girl Amy
Sorry about that! I’ll confess that I had two of these for breakfast this morning! Protein, dairy, grain — by my count, that’s a good breakfast. Just don’t tell my kid.
Christy @ Our Southern Home
Amy, I have heard of these and have had….and loved! Had no idea what was in them! So excited to make these! I know my family will love them. Thanks for sharing!! ~Christy
Jennifer @ Town and Country Living
I was just saying the other day that I wanted to make some of these. I’ll use your recipe!!
Atta Girl Amy
They’re always a hit! And they don’t last long. I’m loving how so many of the Cookie Exchange recipes are throwbacks. Our mothers’ and grandmothers’ recipes are often the best.
Yvonne @ StoneGable
I’ve gotta make these. Every time I see this recipe my mouth waters. Thanks!!!! YUMMY!
Atta Girl Amy
They are tasty. (I just had a few for breakfast!)
Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads
Amy, I haven’t made these in a long time, but I remember that they are so good. I’ll have to make up a batch of these soon. Pinning and sharing!
Atta Girl Amy
Much better than that chicken chow mein in a can. My grandmother used to make that too, and I was not a fan. But these cookies are a keeper. If only they’d last longer, but they always seem to get eaten.
Kathy
These are perfect! I remember Mom making these – beautifully photographed –
Kathy
Atta Girl Amy
Thanks, Kathy. I was dealing with low light when I was shooting, but I made the best of it.
Kathy
You did a wonderful job – this time of the year, with weather conditions too – getting the light right is a challenge!
Therese @ Fresh Idea Studio
O I could handle those all day long! Pinning for this year’s annual family BakeOff for sure!
Cheers to you and yours this Christmas Amy!
Atta Girl Amy
Thanks, Therese. Merry Christmas to you, as well.
Your family bakeoff sounds like a blast. What a fun event. I’ll have to check out your post about it.
Marty Walden
I love your pic by the tree! I may totally have to copy that. Assuming I actually get the cookies made! Which actually aren’t really cookies, but they are amazing! Can’t wait to see your home in person!
Atta Girl Amy
I can’t wait to have you visit! And don’t think I came up with that staging idea on my own. Stole if from something I pinned, of course.
Jeanette
Thank you for posting these haystacks! I had made these, or something similar year ago, but forgot the ingredients. Pinning and will be making for sure! ~Jeanette
Atta Girl Amy
Glad I could help you rediscover a favorite recipe. As you know, these are delicious, and I personally think the more butterscotch the better. Some people use marshmallows and peanut butter in theirs, but I like the butterscotch version best.
Elizabeth @ Southern Color
Stopping by from the Cookie Exchange! This is my type of recipe ~ only 3 ingredients! I’m pinning this to try later 🙂
Atta Girl Amy
I’d love to hear what you think of them. Your cookie exchange party was amazing, BTW. I’m definitely pinning and copying some of your ideas.