These Haystack Cookies turn three pantry staples into a crunchy chocolate no-bake bite. They are perfect for the holidays or a quick treat. If you love easy no-bake sweets, my Dark Chocolate Bark With Sea Salt is another easy treat.
Haystack Cookies At A Glance
- 🕐 Total Time: 10 minutes prep + 45 minutes to set (no baking)
- 🍽️ Servings: 24
- 🍫 Cuisine Type: American
- 🧂 Flavor Profile: Melted chocolate and butterscotch coating crisp chow mein noodles, sweet, rich, and crunchy in every bite
- 📖 Dietary Info: Contains dairy (chocolate and butterscotch chips); gluten-free option available, swap in GF chow mein noodles
- 📦 Storage Notes: Room temperature in an airtight container up to 1 week, or refrigerate up to 4 weeks and keep the crunch
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Three ingredients, no oven, and just a few minutes of hands-on time for a full holiday tray
Save And Summarize This Recipe
Super easy and taste great! My first time making them today.
- Mary
Chocolate shows up often on this site because I spent 10 years in the chocolate industry. Chocolate was a love of my Mom, who used to make these candies during the holidays. I always snuck one or two before they set!
My Milk Chocolate Bark leans on that same rich, meltable base, and my Chocolate Clusters With Mixed Nuts uses the same melt-and-drop method with a nuttier crunch. If noodles aren't your thing, Chocolate Krispy Treats gets you the same crispy bite with rice cereal instead.
Jump to:
These haystacks are a staple on my holiday cookie trays, right alongside my Chocolate Covered Cherries for something a little more elegant. Both come together with no oven and minimal cleanup, which matters when you're making several treats for gifting at once. My Peppermint Bark rounds out the tray nicely if you want one more no-bake option in the mix.
Key Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this haystacks:
Semisweet Chocolate Chips - Semisweet chips carry the flavor since they are the majority ingredient. This ratio of chips was passed down from my mom rather than something I tweaked myself, but it is really good, so I didn't want to change the recipe. Semisweet keeps the bite from turning cloying against the sweetness of the butterscotch. If you are not a dark or milk chocolate fan, try my White Chocolate Bark With Cranberries as it isn't as sweet.
Butterscotch Chips - Butterscotch brings the caramel warmth that keeps this from tasting like a plain chocolate cluster. I use butterscotch chips over peanut butter chips deliberately. Most haystack recipes lean on peanut butter, and skipping it makes this version work for anyone who doesn't want that flavor or can't have it.
Chow Mein Noodles - Chow Mein noodles give this shape and the crunch; nothing else will get you the same texture. I have tested this with gluten-free chow mein noodles and you can't really tell the difference.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Do You Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from A Sweet Thyme
Variations:
- Gluten-Free Option - Swap in gluten-free chow mein noodles and nothing else changes, not the crunch, not the set time. Nobody at the table will know the difference.
- Peppermint Haystacks - Stir a few drops of peppermint extract into the melted chocolate and top each one with crushed candy canes before they set. Built for a Hanukkah or Christmas tray.
- Add Salted Peanuts or Cashews - Stir a handful of chopped nuts in with the noodles for extra crunch and a little salt against all that sweetness.
- Swap the Crunch - No chow mein noodles on hand, crushed pretzels or toasted coconut flakes work in their place for a completely different texture and flavor.
- Holiday Toppings - Press mini chocolate eggs, sprinkles, or toffee bits into each one right after scooping, while the chocolate is still soft enough to hold them.
How To Make Haystack Cookies: Step-By-Step
Step 1: Place the chocolate and butterscotch chips in a large microwave-safe bowl. Using 30-second intervals, and stirring in between until smooth, microwave until melted and combined.
Step 2: Mix in the chow mein noodles (I use gluten-free noodles) until coated.
Step 3: Scoop out the mixture in roughly tablespoon-sized scoops and place it on a lined cookie sheet fitted with parchment paper or wax paper.
Step 4: Top them with flaky sea salt, if desired, or a topping of your choice. Let them sit on the counter for 45 minutes to cool and set.
Gwen's Pro Tip
Grease your spoon before you start portioning. The mixture drops clean and holds its shape instead of sticking and flattening out.
If you want to gift these chocolate clusters, drop them into muffin cups when you portion them. Then arrange the muffin cups in a little tin, wrap them up with a bow, and gift them to friends and neighbors.
Haystack Cookies FAQ's
Typically, chocolate haystacks are made of chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and chow mein noodles. However, there are lots of different flavor combinations that you can use.
Yes, melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips in a double boiler over low heat instead, stirring constantly. It takes a bit longer but works exactly the same way.
This usually means the chocolate overheated. Stick to short intervals and stir between each one, if it seizes, a fresh batch is more reliable than trying to save it.
Yes, just melt the chocolate and butterscotch in batches so it doesn't sit too long before you add the noodles. Trying to melt a double batch all at once makes it harder to keep the temperature even.
More Chocolate To Try
Let me know your thoughts on these Haystack Cookies by leaving a star rating below or by sharing it on Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, or Pinterest!
Thank you!
Gwen
Haystack Cookies: Chocolate Butterscotch, No-Bake
Do You Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from A Sweet Thyme
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 oz semisweet chocolate chips
- 6 oz butterscotch chips
- 7 oz chow mein noodles
Instructions
- Prepare a large sheet pan with parchment or wax paper.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and the butterscotch chips.12 oz semisweet chocolate chips, 6 oz butterscotch chips
- Melt on high using 30 second intervals and stirring in between until combined.
- Add the chow mein noodles and fold into the melted chocolate mix.7 oz chow mein noodles
- Using a tablespoon, drop a spoon-sized amount of batter onto the sheet pan.
- Let sit on the counter for 45 minutes. Store in an airtight container.
Mary says
Super easy and taste great! My first time making them today.
Gwen Wolken says
Thanks Mary!
Anonymous says
Yum!