If you’re looking for a simple no-bake treat, this is it! These Haystack Cookies call for four simple ingredients and come together in minutes!
What are Haystack Cookies?
Simply put, a haystack cookie is named because of its shape. Made primarily of chow mien noodles, these delicious, sweet clusters have the appearance of bales of hay.
The color of the butterscotch and peanut butter also play into the name. The coloring really does look straw (or hay)-like.
Are they Cookies or Something Else?
At first I wasn’t sure if I should call these cookies or come up with some other name. They’re not a traditional round, flat cookie. They’re bundles of, well, sweet, edible hay.
In the end I couldn’t settle on another name, so “cookies” stuck. And these start with some really unusual ingredients that I don’t often use in baking.
Haystack Cookie Ingredients
You will find a full list of ingredients in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. But here’s a quick look at what you’ll need. You might already have these ingredients on hand!
- butterscotch chips
- peanut butter
- miniature marshmallows
- chow mein noodles
That’s it! Just four simple ingredients.
How to Make Haystack Cookies
These came together so easily. And, like I said, they don’t require baking which is always nice.
Place waxed paper or parchment paper on two cookie sheets. Set aside.
Place chow mein noodles and marshmallows into a large bowl and set aside.
Place butterscotch and peanut butter into a medium bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals until melted.
Stir well.
Pour melted mixture over noodles and marshmallows.
Using a tablespoon or an ice cream scoop, place haystack mounds on waxed paper.
Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes or until set.
Serve and enjoy!
Store in the refrigerator or a cool, dark place. (They’re really good cold!) Make sure you store them in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
What to Expect from these Haystack Cookies
They’re crispy, they’re sweet, they have a fall-like flavor (butterscotch), and they’ve got the creamy goodness of miniature marshmallows.
In other words, these sweet treats are the whole package! I absolutely fell in love with them. And trust me when I say I was happy to find a use for the container of chow mien noodles in my pantry. They had been in there a while and needed to be used.
I shared these with some friends and they loved them, too. And what’s not to love? They’re unique, loaded with sweetness, and entertaining to eat!
Variations on this Recipe
You guys know me. I can’t seem to leave well enough alone. I’m already thinking of ways I can change this up next time. Here are some ideas that come to mind:
Peanut butter chips in place of butterscotch. You could do full-on peanut butter haystacks. Use peanut butter chips, peanut butter, and throw in half a cup of dry roasted peanuts, as well!
Chocolate in place of butterscotch. Chocolate and peanut butter go together beautifully.
Chocolate and Nutella. Swap out chocolate for butterscotch and Nutella for peanut butter.
Corn flakes in place of chow mien noodles. Hear me out. You could easily make these into corn flake haystacks by swapping out the noodles with corn flakes.
Other Unique Treats from Out of the Box Baking
If you’re looking for unusual treats, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few favorites:
The Ultimate Cinnamon Palmiers
That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe.
If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you’re at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!
See this recipe at
About the Author
Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 150 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that I make a very small commission off of items you purchase at absolutely no additional cost to you. Please check out my policy page for more information about this blog and the ads that run on it.
Simple Haystack Cookies
If you’re looking for a simple no-bake treat, this is it! These Haystack Cookies call for four simple ingredients and come together in minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 3/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cups marshmallows
- 5 oz chow mein noodles
Instructions
- Place waxed paper or parchment paper on two cookie sheets. Set aside.
- Place chow mein noodles and marshmallows into a large bowl and set aside.
- Place butterscotch and peanut butter into a medium bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals until melted. Stir well.
- Pour melted mixture over noodles and marshmallows.
- Using a tablespoon or an ice cream scoop, place haystack mounds on waxed paper.
- Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes or until set.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Store in the refrigerator or a cool, dark place. (They’re really good cold!) Make sure you store them in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
