Only 4 ingredients and a few minutes prep, these Haystack Cookies take you back to childhood. Filled with butterscotch and peanut butter, cookies don’t get easier than this!
Love no bake treats? Also try these No Bake Cookies, these Fruity Pebble Rice Crispy Treats, or these Indoor S’mores.
There have been 3 family cookbooks printed on my mom’s side of the family. I love these cookbooks. Whenever I ask my mom for a recipe, she usually answers “it’s in the family cookbook!” I have gone to these cookbooks for inspiration, and also for family favorites.
The family cookbook that these Haystack Cookies came from was printed in 1983, and distributed at the 4th annual family reunion. I was only 5 years old at the time this cookbook was passed out, so needless to say, I didn’t get my own copy. But one year, as a Christmas gift, my mom reprinted this cookbook for each of us kids, and I have been grateful ever since.
The charm in these recipes comes from the way they were written. Instead of exact directions or ingredients, you get things like “1 can tomatoes” or “1 bag of butterscotch chips.” If this was from a regular cookbook, I would get frustrated and ask well, what size of can? What kind of tomatoes? But I love that these recipes are most likely ones that my mom and her parents and siblings have been making for years, so they just “know” how to make them. These kinds of recipes make me want to be the kind of cook where can just feel the recipes and know what they need.
This recipe for Haystack Cookies is one that is probably in family cookbooks everywhere. I’ve seen a haystacks recipe without the marshmallows, with peanuts, or all kinds of different add-ins. And maybe that’s what I love so much about them – every family has their own adaptation! All I know is that these are good, and I can see myself making them on a regular basis!
Ingredients
- Butterscotch Chips: Make sure to use fresh butterscotch chips for the best results.
- Peanut Butter: You want to use a processed peanut butter, like Jif or Skippy. Natural peanut butter won’t work as well for these cookies.
- Marshmallows: The marshmallows do not get melted, so make sure you use mini marshmallows.
- Chow Mein Noodles: These are cooked, crunchy noodles. They are pretty easy to find on the international aisle of the grocery store.
How to Make Haystack Cookies
- Combine the butterscotch chips and the peanut butter in the bowl of a double boiler, or in a large microwave safe bowl. Cook them together, (use 50% power if using the microwave), until the butterscotch chips are melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Stir the marshmallows and the noodles into the mixture.
- Scoop the mixture out onto a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper.
- Allow the cookies to cool and set up.
Haystack Cookies Video
These cookies are so easy to make! You can see how to make them in the video below.
Tips and Tricks
Do not overcook your butterscotch chips, or the cookies will get crumbly.
These can get quite messy when you scoop them out, so it is easiest to use a spring loaded cookie scoop. You can also use 2 spoons, but the cookie scoop will be easier.
Make sure you use parchment paper or wax paper to scoop the cookies out onto. Otherwise they will stick.
You can store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature as long as it’s not too hot. If it is so hot that they might melt, you would want to store them in the refrigerator.
More No Bake Treats
No Bake Cheesecake
Buckeye Recipe
Caramel Rice Krispie Treats
No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
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Haystack Cookies
Ingredients
- 11 oz bag butterscotch chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 3 cups chow mein noodles
Instructions
- Melt the butterscotch chips and the peanut butter together in a large bowl, either over a double boiler or in the microwave on 50% power, until melted together and smooth.
- Stir in the marshmallows and the chow mein noodles.
- Drop by spoonful, or use a cookie scoop, onto a sheet of waxed paper.
- Allow to sit until hardened.
kathleen says
You are not kidding when you say it takes you back to childhood — i remember this recipe (without the marshmallows) as the very first recipe we made in 7th grade home-ec class waaaaay back in 1965! Yes, we had home-ec back then but only the girls. the boys took “shop”. oh, the sexism back in those days. so glad we’ve risen above that, even if we still have a ways to go. but i digress — i’m going to have to make these if only for the nostalgia.
Mo Mo says
These look really good.
Sophie says
This cookies are really fun, I made something similar to these for a project once, but never knew where the recipe came from :). I have so many vintage cookbooks but I’m almost afraid to try out the recipes…what if food from back then tasted funnier :D.
Mochachocolata Rita says
wow! super creative! i loveee it!
just brilliant! i am veryyyy partial to anything golden brown ^_^
~~louise~~ says
Hi,
I just popped in via Coco Cooks in search of recipes to celebrate Apple Month in October. I am so delighted that I did. What a wonderful idea especially since October is also Cookbook Month! I may just have to devote a day to do the same or something similar. Thank you so much for sharing and for the inspiration!
eatme_delicious says
Wow how awesome to have family cookbooks like that. =) I bet these cookies are delicious.