Butterscotch Haystacks Recipe – Filled with crunchy noodles, peanuts and butterscotch and peanut butter morsels, these take only minutes to make. Topped with a pinch of salt these bites become the perfect salty-sweet treat!
Butterscotch Haystack Cookies
A few years back Mom shared her Chocolate Covered Cashews Recipe and let me tell you, they have been super popular ever since!
Ahem…. especially with my husband.
Mom knows the key to his heart goes right through his sweet tooth and somehow those rich treats show up every time we’re visiting.
Dan knows he’s loved!!
Because he’s got such a sweet tooth, I had a (foodie!) brainstorm and thought hmm…. What if I take Mom’s recipe, switch out the flavors and make haystacks?
TOTAL winner! Easy to make and completely delicious these treats are perfect to satisfy a sweet tooth and also fantastic for a cookie exchange!
Everything you need to know to make Haystacks!
What are haystacks made of?
Haystacks are made with simple ingredients – butterscotch and peanut butter morsels, chow mein noodles and peanuts. No noodles? Use crushed pretzels or Wheat Chex cereal!
Why are my butterscotch chips not melting?
Butterscotch, peanut butter, even chocolate chips are made with stabilizers. They hold their shape until they are stirred. When you’re melting the chips continue to stir them until it’s smooth and silky.
Another method to melt candy is with a double-boiler. Double boilers use the steam from the hot water in the bottom pot to heat the top pot. Be sure the boiling water doesn’t touch the pot on top or it will scorch the candy!
How do you fix seized butterscotch?
Butterscotch will seize when a small amount of moisture has gotten in the mixture. Adding hot liquid back into the mixture will return it to a fluid state. Read more about fixing it here.
Ok, having said this – I’ve tried this method and was not successful. Perhaps I wasn’t patient enough?
Moral of the story… Don’t allow any water in the mixture and continue stirring while it’s melting.
How do you thin out butterscotch chips?
As mentioned above, the chips melt from the inside out. Continue stirring the entire time you’re melting the chips. This will allow them to get smooth and silky and avoid scorching.
How do you make Butterscotch Haystacks Recipe?
Ingredients for Haystacks Recipe
- butterscotch and peanut butter morsels – using the chips makes this recipe so quick and easy to make!
- chow mein noodles – the crispy noodles add a ton of crunch!
- peanuts – dry roasted, lightly salted nuts
- canola oil – helps the chips easily melt so the coating is smooth and silky.
- parchment or wax paper – to drop the cookies on. Makes for easy clean-up!
Steps to make these cookies
- use a non-stick pan over medium-low heat
- add both bags of chips along with the canola oil to the pan
- stir often until the candies are melted.
- stir in the peanuts
- fold in the chow mein noodles
- drop by small spoonfuls onto a sheet pan covered with parchment paper.
- top with a pinch of sea salt (optional)
- refrigerate until firm.
Variations for this treat!
- Swap out the chow mein noodles for pretzels or cornflakes.
- Replace the peanut butter or butterscotch morsels with white chocolate or dark chocolate chips!
- Change it up and add mini marshmallows or coconut flakes.
- Sprinkles can make them festive for any occasion!
More sweet treats? I got you covered!!!
Perfect for Cookie Exchange!
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Butterscotch Haystacks Recipe
Butterscotch Haystacks Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 oz. can chow mein noodles crunchy dried noodles
- 1 cup peanuts salted
- 11 oz. bag butterscotch chips
- 10 oz. bag peanut butter chips
- 1 tbsp canola oil can substitute corn or olive oil
- 1/2 tsp sea salt optional
Instructions
- Use a non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Add the butterscotch, peanut butter chips and canola oil to the pan. Stir often until the candies are melted and the mixture is smooth and silky – about five minutes.
- Stir in the peanuts and carefully fold in the chow mein noodles.
- Drop by small spoonfuls onto a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Smaller treats are better than big ones, they are super rich!
- If you're adding the salt, sprinkle now while they are still sticky.*
- Refrigerate until firm. Package into small ziplock bags and refrigerate until you're ready to enjoy them.
Notes
- You can subsitute 2 cups crushed pretzels for the chow mein noodles.
- These freeze great! Package them individually and freeze for up to a month.
Variations for this treat!
- Swap out the chow mein noodles for pretzels or cornflakes.
- Replace the peanut butter or butterscotch morsels with white chocolate or dark chocolate chips!
- Change it up and add mini marshmallows or coconut flakes.
- Sprinkles can make them festive for any occasion!
Julie Menghini
I love simple recipes that are delicious which make this one perfect for my cookie exchange party this year!
Bowl Me Over
Yes!! I hope everyone enjoys them!
Kathleen
Yum, Yum, YUM! Reminded me of my childhood, love these!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Kathleen!
Michelle
If you’re looking for an easy cookie recipe, this is it! Love this recipe!
Debi
My mom makes these every year. They are so good and so easy! Awesome that you shared the recipe!
liza
This recipe is pure genius! It’s SO easy to make! And it’ll look and taste so good I am sure! Thank you!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Liza!
Jennifer Ann Stewart
I made these for the neighborhood boys that love to hang out at my house and am always asked to make more:)
Bowl Me Over
That’s the biggest compliment ever, thanks for sharing! 🙂
Erin Parker
THESE ARE MY FAVORITE! Seriously–such a lovely and tasty addition to the cookie tray this holiday season. Thank you for introducing them to me!