Peanut Butter Haystacks
If you’re looking for a quick, no-bake treat, these Peanut Butter Haystacks are the perfect dessert. With just simple ingredients, you can enjoy this old-timey candy year-round.
Haystacks are a favorite during the holidays, for parties, or whenever you need a retro dessert. They are salty, sweet, creamy, and crunchy all at once. However, the best part is that they come together in minutes and require no candy thermometer or oven time.
If you love haystack cookies, then you must try my fruit cake cookies, tea cake cookies recipe, and candy cane cookie recipe. They are all nostalgic and old-fashioned desserts.
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💗 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No-Bake Recipe: A perfect dessert recipe when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen. Just like my Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies!
- Quick and Easy: Ready in just minutes with only four ingredients.
- Perfect for Holidays: Add this to a classic Christmas cookie tray, serve in goodie bags at Halloween, or any time of the year.
🛒 Ingredients Needed
- Butterscotch Chips: This is the sweet and creamy base for these haystack cookies.
- Peanut Butter: Adds extra creaminess and flavor to these peanut butter no-bake cookies.
- Peanuts: Adds a salty crunch and balances out the sweetness.
- Chow Mein Noodles: Haystacks with chow mein noodles give it the signature look and texture.
📖 Recipe Variations
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Haystacks: Swap the butterscotch chips for chocolate chips.
- Add-Ins: Add some M&Ms or colored sprinkles for the holidays.
- Omit the Nuts: Omit the peanuts or replace them with broken pretzels.
🥣 How to Make Haystacks
Step 1: Prepare the baking sheet. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Melt Chips. In a double boiler, melt butterscotch chips. Stirring while melting until the chips are fully melted and smooth.
Step 3: Add Peanut Butter. Add the peanut butter and stir until it has melted.
Step 4: Add Nuts. Once melted, remove the mixture from the heat and add the peanuts. Stir to combine.
Step 5: Stir together. Gently fold in the chow mein noodles and stir until they are evenly coated with the butterscotch mixture.
Step 6: Drop and Cool. Drop by tablespoons onto parchment paper and allow to cool completely. Place in the fridge to speed up the process.
💭 Pro Tips
- Use your favorite peanut butter. Choose creamy for a smoother texture or chunky for more peanut bits.
- Instead of using a double boiler, melt the chips in the microwave.
- Gently fold in the chow mein noodles.
🧺 How to Store
- Room Temperature: Store these butterscotch and peanut butter haystacks in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Fridge: Keep them in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If your house is warm, this will also keep them from melting.
❔ Recipe FAQs
Yes, you may leave out the peanuts or replace them with pecans or pretzels.
My preferred method for melting butterscotch is in a double boiler. You can also use a microwave if you like.
Absolutely. These will store well and taste great days later, making them perfect for the busy holidays. If your house is warm, store them in the fridge.
Yes. Try adding shredded coconut, other nuts, or dried fruit for added texture and flavor.
More Vintage Recipes
If you tried these Peanut Butter Haystacks or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments. Thanks for visiting!
👩🏻🍳 Recipe
Peanut Butter Haystacks
Ingredients
- 11 oz. bag Butterscotch Chips
- ½ cup Peanut Butter
- 1 cup Peanuts
- 5 oz. can Chow Mein Noodles
Instructions
- Prepare the baking sheet. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Melt Chips. In a double boiler, melt butterscotch chips. Stirring while melting until the chips are fully melted and smooth.
- Add Peanut Butter. Add the peanut butter and stir until it has melted.
- Add Nuts. Once melted, remove the mixture from the heat and add the peanuts. Stir to combine.
- Stir together. Gently fold in the chow mein noodles and stir until they are evenly coated with the butterscotch mixture.
- Drop and Cool. Drop by tablespoons onto parchment paper and allow to cool completely. Place in the fridge to speed up the process.
Notes
- Use your favorite peanut butter. Choose creamy for a smoother texture or chunky for more peanut bits.
- Instead of using a double boiler, melt the chips in the microwave.
- Gently fold in the chow mein noodles.
- If your house is warm, store haystacks in the fridge.
Love making these peanut butter haystacks! So easy and they always disappear fast from the treat table.