This Cookie Butter Haystacks Candy recipe is a trendy twist on the vintage Haystack candy. I traded out the traditional peanut butter and peanuts for the rich flavor of cookie butter spread and cashews. Combined with the same melted butterscotch chips and crispy Chow Mein noodles, they are irresistible!
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It doesn't mean the old-fashioned haystacks candy isn't fabulous, because it is! (I also LOVE peanut butter.) It's just that if you've ever tried the intense toasted goodness of creamy speculoos cookie butter, well... you'll understand what all the hype is about.
It's THAT good!
You can "gild the lily" by sprinkling your favorite color sprinkles or sanding sugar on the candy to fit the occasion. A butterscotch haystacks recipe is often made as an easy Christmas candy, but it can also be made for Valentines Day, Easter and Fourth of July!
After you've made these haystacks with cookie butter and cashews, I think you will agree with me that these are one the BEST haystacks recipes you've tasted!
Ok. Enough about my obsession with cookie butter. (More about it later.)
Is it a no-bake cookie or a candy? Many people would call this a haystacks cookie recipe.
This sweet and salty, crunchy treat is also known as Haystacks Dessert, Chow Mein Noodle Candy and Haystack Cookies.
Shortcuts
- I tell you how to use the microwave to melt the butterscotch chips and cookie butter.
- Spooning the candy onto wax paper or parchment paper makes for easy clean up and fewer dishes to wash!
You might also love my sweet and salty Dark Chocolate Pecan Clusters.
Ingredients for Haystacks
What you will need to make ....
Scroll down to printable recipe for exact ingredient quantities.
- Cookie butter- Lotus Biscoff cookie butter is the most widely recognized brand for this spread made from ground speculoos spice cookies but you can also find store brands next to the peanut butter at Walmart and Trader Joe's.
- Chow Mein Noodles These are crispy, crunchy wheat and egg noodles that are deep fried.
Cookie butter is also sold as a crunchy version with bits of cookies stirred in.
How to make Haystacks Candy
Easy candy with just 4 ingredients and 10 minutes to make!
Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe with detailed instructions.
Candy microwave instructions for haystack recipe without peanut butter.
- Melt butterscotch chips and cookie butter together in a microwave safe bowl; stir well.
- Add Chow Mein noodles and cashew nuts, stirring carefully.
- Be careful not to break up the crispy noodles as you drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto parchment or wax paper.
- Let the mounds of candy stand at room temperature until firm enough to transfer to a platter or air tight container to store.
That's it! You're done. Unless, of course, you want to gild the lily and sprinkle with your favorite holiday sprinkles or sanding sugar. See ideas below.
Pro Tips
During the holidays, there is often a run on La Choy brand Chow Mein noodles just to make Haystacks Candy! Go ahead and buy them in the late summer or early fall when you see them and put them in the freezer. They are sold in both 12 ounce bags and 5 ounce canisters in the International food aisle next to the foods like soy sauce.
Substitutions & Variations
Trade "this" for "that" in this easy haystacks recipe.
- Christmas Candy Haystacks - Before the candy clusters firm up, sprinkle colorful Christmas sprinkles or sanding sugars on top. To give them as gifts, place each haystack in a Christmas candy paper liner or cupcake liners. You can also arrange several of them on a small platter.
- Traditional Haystack Recipe (Peanut Butter Haystacks)- If you prefer the old-fashioned version of a haystack recipe or do not have cookie butter, simply swap out the cookie butter for creamy or crunch peanut butter. It's still delicious!
- Nutty Idea - Use your favorite nuts. Stir in toasted peanuts, pecans or macadamia nuts. Or, they work fine without any nuts.
- Drizzle melted chocolate over the haystacks or even trade out the butterscotch chips with milk or semisweet chocolate chips.
- Stir in a cup of mini marshmallows.
Haystacks candy is NOT just for Christmas! Use sprinkles and paper candy or cupcake liners to serve at any holiday. Perfect as easy food gifts for every occasion like Valentines Day and Halloween.
For Easter haystacks, arrange the mounds of haystacks in the shape of nests and place little candy eggs in the center to make birds nests.
Helpful Information
Cookie "butter", first called speculoos cookie spread, is a food paste made from ground European holiday spiced cookies. The flavor is a sweet blend of molasses, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Although it may look and spread like peanut butter and also contains vegetable oil, it lacks the nutritious benefits such as protein and vitamin E found in peanut butter. Lotus Biscoff and Trader Joe's are two of the most popular brands of cookie butter.
No. Cookie butter does not need to be kept in the refrigerator because there is no actual butter in it. It will actually firm up when refrigerated. Store at room temperature. Not too hot. Not too cold.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Store haystacks candy covered or in an air tight container at room temperature for up to one week. I don't recommend refrigerating them.
- To Freeze. Haystacks do not freeze well because they tend to soften as they thaw and can become sticky. If you do freeze them, freeze them individually on a baking sheet, then transfer the frozen candy into a freezer bag or container and take out just what you want. Thaw them in a single layer so they don't stick together until they firm up again.
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Want more shortcut candy recipes?
Cookie Butter Haystacks Candy
Ingredients
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- ½ cup cookie butter (Such as Lotus Biscoff or Trader Joe's)
- 2 cups crispy Chow Mein noodles (such as La Choy)
- ½ cup cashews
Instructions
- In a large, microwave-safe bowl, microwave butterscotch chips and cookie butter at 50% power for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring after every minute until melted.
- Stir in crispy Chow Mein noodles and cashews
- Spoon the haystacks candy mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls onto parchment or wax paper. Let stand at least 20 minutes or until firm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.
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