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ByLana Stuart Published: Last Updated:
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4.96 from 84 votes
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Four ingredients and just 10 minutes are all you’ll need to make this Easy Vintage Haystacks Candy recipe. Crunchy chow mein noodles, butterscotch, and peanut butter collide in this no-bake treat for the holiday season or any time of year. It’s an easy to make vintage candy recipe that’s a perfect combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy!
‘Tis the season for holiday baking and candy making! And though I do enjoy a leisurely day in the kitchen making Christmas candies, I also appreciate recipes that can be whipped up in just a few minutes.
This vintage recipe for No-Bake ButterscotchHaystacks Cookies is one of the quickest and simplest recipes I know. It takes about 10 minutes from getting the ingredients out of the pantry to dropping them onto the paper to cool.
This retro haystacks recipe has been in my files forever. It’s a delightful combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy and makes a lovely addition to your assortment of more traditional Christmas candies.
🛒 Ingredient Notes
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- Peanuts (I like to use the small, red-skinned Spanish peanuts for this, but dry roasted also work.)
- Butterscotch Chips (Purchase a good quality brand. I typically use Nestle.)
- Peanut Butter (You’ll want smooth peanut butter for this recipe.)
- Chow Mein Noodles (I recommend La Choy brand, unflavored, chow mein noodles. Look for these in the aisle with the Asian cooking ingredients.)
You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe at the bottom of this post.
🔪 How to Make Easy Vintage Haystacks
Melt the Chips
STEP 1. In a large bowl, microwave the butterscotch chips and peanut butter on 50% power for 3 to 5 minutes or until the chips have melted, stirring after each one-minute increment.
👉 PRO TIP: It’s important to use 50% power on the microwave or you’ll wind up with butterscotch chips that have seized or burned. Stir the mixture every minute. Alternately, you can melt the chips and peanut butter in the top of a double boiler.
Stir in the Peanuts and Noodles
STEP 2. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir in the peanuts and chow mein noodles. Stir gently until everything is coated very well. Take care not to break the noodles too much.
Drop Onto a Baking Sheet
STEP 3. Drop the mixture by teaspoonfuls onto waxed or parchment paper. Let it sit at room temperature until completely cooled and firm. It may take several hours for the candy to become firm depending on the humidity that day.
🍚 Storage and Make Ahead Information
- Make Ahead: It goes without saying that these can, and should, be made in advance.
- Storage: Best stored at room temperature. Refrigerating the haystacks tends to make them too firm. Place the finished candy in an airtight container and keep for 5 to 7 days (they would be fine for longer but the noodles tend to become stale after a while).
- Freezing: Not recommended.
🔀 Variations
- Swap out the peanuts with slivered almonds, chopped pecans, cashews, or walnuts.
- Use milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or white chocolate chips in place of the butterscotch.
- Add sprinkles for a pop of color and interest.
- Drizzle the finished haystacks with melted milk chocolate.
- For an Easter theme, shape the haystacks into the form of a nest and add a few egg-shaped candies in the center.
❓ Questions About Haystacks Candy
Why is it called “Haystacks?”
These candies are called haystacks because they resemble an old-fashioned stack of hay.
What are “chow mein noodles?”
The chow mein noodles you’ll use in this recipe are the crispy, quick cooked noodles available in most U.S. grocery stores. The most popular brand (and the one used for this recipe) is La Choy.
🧾 More Homemade Candy Recipes
Cranberry Pistachio White Chocolate Bark
Easy 5-Minute Microwave Fudge
Homemade Southern Pecan Pralines
Saltine Cracker Toffee
- Cranberry Pistachio White Chocolate Bark
- Easy 5-Minute Microwave Fudge
- Mounds Bars Candy
- Classic Peanut Brittle
- Salted Butterscotch Fudge
- Cinnamon Pumpkin Seed Brittle
- Homemade Southern Pecan Pralines
- Homemade Marshmallows
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Paté
- Bacon and Pecan Topped Toffee
- Saltine Cracker Toffee
Questions? I’m happy to help!
If you have more questions about the recipe, or if you’ve made it and would like to leave a comment, scroll down to leave your thoughts, questions, and/or rating!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
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Easy Vintage Haystacks Candy
You’ll need just four ingredients and 10 minutes to make this simple, no-bake Haystacks Candy recipe with crunchy chow mein noodles, butterscotch, and peanut butter.
4.96 from 84 votes
Print It Rate It Save
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 147kcal
Author: Lana Stuart
Ingredients
- 1 cup butterscotch chips (recommend: Nestle Toll House brand)
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ½ cup salted peanuts
- 2 cups chow mein noodles (La Choy brand recommended)
Instructions
In a large bowl, microwave the butterscotch chips and peanut butter on 50% power for 3 to 5 minutes or until the chips have melted, stirring after each one minute increment.
Remove from the microwave and stir in the peanuts and chow mein noodles.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed or parchment paper. Let sit until completely cooled and firm. It may take several hours for the candy to become firm.
Notes
- It’s important to use 50% power on the microwave or you’ll wind up with butterscotch chips that have seized or burned. Stir the mixture every minute. Alternately, you can melt the chips and peanut butter in the top of a double boiler.
- Storage: Best stored at room temperature. Refrigerating the haystacks tends to make them too firm. Place the finished candy in an airtight container and keep for 5 to 7 days (they would be fine for longer but the noodles tend to become stale after a while).
- Freezing: Not recommended.
Nutrition Information
Serving 1 | Calories 147kcal | Carbohydrates 22g | Protein 5g | Fat 5g | Saturated Fat 1g | Cholesterol 1mg | Sodium 189mg | Potassium 59mg | Fiber 2g | Sugar 7g | Vitamin A 7IU | Calcium 6mg | Iron 1mg
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
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— This post was originally published on December 11, 2012. It has been updated with new photographs and additional information.
Lana Stuart
Lana Stuart is the cook, writer, and founder of Lana’s Cooking. Lana has been cooking since she was tall enough to reach the stove and started this blog in 2009 to share her delicious home cooking recipes. You'll find about 700 recipes here so there's sure to be something your family will like!
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