Chocolate Haystacks Recipe
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Growing up, we always had butterscotch haystacks throughout the fall. They’d first appear at my Grandmother’s when we’d show up at her house as our first stop on our trick-or-treating trek Halloween and then Mama would make them through Thanksgiving before we switched to chocolate desserts and treats for Christmas.
The other afternoon, Little Buddy and I were in the kitchen making treats to take on a weekend trip and I just knew that haystacks would be the perfect no bake dessert to make together. And then I remembered he isn’t a huge fan of butterscotch so we quickly switched out chocolate chips for the butterscotch chips to make these oh so delicious chocolate haystacks.
I think from here on out, I’m halving the recipe when I make butterscotch haystacks to make half butterscotch and half chocolate. That way, my husband and I have the butterscotch haystacks of our childhood and my son has our new chocolate haystack version.
That’s a definite win-win, I think.
But as I bit into one of the haystacks before they’d even hardened (I couldn’t wait!), I just felt like they were missing something. So I added a pinch of sea salt to the tops of them as they finished cooling.
Absolute perfection!
Crunchy from the chow mein noodles, chocolatey from the, well, chocolate, nutty from the toasted almonds, and then that little touch of salt. Mercy!
Here’s the recipe for my haystack overhaul to these Chocolate Haystacks with sea salt.
Chocolate Haystacks Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 ounces chocolate chips, your preference for milk, semi-sweet or dark
- 2 cups chow mein noodles
- 1 cup toasted nuts, your preference of almonds, peanuts, cashews, or pistachios
- sea salt, optional
Instructions
- Prepare two sheet pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Melt chocolate chips according to package instructions. Add chow mein noodles and nuts to the melted chocolate and carefully combine until noodles and nuts are well-coated with the chocolate.
- Heap teaspoons full of mixture and drop onto parchment paper and allow to cool. Sprinkle with sea salt, if desired.
- You may also place into the freezer for 10 minutes to firm more quickly, if desired.
- Serve or store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These treats are great to make with children and require adult supervision during the melting and handling of the hot chocolate.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Haystacks and brownies are some of the first treats that I made by myself ~ either for a Girl Scout badge or 4H project in 4th grade. I haven’t made them in years since no one in my family likes butterscotch but me! May have to make a batch of the chocolate (wonder how a 1/2 c of crunchy peanut butter added to it would taste).
I always loved these growing up…we used peanut butter but chocolate is genius, or a combination of both! Love these, Robyn!
I’m thinking I may like these better than the butterscotch ones.
I use white coating and cashews then we use Christmas cookie sprinkles. People love them.
My aunt always made haystacks with marshmallows and I am ready to try your butterscotch version, yum!
The butterscotch link is actually for Amy’s (She Wears Many Hats) recipe on her site.
Robin, I think you measurement is off for the Chow Mein Noodles…..
ACK! I think you are right. I’ve updated the recipe for 2 cups. Thanks so much!
Such a simple and fun idea for the holidays!
Yum! I need these right now 🙂
Mmm….I love this kind of cookie! I’ve never had your version, though, I need to try it. My mom used to make something similar every Halloween…she called them Witchy Wormy cookies. The chow mein noodles were the worms, peanuts were spider eggs, etc. 😉
Try mixing half butterscotch and half chocolate in the same batch!! I do a cookie this way and add pretzels!
Oh the memories Robyn! I forgot all about haystacks! We make ours a bit different though…I may just have to whip up a batch!! Great photo too!!
Those are too cute Robyn. The kids would go crazy over them.
Do I Cook The Noodles ?
You don’t cook the noodles.