Butterscotch Haystacks are a sweet and salty no-bake treat made with peanuts, chow mein noodles, potato chips, melted butterscotch chips, and peanut butter. The clusters are shaped and left to set, resembling small piles of hay, or haystacks! This simple recipe is perfect for when I am craving a sweet and salty snack at home. In addition to an easy, anytime treat, they are a great addition to your list of Christmas cookie recipes or a fun option for your Dessert Charcuterie Board! I also have Chocolate Haystacks you could make alongside for a chocolatey variety.

Tray of Butterscotch Haystacks on a wooden table from overhead.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Peanuts: Chop up about a cup of salted peanuts. If you don’t want as much salt, you could use unsalted peanuts. Or, try chopped almonds or cashews.
Chow Mein Noodles: Chow mein noodles are an important part of this recipe, and sometimes people call these treats chow mein noodle cookies. The term “chow mein” means “fried noodles.” These noodles are thin and crispy, which helps give the treats a great crunch!
Potato Chips: If you don’t have ripple potato chips, any potato chips will work. Try using homemade potato chips!
Butterscotch Chips: Butterscotch chips are melted and used as the gooey layer to hold the haystacks together. If you don’t want only a butterscotch flavor, you can try mixing and matching with chocolate chips or peanut butter chips.
Peanut Butter: I love the combination of butterscotch and peanut butter. (Have you tried my Butterscotch Peanut Butter Snickerdoodles, yet?) I used creamy peanut butter, but crunchy would work for even more crunch in each bite!

Delicious Variations of Butterscotch Haystacks

If you want to customize these little treats, here are a few options you could try:

Mini marshmallows
Dried fruit (like chopped dried cranberries, raisins, or apricots)
Sweetened or unsweetened coconut flakes
Colorful sprinkles (perfect for holidays or special celebrations)
Crushed or chopped candy bars like homemade Snickers or peanut butter cups

Butterscotch Haystacks on a table with butterscotch chips.

How To Store Butterscotch Haystacks

Store Butterscotch Haystacks at room temperature or in the freezer.

Room Temperature: Store the haystacks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. (I use a sheet of parchment or wax paper if storing them in layers.)

To Freeze: Freeze the haystacks in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to a couple of months. When ready to enjoy, let them thaw at room temperature.

Butterscotch Haystacks

Prep Time 15

Cooling Time 10

Total Time 25

Butterscotch Haystacks are a sweet and salty no-bake treat made with peanuts, chow mein noodles, potato chips, melted butterscotch chips, and peanut butter. This simple recipe is perfect for when I am craving a sweet and salty snack at home. Plus, they are a great addition to your list of Christmas cookie recipes or a fun option for your Dessert Charcuterie Board!

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Ingredients

▢ 1 cup (146 g) salted peanuts, roughly chopped
▢ 3 cups (168 g) chow mein noodles
▢ 2 cups (68 g) ripple potato chips
▢ 1 bag (11 ounces) butterscotch chips
▢ ½ cup (129 g) creamy peanut butter

Instructions

Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
To a large bowl, add peanuts, chow mein noodles, and potato chips.
In a separate, microwave-safe bowl, melt the butterscotch chips. Then, stir in peanut butter.
Pour the melted butterscotch and peanut butter into the bowl with the peanuts, chow mein noodles, and chips. Stir together. (The chips should crush naturally.) Mix until all ingredients are fully coated.
Using a spoon or cookie scoop, drop dollops of the mixture onto the parchment-lined baking sheets. (If the mixture has hardened before you can spoon it all onto the baking sheets, simply microwave the mixture for 15-20 seconds, or until the butterscotch has melted again.) This recipe made 24 haystacks. Depending on the size of the clusters, the number of haystacks may vary.
Let cool until firm (10-15 minutes).

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What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:

Autumn

A fun and easy treat to make! I love the crunch from the chow mein noodles and potato chips. Perfect for parties!

Elizabeth

I am not a huge butterscotch fan, but the peanut butter makes them work! I love these!

Bella

I like the texture of these treats with the peanuts and chow mein noodle. Pretty good!

Annabelle

I can see these being popular around the holidays–that are so easy to make and have a delicious flavor and texture (if you love butterscotch desserts).