The Best No Bake Cookies with Chow Mein Noodles
The Best No Bake Cookies with Chow Mein Noodles – So yummy and easy to make with just 4 ingredients.
Perfect for the Easter holidays or any time of year!
AKA Bird’s Nest Cookies or Haystack Candy
Crunchy chow mein noodles coated in luscious melted chocolate and peanut butter.
Then shaped into little mounds like cute bird’s nests.
Topped with mini chocolate eggs to create a colorful and tasty treat for the holidays.
Why I love these Easy Cookies
• Kid-Friendly – It was one of my favorite recipes as a little girl and is easy enough for a child to make.
• Easy Recipe – It’s so easy to mix together 4 ingredients and top each nest with a trio of candy eggs.
• Festive Treat – Chow Mein Noodle Cookies are a festive way to celebrate Easter, and they taste as good as they look!
• Family Favorite – My whole family loves the chocolate peanut butter combo in this easy treat.
• NO OVEN IS REQUIRED! This recipe is just about melting some chocolate and mixing in the ingredients.
• Holiday Season – Chocolate haystack cookies (without the candy eggs) are also great for Valentine’s Day or a Christmas party!
What you Need
Ingredient Notes
• Crispy Chow Mein Noodles – Dried chow mein noodles are typically used as a topping on salads and casseroles or these classic chocolate haystacks.
We actually used gluten free chow mein noodles.
• Chocolate Chips – We used semi-sweet chocolate chips for this recipe. For ideal flavor, use a very good quality chocolate brand.
If you want to make butterscotch haystacks, simply substitute butterscotch morsels for the semisweet chocolate chips.
• Peanut Butter – You’ll need creamy peanut butter for this recipe. Choose your favorite brand. We used JIF.
• Candy Eggs – We like to use Cadbury Mini Eggs, but other brands make candy chocolate eggs that work just as well. Try M&Ms or jelly beans.
How to make this recipe
*Note: The full recipe is in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
1) The first step in this chocolate haystacks recipe: Line a 13×18 sheet pan or cookie sheet with raised edges with parchment paper or wax paper. Set aside.
2) Melt chocolate chips in microwave according to package instructions. Do not overheat. Stir in peanut butter until smooth.
3) Then stir in the chow mein noodles. Drop mounds or little haystacks of noodle mixture onto prepared sheet with about 2 inches in between each one. You should have 12-14 cookies.
4) Working quickly, add a few mini candy coated chocolate eggs on top of each delicious cookie, gently pressing down to secure them. You’ll want to do this step while the chocolate is still melty.
5) Place in refrigerator to set, about an hour. They’re ready to eat. Store covered in refrigerator up to 5 days.
Quick Tips
• Variations – Substitute white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, milk chocolate chips or butterscotch chips instead of the chocolate chips for a different flavor combo.
• Add Ons – For an added crunch, try adding toffee bits, salty peanuts, or sunflower seeds.
• Toppings – If you’re making these chocolate haystack cookies as Christmas cookies for the Christmas season, just omit the candy eggs and add holiday sprinkles on top instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
• How to store your cookies? It is best to store these Haystack Cookies in an airtight container or Ziplock baggie for up to 1 week, if you can keep from eating them all.
• Can you freeze these chocolate chow mein cookies? Yes. After these cookies have cooled and hardened, they can be put in a freezer-safe container or bag, and be frozen for up to two months.
• Can I make these cookies without the peanut butter? Yes. If you have a peanut allergy and don’t want peanut butter, simply replace with an equal amount of chocolate chips, white chocolate chips or butterscotch chips. Make sure to buy a peanut-free brand.
I hope you enjoy this delicious crunchy cookie recipe! This sweet treat is so fun to make and share with family and friends!Here are more holiday celebration recipes on my website for you to check out!
• Gluten Free Easter Bunny Bundt Cakes
• St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookie Bars
• Easy Gnome Christmas Cookies
• Easy Cookies for Mardis Gras
• Heart Shaped Valentine’s Day Cupcakes
• Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies
• OREO Cookie Pops with Holiday Sprinkles
• Easter Grass Sugar Cookies from Recipe Girl
Related Recipes
Love this recipe? If you try it, be sure to tag me on @Instagram! You can also find me on Pinterest, YouTube and Facebook.
No Bake Cookies with Chow Mein Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 3 cups chow mein noodles
- 1 bag candy eggs, We used Cadbury milk chocolate mini eggs with crisp sugar shell
Equipment
Instructions
- The first step in this chocolate haystacks recipe: Line a 13×18 sheet pan or cookie sheet with raised edges with parchment paper or wax paper. Set aside.
- Melt chocolate chips in microwave according to package instructions. Do not overheat. Stir in peanut butter until smooth.Then stir in the chow mein noodles. Drop mounds or little haystacks of noodle mixture onto prepared sheet with about 2 inches in between each one. You should have 12-14 cookies.
- Working quickly, add a few mini candy coated chocolate eggs on top of each delicious cookie, gently pressing down to secure them. You'll want to do this step while the chocolate is still melty.
- Place in refrigerator to set, about an hour. They're ready to eat. Store covered in refrigerator up to 5 days.
I’ve used this recipe on and off for years!! Absolutely LOVED by all. I think adding the little chocolate Easter eggs is a wonderful idea I never tried and can’t wait for the kids to enjoy;)