If you’re a fan of simple, salty, and sweet, you are going to love this no-bake, 4-ingredient cookie treat! These white chocolate haystacks are so easy to customize, making them my go-to for quick holiday gifting or just a fun afternoon project with the kids. Think of the melted white chocolate as a blank canvas—just grab your favorite festive sprinkles and turn these crunchy clusters into a treat for any occasion.
Because this white chocolate haystacks recipe is so ridiculously easy, just like my no-bake Peanut Clusters recipe, I make it throughout the year.
My kids always like to help with decorating these (though I'll admit I think it's because they like snarfing the leftover chow mein noodles and peanuts!). These haystacks get decorated red and green for Christmas, pink and red for Valentine's Day, green and gold for St. Patty's Day--I could on and on here, but I think you get the idea.
Feel free to decorate these haystacks as you wish! The white chocolate coating makes it so easy for any color to pop and stand out. That's why I prefer this version over the original peanut butter & butterscotch one (but don't get me wrong, those are good too!). This recipe is also a little less sweet, making it more inviting to add a ton of fun sprinkles and festive decor--now please find me someone who doesn't love that!
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🥘Ingredients
- White chocolate melting wafers or bark- wafers or bark melt better and are more malleable than baking chips
- Chow mein noodles- there are a lot of different sizes available in stores these days, but stick with the tiny La Choy cannister-type variety. Some white chocolate haystack recipes use pretzels instead, but I think chow mein noodles are easier to mix and have an undeniable crunch and flavor that just can't be beat!
- Salted peanuts- your standard cocktail peanut is just fine--no need for Spanish peanuts in this recipe
- Decor of your choice- you can't go wrong with a variety of festive, colorful sprinkles. I also love adding a few mini M&M'S. Did you know that they now have a mini peanut butter version? Those are my preferred for this recipe!
🔪Instructions
- Step 1: Mix the chow mein noodles and peanuts together in a large bowl.
- Step 2: Add the melted white chocolate.
- Step 3: Working quickly, stir to combine.
- Step 4: Scoop out clusters and place on parchment paper; decorate and allow to set.
Hint: You’ll need to be a bit of a kitchen ninja here because melted white chocolate starts to set the second it leaves the microwave. Make sure your parchment paper and decorations are ready to go so you can scoop and sprinkle your clusters without any delay.
🥣Substitutions
Noodle swap: You can use pretzel sticks instead of chow mein noodles (this option is lower in fat and calories)
🍽Equipment
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Rubber spatula
- Large mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
- Cookie scoop or tablespoon
- Parchment paper
🍶Storage
Store White Chocolate Haystacks in an airtight container on your countertop. Enjoy within 2-3 weeks.
You can also freeze these in freezer safe packaging. Wrap white chocolate haystacks individually in wax paper and then place several in a freezer bag. Defrost overnight in the fridge or on your counter for a few hours.
💭Top tip
If your white chocolate starts to harden before you’re finished, just pop the bowl back in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. This simple hack softens the white chocolate haystacks mixture just enough to make it easy to scoop again so every cluster turns out perfect.
🗨️FAQ
No. White chocolate bars contain cocoa butter; white chocolate chips have hydrogenated oil. Baking bars taste better and melt better because they don't have a waxy coating on them like chips do.
White chocolate is a bit more sensitive than milk chocolate and can "seize" or turn clumpy if it gets even a tiny drop of water in it or if it gets too hot too fast. To avoid this, always melt it low and slow in short bursts, and make sure your bowl and spatula are completely dry before you start.
🥄Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
🍴Pairing
Fill your holiday tins with White Chocolate Haystacks and these goodies:
📋Recipe with step-by-step instructions
White Chocolate Haystacks
Ingredients
- 16 oz. white chocolate bark or melting wafers
- 5 oz. can chow mein noodles La Choy style, tiny size
- 1 cup salted cocktail peanuts
- decorative sprinkles and little candies I like festive sprinkles and mini peanut butter M&M'S for this recipe
Instructions
- Prepare your workspace by laying out a large sheet of parchment paper. Have your sprinkles and candy decor within reach and ready to go.
- Mix the chow mein noodles and peanuts gently together in a large bowl.
- Microwave the white chocolate in 30 second intervals at 50% power until almost smooth. Then stir to make it clump free.
- Immediately transfer the melted white chocolate to the mixing bowl. Use a rubber spatula to mix and fully coat the chow mein noodles and peanuts.
- Working quickly, scoop out haystack clusters using a cookie scoop or large spoon and place them on the parchment paper. Decorate right away so sprinkles and candies stick.
- Haystacks with white chocolate will cool and set rather quickly. In less than one hour, you can store them in airtight containers. Enjoy within 2-3 weeks.
- You can also freeze these in freezer safe packaging. Wrap white chocolate haystacks individually in wax paper and then place several in a freezer bag. Defrost overnight in the fridge or on your counter for a few hours.
Notes
- Have your decorating station ready to go before you start and work fast! Melted white chocolate starts solidifying the second it comes out of the microwave. Be prepared for that, and get your haystack clusters onto the parchment paper and decorated without delay.
- A little hack with this recipe is to put the mixing bowl (assuming it's microwave safe) with all the ingredients in the microwave for about 15-30 seconds halfway through the haystack assembly. It helps to melt the white chocolate ever so slightly again so that everything sticks together better, making the mixture easier to work with during the homestretch.
Beth S. says
What a fun recipe--and no bake at that! I like how you can customize for a variety of holidays.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
That's why I like using white melting wafers for this recipe--so easy to decorate them that way!
Florence F. says
Tried this and like it better than the butterscotch version.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
Me too. They can get a little too sweet!
Barbara says
A sweet treat.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
Sweet and salty haystacks are perfect for any occasion, and you can switch out the colors to make them your own!