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Year in, year out, during the holidays, The Best No Bake Haystack Cookies are one of the most popular recipes on this site. And the Chocolate, Peanut and Pretzel No-Bake Haystack Cookies are not far behind.
I didn’t even know what a haystack was until my friend Catherine Skobe included them in a cookie assort she gifted our family several years ago. Apparently I am in a very small minority of people who didn’t have haystacks built into their cookie world from an early age. But now that they are here, I’m not letting go.
What Are Haystack Cookies?
They are no-bake cookies made with melted chocolate and (this takes a moment to accept) crunchy lo mein noodles. It might sounds strange at first, but it really really works. The melted chjoclate basically binds together the noodles which hold onto their crunch, and omnce the two are mixed they are dropped onto baking sheets to cool and firm up. Lots of add-ins are possible.
Holiday Haystack Cookies
I had a hunch at that delicious peppermint chocolate bark would be pretty awesome as part of a haystack, and the hunch proves right. But for even more pepperminty flavor and crunch you’ll want to sprinkle some crushed candy canes on top before they set up.
(We ran out of candy canes and Mandy my clever kitchen mate scraped off the peppermint from the top of some extra peppermint bark and used that as well. Necessity=Mother of Invention.)
Melting Chocolate Without a Double Boiler
If you don’t have a double boiler you can make one by nestling a metal or heatproof glass bowl over a pot with a bit of water in the bottom – bring the water to a boil, and stir the chips frequently until they melt.
Crushing Peppermint Bark and Candy Canes
To crush the peppermint bark break it into pieces and put it between two pieces of parchment. Roll a rolling pin or a wine bottle over it and give it some gentle wacks until it is crushed but not pulverized. Repeat with the candy canes, keeping them separate.
Peppermint Bark Holiday Haystack Cookies: Peppermint Bark adds holiday flavor and visual appeal to one of the best cookies of the season.
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Other Haystack Cookie Recipes:
- The Best No-Bake Haystack Cookies
- Chocolate, Peanut and Pretzel No-Bake Haystack Cookies
- S’Mores Haystack Cookies
Other Holiday Cookie Recipes:
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Peppermint Bark Haystack Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup mini white chocolate chips
- ½ cup crushed peppermint bark (see Note 2)
- 1 (6-ounce) package chow mein noodles (3 ½ cups)
- ½ cup crushed candy canes (see Note 2)
Instructions
- Melt the milk and semisweet chips –not the white chocolate! — in a double boiler (see Note 1) or using the microwave, stopping the microwave and giving the chips a stir every 15 seconds until they are melted.
- Place the noodles in a large bowl. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over and stir to combine. Add the white chocolate chips and the peppermint bark, and stir and toss until everything is evenly combined.
- Drop the mixture by tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with the crushed candy canes. Allow to set (in warmer months this is best done in the fridge, though let them sit at room temperature for several minutes before serving).
Notes
Melting Chocolate Without a Double Boiler
If you don’t have a double boiler you can make one by nestling a metal or heatproof glass bowl over a pot with a bit of water in the bottom – bring the water to a boil, and stir the chips frequently until they melt.Crushing Peppermint Bark
To crush the peppermint bark, break it into pieces and put it between two pieces of parchment. Roll a rolling pin or a wine bottle over it and give it some gentle wacks until it is crushed but not pulverized.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
