No Bake Haystack Cookies and a DIY Holiday Hot Drink Bar

Happy National Cookie Day!

Y’all know I love sweets and since it is holiday season I am baking up a storm 24/7! Baked goods, especially cookies, make great Christmas gifts for family, friends, neighbors, teachers, co-workers, you name it! These cookies easy to make and sweet, crunchy, and delish. They are simply a combo of butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, and peanut butter with a big scoop of chow mein noodles {you read that right} thrown in. Hey, don’t knock it til’ you try it!

These No Bake Haystack Cookies will be your new favorite holiday cookie

{and most requested potluck recipe too}!

Check out my cooking video here.

I threw a Cookie Exchange Party this week for my local friends and their kiddos. I brought a big batch of these Haystack Cookies to share along with a few other sweets. I also set up a cookie decorating area for the kids and a Hot Chocolate Bar for some extra sweet fun!

Scroll down for my cookie recipe and some simple tips for setting up a Holiday Hot Drink Bar at your next shindig!

Ingredients:

Makes about 16 haystacks

3/4 cup butterscotch chips

3/4 cup peanut butter chips

3 tbsp peanut butter

1 1/3 cups dry chow mein noodles

Directions:

1. Add first 3 ingredients to a bowl.

2. Microwave on 50% power for 30 second increments, stirring in between, until melted and smooth.

3. Mix in chow mein noodles.

4. Drop spoonfuls of noodles onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

5. Let harden then store in a resealable container.

My little minion loved making these no bake cookies with me.
She especially liked sneaking the peanut butter chips when I wasn’t looking!

Add you butterscotch chips and peanut butter chips to a medium sized bowl.

Now add 3 tbsp of peanut butter. I used Reeses creamy {and extra decadent} peanut butter because..well why not? It’s the holidays!

Stir it all together.

Microwave on 50% power for 30 second increments,
stirring in between, until melted and smooth.
*I heated mine 3 times.

Add chow mein noodles.

And stir to combine.

Drop spoonfuls of the noodle mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

You should get about 16 or so cookies.

Let cool and harden, then they are ready to pack up or serve!

I brought a batch of these cookies to share at my cookie exchange party
along with the printed recipe.

Since Ashton attended I told him he needed to make cookies too.
So he cleverly added cookie icing to the top of a holiday Oreo and topped it with a mini Oreo.
He called them Snow Tires and guess what- they were the kid’s favorite!

I love throwing fun holiday cookie parties like this! For a Cookie Exchange Party, everyone brings a couple dozen of their favorite cookie along with the printed recipe. At the party we all get to sample the cookies and then go home with a bag full and the recipes to make more at home!
See my Cookie Exchange Party Tips and Ideas here.

We took about 101 pictures of this pose and this was the best one.

These girls are a hand full and keep me smiling!

Daddy came to the party on his lunch break and posed with his little ladies.

What’s a recipe party without prizes, right?
I had everyone vote for the Best Tasting Cookie and Most Creative.
Print them here.

Ava could eat cookies all day long if I let her!

She definitely got my sweet tooth!

Here’s a fun DIY for a Hot Chocolate {or coffee or cider…} Bar.

I used Ashton’s large camping Thermos for the Hot Chocolate Bar at my party.

But since it’s covered in stickers and not quite party ready I jazzed it up a bit.

I taped plaid Christmas wrapping paper around the entire base then added a chalkboard style printable sign {find it here} to the front. Adding a Christmas themed placemat or tablecloth underneath gives it an attractive base to sit on too. Viola! Completely transformed and oh so stylish!

The Hot Chocolate Bar was such a fun idea for the Cookie Exchange Party and really a breeze to set up. I just added hot milk and cocoa mix to the Thermos and brought a bag full of toppings to set out.

This would also work great for a Coffee or Hot Cider Bar too!

I set this up on my patio too for Ava and her friends to enjoy.
Isn’t it adorable?!

Toppings galore!

I set out cups with mini holiday colored marshmallows, chocolate pieces, mini oreos, peppermint sticks, cookie sticks, chocolate candy canes, and caramel sauce.

I also provided cups {mugs would be cut too}, napkins, and straws for the kids.

Whipped Cream, white chocolate chips, and raspberry sauce would also be tasty additions.