There is something about traditional Butterscotch Haystacks that makes them a holiday favorite and therefore a staple in our home during the holidays. Can you get any better than delicious AND no-bake? They are on virtually every holiday platter – in the office, in a care package from grandma, and in our own baking and cookie-making. They are addicting – and great as they are – but I really wanted to take them over the top and give them a unique twist this season.
What I came up with was these Salted Maple Cashew Haystacks – and let me tell you, they are yummy. The combination of sweet and salty with all that texture is just hard to resist and definitely deserves a spot on your dessert table or your cookie exchange plate this year.
Salted Maple Cashew Haystacks
These are so easy and quick to make, but they taste so good! Haystacks are a great treat to make if you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen but are craving a sweet holiday treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- ½ cup cashews
- 2 cups chow mein noodles
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tsp. vegetable oil
- 1 tsp. maple extract
- sea salt
Instructions
- Melt butterscotch chips and peanut butter over medium heat in a large saucepan, stirring the mixture frequently.
- Remove from heat; quickly stir in chow mein noodles, cashews, oil, and maple extract, mixing well.
- Drop by large spoonfuls onto waxed paper.
- Quickly sprinkle each mound with a little sea salt.
- Allow to harden completely.
- Store in an airtight container for up to one week in refrigerator.
Get creative with your haystacks, experiment with different nuts, stir in a little chocolate, marshmallows, and even different extracts to create a new flavor!
Check out the visual directions below:
Melt butterscotch chips and peanut butter:
Stir melted butterscotch chips and peanut butter in with chow mein noodles, cashews, oil, and maple extract:
Drop by large spoonfuls onto waxed paper:
Quickly sprinkle each mound with a little sea salt and allow to cool….if you can wait!
Don’t you just love combining sweet and salty? I know I do!
What treats do you like to include in your cookie plates during the holidays? I swear, I could spend all season making cookies and other treats (and eating them, too, of course!).
Love these salted maple cashew haystacks? You’ll love these treats from Food Fun Family, too:
Butterscotch Bars
English Toffee
White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies
© 2015, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
Those look so good. I like the sea salt on the top and the maple in the dish.
My husband loves cashews. What a delicious treat! I’d love to make these!
This is really an easy treat to make for the Holidays! I really like how pretty the Haystacks look and need to make these for my Christmas party.
As popular as these sound, I have never had a haystack before. These do look super yummy and love that they are a no-bake recipe.
These do look delicious and I love the new take on an old favorite!
OMG YUM!!! Sending to my mom so she can make me for Christmas!
Yum! My daughter loves these, adding to my holiday treat list.