No-Bake Chow Mein Noodle Cookies Recipe (2024)

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OurNo-Bake Chow Mein Cookiesrecipe has been a family favorite for years! It’s a simple refrigerator drop cookie that only needs 4 ingredients: crunchy chow mein noodles, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and peanuts.No-Bake Chow Mein Noodle Cookies Recipe (1)

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Nearly 30 years ago, I was introduced to my grandmother-in-law’s No-Bake Chow Mein Cookies. Well, she actually called them “Chinese New Year Cookies”, but my family and Ialways preferred to call them “Chow Mein Cookies”, so that’s the name that always stuck with us.

During Christmastime, she would make a table full of holiday treats. After our holiday dinner with her, she would create a plate of goodies for us to take home. The Chow Mein Cookies were always one of the first to go.

I loved that tradition, so after a few years into our marriage, we started the tradition of making lots of holiday treats too. I usually picked treats to make that were fairly easy or ones that were special to me, such as Chocolate Chip Cookies and Christmas Candy Cane Cookies. And these No-Bake Chow Mein Cookies have also been made every year.

No-Bake Chow Mein Noodle Cookies Recipe Ingredients

Chow Mein Cookies are a simplerefrigerator drop cookie that only needs 4 ingredients:

If you are unfamiliar with chow mein noodles, they are a crunchy, fried egg noodle sold in the Asian food section of most grocery stores. Look for them in a bag like you see in our photo (your store may sell a different brand). You may also see chow mein noodles sold in a canister, but we recommend trying to find the bags as they are usually less expensive.

Can’t find them in store? You can also buy them online: La Choy Chow Mein Noodles

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How to MakeNo-Bake Chow Mein Noodle Cookies

No-Bake Chow Mein Noodle Cookiesdon’t have to be baked in an oven. As long as you have a microwave (or stovetop) and a refrigerator, you can make these.

First, line baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper. Be sure that the baking sheet you use will fit in your refrigerator. If you have limited space in your refrigerator, you can use a dinner plate or another smaller tray-like item.

Combine both the butterscotch chips and the chocolate chips in a large microwave-safe bowl. Make sure that your bowl is large enough that it will hold all of your chow mein noodles, along with the chips and the peanuts. A bowl that holds at least 2.5 qtwill work.

TIP: We use this bowl for this recipe: Pyrex Smart Essentials 2.5qt Mixing Bowl

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You’ll start by melting the chips together in the microwave, stirring chips every30-45 seconds, until smooth. The key is that you want to stir the chips often.

Our preferred method for melting the chips is in the microwave, but if you prefer to melt the chips on your stove top, here are step-by-step instructions for doing that: How to Melt Chocolate on your Stove-Top

Once the chips are smooth and melted, you will begin folding in the chow mein noodles a little at a time until they are completely coated mixture. Then gently fold in the peanuts until they are completely coated.

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Finally, drop chow mein mixture by the spoonful onto your prepared baking sheet. We do this by using two teaspoons, one to scoop up some of the mixture and the other spoon to help scrape the mixture off of the other spoon and onto the baking sheet. If any of the chow mein noodles or peanuts escape from your mound, just push it back to the chow mein mixture.

To help the Chow Mein Cookies set up, we have found through the years that placing them in the refrigerator is best. You may find that you don’t need to place them in the refrigerator, but this does speed up the process.

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Once the Chow Mein Cookies have set, store them covered at room temperature.

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No-Bake Chow Mein Noodle Cookies Recipe

Here is the full recipe, ready for you to print. Like this recipe? We’d love for you to pin to your Pinterest board or share it on Facebook! Thank you for your support!

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No-Bake Chow Mein Noodle Cookies Recipe (7)

No-Bake Chow Mein Noodle Cookies

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    Description

    OurNo-Bake Chow Mein Cookies recipe has been a family favorite for years! It’s a simple refrigerator drop cookie that only needs 4 ingredients: crunchy chow mein noodles, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and peanuts.

    Ingredients

    Scale

    1112 ounces butterscotch chips (about 2 cups)
    1112 ounces chocolate chips (about 2 cups)
    12 ounces chow mein noodles (about 6 cups)
    1 cup salted peanuts

    Instructions

    Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper.

    Place both the butterscotch chips and the chocolate chips in a large microwave-safe bowl. Melt the chips together in the microwave, stirring chips every30-45 seconds, until smooth.

    Remove from microwave and begin folding in the chow mein noodles a little at a time until they are completely coated with the melted chip mixture. Fold in peanuts until they are completely coated.

    Drop chow mein mixture by the spoonful onto prepared baking sheet. Place baking sheet in the refrigerator until Chow Mein Cookies havecompletely set.

    Once Chow Mein Cookies have set, store covered at room temperature.

    Notes

    –We usually use semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can use milk chocolate chips if you prefer

    –The peanuts can be removed if you prefer. Or other salted nuts can be substituted.

    • Category: Cookies
    • Method: Microwave

    Recipe Card powered byNo-Bake Chow Mein Noodle Cookies Recipe (8)

    No-Bake Chow Mein Noodle Cookies Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    What are haystack cookies made of? ›

    Haystack Cookies are a magical combination of butterscotch, peanut butter, chocolate, M&Ms, and marshmallow bits. It doesn't get much sweeter than this!! It all comes together with a secret ingredient that you likely wouldn't expect: noodles!

    What is the crunchy stuff in chow mein? ›

    At my local Chinese, they call this Crispy Chow Mein Noodles. It's a Hong Kong / Cantonese style dish, and there are a lot of variations but the core of it is a bed of deep fried crunchy noodles topped with a saucy stir fry.

    What is the difference between lo mein and chow mein noodles? ›

    The sauce: Chow mein is more of a dry noodle dish with an extremely light and delicate sauce — if any sauce at all. Lo mein is a saucy noodle dish that depends on a rich sauce for much of its flavor. The texture: Chow mein noodles tend to be crunchier than lo mein noodles due to the way they are cooked.

    What is no bake cookies made of? ›

    No-Bake Cookie Ingredients

    Milk: Milk gives the cookies more moisture and richness. Cocoa powder: Unsweetened powder is essential for the deep chocolate flavor. Peanut butter: This recipe calls for crunchy peanut butter, but you can use smooth peanut butter if you prefer. Oats: Make sure to use quick-cooking oats.

    Why are they called cowboy cookies? ›

    The origins of "cowboy cookies" are unknown although they have been variously attributed to Texas or the Old West. The story that describes them in originating in the Old West claims that they were eaten by cowboys as a high energy snack that could be easily carried.

    What is cowboy cookies made of? ›

    What's in a Cowboy Cookie? A cowboy cookie is basically a souped-up oatmeal cookie with chocolate chips, roasted pecans, and sweetened flake coconut. Former First Lady Laura Bush's recipe included one tablespoon of cinnamon, a unique addition and not typically included.

    What is the difference between chow mein and crispy chow mein? ›

    Crispy chow mein is usually topped with a thick brown sauce, while steamed chow mein is mixed with soy sauce before being served. There is a regional difference in the US between the East and West Coast use of the term "chow mein". On the East Coast, "chow mein" is always the crispy kind.

    What's the difference between chow mein and chop suey? ›

    With chow mein, you cook noodles and add them to your wok of other ingredients, cooking everything together in one pan. However, with a chop suey recipe, you will cook the noodles or rice and other ingredients separately before combining them in a bowl, serving up the noodles or rice with the sauce served over the top.

    Why does chow mein taste so good? ›

    The sauce is what gives chow mein all of its seasoning and addictive flavors. It's a mix of oyster sauce, sweet soy sauce, toasted sesame oil and freshly ground black pepper. It's full of sweet and savory umami and seriously SO good.

    What tastes better lo mein or chow mein? ›

    Largely this is a matter of personal taste since both dishes can be made to your preference. If you prefer lightly sauced noodles with some crunch and vegetables with some snap, chow mein might be the way to go. If you like a more comforting noodle with richly flavored sauce, lo mein may be the better option.

    What is chow mein sauce made of? ›

    All you need is soy sauce, black vinegar, sugar, oyster sauce, black pepper, and sesame oil. The flavor that is often missing in homemade chow mein is the tanginess. Black Vinegar is less harsh than regular vinegar, which gives the chow mein a subtle hint of tanginess that brings the dish together.

    What does "chow mein" mean in English? ›

    chow mein. noun. ˈchau̇-ˈmān. : a thick stew of shredded meat, mushrooms, and vegetables served with fried noodles.

    Why won't my no bake cookies get hard? ›

    Why Didn't My No-Bake Cookies Set? Likely, you didn't boil the mixture long enough.

    Why are my no bake cookies always dry? ›

    Boiling too long will cause the cookies to be dry and crumbly. However, if you don't boil long enough the cookies will not set and will be runny. Some folks say bring the mixture to a rolling boil and then count to 60, while others swear by counting to 90.

    What are lady finger cookies made of? ›

    Like other sponge cakes, ladyfingers traditionally contain no chemical leavening agent, and rely on air incorporated into the eggs for their "sponge" texture. Some brands, though, contain ammonium bicarbonate. The egg whites and egg yolks mixed with sugar are typically beaten separately and folded together with flour.

    What are chocolate haystacks made of? ›

    Stir oats, chocolate chips, coconut, and almonds together in a large bowl. Whisk sugar, milk, butter, and salt together in a saucepan; bring mixture to a boil, add vanilla, and remove from heat. Pour milk mixture over chocolate chips mixture; stir until well-combined.

    What gives haystack cookies their signature crunch? ›

    What gives haystack cookies their signature crunch? Crunchy packaged chow mein noodles are the signature ingredient in haystack cookies that give them a crunchy texture and sweet and salty flavor.

    What is cookies made out of? ›

    It usually contains flour, sugar, egg, and some type of oil, fat, or butter. It may include other ingredients such as raisins, oats, chocolate chips, or nuts. Most English-speaking countries call crunchy cookies "biscuits", except for the United States and Canada, where "biscuit" refers to a type of quick bread.

    What are butterscotch haystacks made of? ›

    ingredients
    • 2 cups butterscotch chips.
    • 1 cup peanut butter.
    • 3 cups mini marshmallows.
    • 4 cups chow mein noodles.

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