This easy recipe for no bake chocolate haystack cookies is a great project to make with the kiddos! Fun and scrumptious.
I NEED A COOKIE.
A chocolate cookie. A chocolate cookie full of calming nostalgic memories.
And for me, that means No Bake Chocolate Haystack Cookies, and not just because they are full of chocolate deliciousness and require no baking. (Don’t you just love a no bake cookie recipe?)
I also love them because they remind me of one of my favorite people in the entire world, my Aunt Cathy.
There she is on the left with my mama and my dad, and my Uncle Jack is definitely somewhere right outside the picture having a marvelous time!
Doesn’t she have the best smile?
When I was a kid in Vermont, the only thing better than messing around on the hay wagons…
…was going to my Aunt Cathy and Uncle Jack’s house down the road and around the corner from my grandparent’s farm.
My cousins were (and still are) some of my best friends, and we spent endless hours playing in and around that great house.
And one of my best memories was making these chocolate oatmeal cookies with Aunt Cathy.
I have searched high and low for the recipe (and yes, asked everyone in the state of Vermont) and I was never able to lay my mitts on it.
So this recipe is pulled entirely from my little kid memory banks, but it tastes exactly how I remember them tasting in Aunt Cathy’s Vermont kitchen.
Here’s how you make no bake chocolate haystack cookies!
Line two cookie sheets with parchment or waxed paper. These babies are sticky in ALL the good ways!
Pop some butter, milk, some white and brown sugar and some cocoa powder in a medium pot over medium heat and stir it all up until the butter is melted.
Let this glorious concoction boil for one minute, stirring the whole time, and then remove it from the heat.
Stir in some vanilla and some instant oats until everything is well combined.
Here’s where the kiddos come in! Drop by tablespoon-fuls onto the cookie sheets (if you have a cookie scoop this is the perfect time to use this!).
Refrigerate for two hours, then remove from the cookie sheet.
As I mentioned, these cookies are delicious but sticky, so store them in a single layer…if you have any left over!
(I immediately disobeyed my own directions to take this picture for you…
…but I promise I put them in a single layer for the Souther husband to eat one by one until they were gone.)
Last but one million percent not least, my Aunt Cathy’s birthday is this week, and Aunt Cathy? I hope you have a wonderful, chocolate-filled birthday – love you SO much!
And to all the rest of you wonderful readers…see you on the other side of our unpacking! Deep breath…
No Bake Chocolate Haystack Cookies
This easy recipe for no bake chocolate haystack cookies is a great project to make with the kiddos!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (see note)
- 3 cups instant oatmeal
Instructions
- Line two cookie sheets with parchment or waxed paper.
- Put the butter, milk, both sugars and cocoa powder in a medium pot over medium heat. Stir until the butter is melted.
- Now turn the heat up to medium high and stir until the chocolate mixture is at a rapid boil. Let it boil for one minute, stirring the whole time, and then remove from the heat.
- Stir in the vanilla and the oats until everything is well combined.
- Drop by tablespoon-fuls onto the cookie sheets (if you have a cookie scoop this is the perfect time to use this!).
- Refrigerate for two hours, then remove from the cookie sheet. These babies are delicious but sticky, so store them in a single layer…if you have any left over!
Notes
You can substitute other extract flavors if you want to introduce another taste to the chocolate. Peppermint, almond and banana are all fun!
ColleenB.-Tx. says
I’m an early riser so made a batch early this morning. Placed my baking sheets in the fridge so they could chill out for awhile.
Had some left over coconut so tossed it in with the oatmeal & peanut butter mixture.
As of now, they are in the fridge just chill’n out.
Yum! And love the coconut addition! :)
Mary Kate says
Great memories!
The very best! xoxo
Emily says
Love these cookies! In my family it was my Aunt Joan’s recipe. More than once I whipped up a batch at 7:00am after learning that morning from my son it was his turn to bring snacks that day. Our recipe is a little different in that it also includes 1/2 cup peanut butter(I use chunky) and a cup of raisins. Best cookies ever!
Aren’t family recipes the best? And peanut butter and raisins for the win!
ColleenB.~Tx. says
Gosh, I used to make these years ago around the holidays and hubby would eat them by the handfuls.
Only difference, I didn’t use oatmeal, as I always used Rice Krispies. I just may have to try using the oatmeal.
Thanks for the memories
Ooooh, and I will have to try your version with the Rice Krispies!
ColleenB.~Tx. says
Just Do Not use thee store brand Rice Krispies.
I also used Creamy peanut butter in mine.
Okay and okay! :) :)
Theresa Murphy says
Yes, cookies to the rescue for many things! I use chunky peanut butter in mine for a little more texture but will definitely be trying your version very soon! Happy moving in!
Thank you – we are almost done with opening all the boxes! Huffing and puffing!
Syd says
These look delicious! I have a similar recipe for them that uses peanut butter. They are very sticky, but one of the best cookies ever!
I’m definitely going to have to try the peanut butter addition!