Easy No-bake Chocolate Haystacks

Jump to Recipe

I love a great no-bake cookie recipe and chocolate haystacks are one of the best! I have a few people in my family who request these cookies, over all other cookies I make, around Christmas time. However, these cookies are a great quick snack to make any time of year.

I got this recipe from my grandmother, who loved the recipe so much. I found it written down twice in her recipe box, neither of which she labeled haystacks. The first she got from the man she worked for, and are called Chocolate bundles. The second from her friend Jo, and they are labeled Straw cookies. The first time I made them my husband said he calls them haystacks. But no matter what you know them as, they are just as amazing!

What are Chocolate Haystacks?

A hot lush chocolate sauce is poured over oats and coconut and becomes a rustic little “cookie”, but really it’s more of a chocolate mound.

My chocolate haystacks are made of really just coconut, oats, and a homemade chocolate sauce. I have seen variations with dried noodles, marshmallows, pretzels, cornflakes, nuts, peanut butter, or potato sticks thrown into the recipe. These are all great add-ins. But we just make the simple old-school chocolate haystack recipes that my grandmother used to make, and our family adored.

How to make Chocolate Haystacks

Since chocolate haystacks are a no-bake recipe, you will first have to heat up a few ingredients on the stove top to make the chocolate sauce.

Once everything is melted together, you simply pour it over the oats and coconut. When the mixture starts to cool, it will become thicker. That is when you can drop little spoonful’s of the mixture to make the cookies. Once they are full cool they will be set enough to pick up and eat!

This recipe uses cocoa powder to make the sweet chocolate sauce for the haystacks, which I find works better for these cookies. Some recipe that call for melting chocolate chips, or pieces of chocolate, will melt and become messy on your fingers. The use of cocoa powder seems to keep the chocolate intact.

Freezing and storing chocolate haystacks

Freezing

It is possible to freeze chocolate haystacks. This is what I typically do to get a head start on my holiday baking. After the cookies are cool and set, freeze in a single layer on a cookie sheet for 2-3 hours. Then, pop them into a freezer bag, or air-tight container. Keep them in the freezer for 3-4 months. The reason to freeze them separately first is so they don’t stick together and freeze into one giant haystack.

I find that since these cookies are a more of a ragged shape, you will find little pieces broken off when stored this way. The cookies will still remain intact for the most part, so I do find that it is still a good way to store them for longer periods of time.

In the Fridge

To keep chocolate haystacks fresh, store them in the refrigerator, in an air-tight container, for up to 2 weeks.

Store at room temperature

This is my favourite way to store them, if we will be eating them right away. Stored at room temperature, chocolate haystacks will remain fresh for up to a week. They will remain soft and full of flavour, if stored at room temperature.

If using the other methods of storage, allow the cookies to return to room temperature before serving.

Why are they called Chocolate Haystacks?

Since these cookies, or sometimes called haystack candy, is a very ragged looking shape, they do not resemble a smooth round typical looking cookie. The coconut and oats get pilled into mounds and then are held together with the chocolate sauce. They really do resemble the shape of something raked together and pilled into mounds. Much like you would see mounds of hay dotted across the field to dry in the rural country side.

Decoration

To turn your chocolate haystacks into Christmas chocolate haystacks, or just chocolate haystacks that look a bit more special; try a quick drizzle of royal icing or melted white chocolate. Both will dry hard. The addition of a few festive sprinkles will make them even more colourful and fun. Perfect for any holiday party of Christmas cookie box!

What type of oats

For no-bake cookies, in general, I find that quick-cook oats are the best choice. Since the oats need very little time to cook and soak in the liquid to make them soft.

Quick-cook oats are like rolled oats or old-fashioned oats, because they are all rolled flat and thin. This shortens their cook time. However, quick-cook oats go through even more processing. They are partially steamed and rolled even thinner. This allows them to cook in a matter of minutes.

With these Chocolate haystack oat cookies, we are not really cooking the oats on the stove top, but just stirring hot chocolate sauce into them.

Rolled oats or old-fashioned oats would be a good second choice. They may result in a chewier haystack, however.

Steal-cut oats, Scottish oats, and oat groats would not be recommended to make no-bake chocolate haystacks, as they have a much longer cook time.

Ingredients for Chocolate Haystacks

2 ½ cups quick oats

1 cup shredded desiccated coconut

½ cup butter

1 2/3 cup white sugar

½ cup milk

6 Tablespoons cocoa powder

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

(optional) ½ cup add-ins (Dried Chinese noodles, marshmallows, pretzels, cornflakes, nuts, peanut butter, or potato sticks.)

Method

1. In a large bowl, mix together the oats and coconut.
2. Add to a sauce pot, over medium heat, butter, white sugar, and milk.
3. Bring to a boil and simmer 3-4 minutes.
4. Stir in the cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla until everything is well combined.
5. Remove from heat and pour over top of the dry mixture.
6. Stir well to make sure everything is well coated with the chocolate mixture.
7. As the mixture starts to cool it will start to set. When the mixture starts to hold together slightly, drop spoonful’s into little mounds on a lined baking sheet.
8. Allow the haystacks to cool completely. You can speed up the process by placing the tray in the refrigerator.
9. Once the haystacks are cooled and set, they are ready to serve!

Looking for more holiday treats? These are some of my favourites! Mint slice and bake Christmas Cookies Christmas Cranberry Cheesecake Squares The best soft and chewy gingerbread cookies Simple layered chocolate mint candy