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 makes no bake cookies not set up? ›

    Why Didn't My No-Bake Cookies Set? Likely, you didn't boil the mixture long enough. You want the butter, milk, sugar, and cocoa mixture to boil for 2-3 full minutes and reach between 190°F-200°F. If you don't boil them for long enough, they will turn out gooey and will not set.

    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's the difference between lo mein and chow mein? ›

    The biggest difference between chow mein and lo mein lies in the translations of their names: chow mein is fried, and lo mein is tossed. The experience is somewhat different between the two. Lo mein tends to be saucier and more toothsome, with a texture some describe as “slippery” because of the noodles' softness.

    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 happens if you bake no bake cookie dough? ›

    We do not recommend baking our Bite-Sized Edible Cookie Dough [flavor/products]. It does not contain eggs or leavening agents, which are key ingredients in developing texture and lift in baked cookies. (If needed) Exposure to high oven temperatures will cause the product to liquefy and possibly burn.

    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 are Chinese cookies made of? ›

    The ingredients (typically made with a base of flour, sugar, vanilla, and sesame seed oil) are mixed in a large tank and squirted onto fast moving trays. These function like a conveyor belt and are heated to cook the dough. Cookies are compressed with round hot plates to shape and cook them.

    What are penguin cookies? ›

    These adorable treats are enough to bring out the kid in anyone. The classic Oreo® is covered in rich white and milk chocolate and carefully decorated to look like an adorable penguin. Absolutely the cutest way to enjoy milk and cookies, and they make a memorable dessert or holiday gift for the kid in all of us.

    Why is Minnesota chow mein different? ›

    Bay Area journalist William Wong made a similar comment about what is sold as chow mein in places like Minnesota. A published recipe for Minnesota-style chow mein includes generous portions of celery and bean sprouts. Another Minnesotan variant includes ground beef and cream of mushroom soup.

    Why does chow mein taste so good? ›

    Simple sauce: While chow mein sauce is unbelievably easy to make, it still brings a complexity of flavors to the dish. The careful combination of ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce and sugar results in a chow mein sauce that has hints of both savory and sweet notes.

    What is New York style chow mein? ›

    In New York, if you order it from a Chinese takeout restaurant, you'll get vegetables cooked in white sauce (with a protein of your choice) served with white rice. You'd probably find a small bag of crackers in the delivery bag.

    What is the best Chinese dish to order? ›

    The 10 Most Popular Dishes in China
    • Kung Pao Chicken.
    • Sweet and Sour Pork.
    • Peking Roast Duck.
    • Mapo Tofu.
    • Chow Mein.
    • Chinese Hot Pot.
    • Spring Rolls.
    • Wonton Soup.
    Dec 15, 2021

    What is chop suey vs chow mein? ›

    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 aren't my cookies firming? ›

    The Problem: Your Oven Is Too Hot

    If your cookies repeatedly turn out flat, no matter the recipe, chances are your oven is too hot. Here's what's happening. The butter melts super quickly in a too-hot oven before the other ingredients have firmed up into a cookie structure.

    Why is my cookie dough not setting? ›

    If you think your cookie dough is off, you may not have enough liquid in the recipe. Consider adding a touch more liquid such as melted butter, egg yolks, or a teaspoon of water. Add a teeny bit and see if that helps. Add more as needed until the dough holds together and is scoop-able.

    Why aren t my cookies setting? ›

    Click 'Tools' (the gear icon) in the browser toolbar. Choose Internet Options. Click the Privacy tab, and then, under Settings, move the slider to the top to block all cookies or to the bottom to allow all cookies, and then click OK.

    How to keep no bake cookies from being grainy? ›

    Just follow your regular recipe as usual , but only put enough milk in to be able to stir your mixture. Bring to a slow boil, stirring constantly to ensure your sugar melts evenly so it won't be grainy. Bring to a full rolling boil for one minute and you should have perfect no-bake every time.

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