How to Make Haystack Candy

There are many variations to Haystack Candy. Traditional coconut, pretzel or potato sticks, fried chow mein noodles: try them all.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 cups Chinese noodles
• Bag semi sweet chocolate morsels
• Waxed paper
• Cookie sheets
• Plastic gloves
• Whole shelled almonds

Texture is Everything

1. 
   Coconut

   Haystack candy can be made with almost any combination of ingredients. Traditional haystack candy is made with white chocolate and shredded coconut.

2. 
   White Chocolate

   Melt 1/2 pound white chocolate in double boiler. Do not get water in your chocolate or it will turn to the consistency of raw liver and will not harden properly.

3. Remove melted chocolate from heat. Add 2 cups shredded coconut to chocolate mixture.

4. Wearing plastic "lunch lady" gloves, spoon mixture onto waxed paper lined cookie sheets to harden. Enjoy.

Variations on a Theme: Potato Sticks

5. Melt chocolate in double boiler.

6. Add potato sticks or pretzel sticks, stir well to coat.

7. Spoon onto waxed paper lined cookie sheets. Allow to harden. Enjoy.

Asian Flair

8. Melt morsels in double boiler.

9. 
   Chow Mein Noodles

   Stir in Chinese noodles.

10. Spoon onto cookie sheets in "bird's nest" piles. Place a whole shelled almond in the center of each "nest."

11. Allow to harden. Enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• Stir just enough to coat everything well, but not enough to make the potato sticks get soft.
• For a Cajun variation, julienne sweet potatoes and fry them. Drain well and coat them with white or semi sweet chocolate. Sprinkle lightly with cayenne pepper.
• Do not use nuts if anyone is allergic.

Resources

• All About Chocolate
• White Chocolate
• Coconut
• Chocolate Candy Making

[wendyr]

on 7/20/2008 Cute ideas. Thanks!

[RhiannonAidan]

on 1/14/2008 Mmm... now I want some. I remember haystacks being my favorite candy from a big bag Grandma would bring home from Heggy's Chocolates.