Desserts

LEFTOVER CANDY COOKIE BARS

Happy October everyone, I love this month… it really kicks off the fall season!  Something you may not know about me, sometimes I can predict the future, and I predict in about a month’s time you’ll be overloaded with candy.  I know, my psychic abilities are really good… what can I say, it’s a gift.  But seriously, whether you have kids who go trick or treating or you just buy candy for the neighborhood kids there is a huge chance you’ll soon be overloaded with candy.

Sometimes you just get really bored and overwhelmed with leftover candy I know, so over the years I’ve found this fun way to use up any leftovers.   I’ve been doing this ever since my kids were little and they’ve always loved it.  It has such a unique taste compared to my regular chocolate chip cookie bars.  By the way I’m totally team cookie bar… I have zero patience for perfectly scooping out dough for cookies.

And it’s great for all leftover candy not just Halloween.  I’ve done this with leftover Christmas, Valentines, and school end of the year party candy.   It’s really fun finding leftovers and chopping them up.  You can use any combination you like, although I’ve only experimented with chocolate based candy, and I always encourage a few M&M’s for some fun color.

We start with the perfect chocolate chip cookie dough base, and then fold in our chopped up candy.  Kids will love this recipe, mine have loved it since they were little and being teenagers they still get a kick out of it.   You will have no problem getting helpers in the kitchen.

I use this 9×13 metal pan, but any will do, just be sure to use a metal one for the best results.  Another trick I learned is to line the pan with foil, then once cooled pull the foil up to gently lift out the cookie bars.  Then simply slice, it’s so easy!

Leftover Candy Cookie Bars

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 sticks butter, softned
  • 2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups chopped up leftover candy

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°
  • In a medium bowl mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together until blended.  
  • In a large bowl cream butter, add brown sugar gradually, and cream until fluffy with a mixer.  
  • Add eggs and vanilla, mix well.  Blend in dry ingredients with mixer, then fold in chopped candy.  
  • Scoop the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch pan and with wet or lightly greased hands press the mixture evenly into the pan.  
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Cool and cut into squares.

If you try any fun and unusual candy combinations let me know!  Like I said, I’ve always stayed with chocolate based options, but why not get creative?  I may definitely throw some candy corns into the next batch.

By the way these cookie bars freeze perfectly, so when you need a sugar break throw them in the freezer for one of those bad craving days.  Enjoy!

Shop some of my favorite kitchen favorites below!

Laura

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