Halloween is a little over a month away. Kids will be deciding on what costume they will be wearing this year and all the candy they will get going door to door trick or treating. Some years kids get a big haul of candy and sometimes it’s a small haul depending on where they go and the weather. It seems to always rain on Halloween. If you have a large amount of candy and need some ideas of what to do with it then this candy cookie bar recipe using leftover Halloween candy is exactly what you need.
Uses for Leftover Halloween Candy
Is there such a thing as leftover candy after Halloween? The answer is of course yes. There is candy we get that we don’t like and sometimes we get multiples of the same. I like a variety of treats and not always the same kind so when this happens, take those extras and put them aside to make other snacks and treats using them. In many families, the most dislike candy from Halloween is candy corn but did you know there are many recipes just for them alone?
Check out these 17 Candy corn treat recipes and you just might find another use for them aside from putting them in the garbage. Some candies work well as an ice cream topping or even on cakes or cupcakes. The ides are endless with a big imagination.
Cookie Bars
Have you ever made cookie bars with anything other than chocolate chips? Depending on the holiday I have mostly added M&M’s or smarties because they usually have limited edition holiday colours. These candy cookie bars make a nice Halloween snack for school lunches and will probably have the other kids asking where they can get them. The best thing about these bars is that they are a fun and easy snack that the kids will enjoy helping out with. Candy cookie bars are the perfect addition to those Halloween party treats.
Candy Cookie Bar Recipe
Not sure what do to with leftover Halloween candy and bars? How about making these Candy Cookie Bars! Your can substitute a few bars with some candy corn, M & M, Smarties, and more! Ask the kids to help you make them and enjoy family time together.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, soft (1 stick)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup of butterscotch, peanut butter chips, and or chocolate chips
- Leftover Halloween candy like candy corn, Cadbury Mini Eggs, M & M’s, Smarties, etc..
Equipment Needed
- 9 x 9 in baking pan
- Baking spray
- Parchment paper
- Small bowl
- Electric mixer/ mixing bowl
- Spoon
Recipe for cookie bars
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly coat the parchment paper lined pan. Set aside.
Mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
Using the electric mixer cream together butter and both sugars until they are combined. Slowly add the egg and vanilla to the bowl beating until completely combined. Add the dry ingredients a little at a time to the wet ingredients beating until they are thoroughly blended. Add chocolate chip stirring to combine and mix within the dough.
Divide the dough in half. Press one half into the bottom of the baking pan with your hands. (Leave 1/2 inch gap around the edges of the pan).
Add chocolate, butterscotch and/or peanut butter chips. Top with the remaining dough. Cover the candy on the first layer (Both top and sides).
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven. Set aside the pan. Allow the bars to cool for 30 minutes. Lift the candy cookie bar out of the pan by using the parchment paper. Cut into candy cookie bar into squares and serve.
Recipe note: Optional Candy Bars
You can also add 25 mini (or 9 full size) candy bars cut up instead of the mix of chocolate, butterscotch and/or peanut butter chips. Simply unwrap bars and begin placing them evenly spaced on the top of the first layer of the dough.
I hope you enjoyed my Candy Cookie Bar Recipe using leftover Halloween candy as much as my family and myself did! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other Halloween Recipes!
Candy Cookie Bar Recipe
Equipment
- Baking Spray
- 9 x 9 in baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Small Bowl
- electric mixer/ mixing bowl
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter soft (1 stick)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- Leftover candy corn, M & M or Smarties To Taste
- 1 cup butterscotch, peanut butter chips, and or chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line the baking pan with parchment paper.
- Lightly coat the parchment paper lined pan. Set aside.
- Mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Using the electric mixer cream together butter and both sugars until they are combined.
- Slowly add the egg and vanilla to the bowl beating until completely combined.
- Add the dry ingredients a little at a time to the wet ingredients beating until they are thoroughly blended.
- Add chocolate chip stirring to combine and mix within the dough.
- Divide the dough in half. Press one half into the bottom of the baking pan with your hands. (Leave 1/2 inch gap around the edges of the pan).
- Add chocolate, butterscotch and/or peanut butter chips. Top with the remaining dough. Cover the candy on the first layer (Both top and sides).
- Top this with the remaining dough.
- Cover the candy on the first layer. (Both top and sides)
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. (Or until the top is golden brown)
- Remove from the oven. Set aside the pan. Allow the bars to cool for 30 minutes.
- Lift the bars out of the pan by using the parchment paper.
- Cut into squares.
I did not know about the going-a-souling The recipe looks delicious
I don’t think there’s ever any left-over candy in this house, only candy no one likes. I’m hoping my grandkids will give this to those who do like what we don’t. Though I’m British I’d not heard of “soul cakes” etc before, that all made for interesting reading. BTW today is also a big day Guy Fawkes Day in England.
This is such an awesome idea. I have plenty left over to try this with.
We always have candy left over so this would definitely be a yummy way to use it up!
Thanks It was a rainy windy night in Nova Scotia this year so I have lots of bars left over. Will try and use them in my baking.
I will have to try making these with the kids this year. They look great.