Description
Stretch your Halloween treats with these chewy and delicious Leftover Halloween Candy Cookie Bars! Whether they're candies you’ve collected from trick-or-treating or chocolates you've been hoarding over the last few days, these cookie bars are a fun way to use up all that excess Halloween loot.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup Halloween chocolate bars, chopped and divided
- 1/2 cup M&M’s, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F. Spray a 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray oil and line it with a piece of parchment paper, allowing the overhang to come off the 2 sides. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream together butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add egg and vanilla, and beat on low until incorporated. Add flour, baking soda, and salt and beat until just combined. Reserve 2-3 tablespoons each of the Halloween candy and M&M's (for the top), and fold in the rest.
- Spread the cookie dough onto the lined pan. Press in the remaining Halloween candy and M&M's on top.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown, and the a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The cookie dough may not look completely done in the middle, but they will continue to cook as they are cooling.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely in the pan. Then, use the parchment paper overhang to pull them out. Slice into 9 or 16 pieces and serve.
Notes
How to store: Freshly baked cookie bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you plan on keeping them longer, you can store them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
How to reheat: While these cookie bars can be eaten cold or at room temperature, they are pretty amazing warm. Just pop them in the microwave for about 15 seconds or so until soft and gooey.
How to freeze: Place the cookie bars in a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, just reheat them straight from frozen in a 300°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or a 300°F air fryer for 4-6 minutes until warm and gooey.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American