Easy Leftover Halloween Candy Cookie Bars

If your kitchen is overflowing with leftover Halloween candy, these leftover Halloween candy cookie bars are the easiest way to use it all up! This one-bowl dessert transforms extra chocolate bars into a buttery, golden-baked treat that’s crisp at the edges, soft in the center, and loaded with melty bits of candy in every bite.

Prep Time7

Cook Time28

Total Time35

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: leftover halloween candy cookie bars

Servings: cookie bars

Author: Jean Choi

Ingredients

1¼ cup gluten free all-purpose flour or regular all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup butter melted and cooled
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1½ cup candy bars chopped (chocolate, peanut butter, toffee, and/or caramel-based bars work best - avoid hard candy and gummies)
Optional: flaky sea salt for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and sea salt.
1¼ cup gluten free all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp sea salt
In a separate bowl, stir together butter, sugar, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract.
1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 egg yolk, 2 tsp vanilla extract
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Fold in chopped candy.
1½ cup candy bars
Transfer to the prepared baking pan then flatten the dough on the pan with a spatula or your hand. Bake for 23-28 minutes until the edges are golden and the center is still slightly soft.
Cool for 10 minutes then remove from the pan. Once cooled completely, cut into squares, sprinkle with sea salt, and enjoy!
Optional: flaky sea salt

Notes

Mix gently: Stir just until no dry streaks of flour remain; overmixing can make the bars tough and dry.
Choose candy with texture: Chocolate, peanuts, caramel, toffee, or nougat give the most satisfying bite.
Skip sticky and hard candy: Skip sticky and hard candies like lollipops or gummies, they tend to melt or turn too sticky when baked.
Add crunch: Try mixing in a handful of popcorn or crushed pretzels for a salty-sweet twist.
Slightly underbake: Pull them out when the center still looks a little soft. They’ll firm up as they cool for that perfect chewy texture.
Cool completely: Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing. As they rest, the centers set and develop that irresistibly soft and chewy bite.

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