Leftover Halloween Candy Cookie Bars! Chewy peanut butter oat cookie dough is filled with all the best halloween chocolate for a perfect way to use up candy!
Leftover Halloween Candy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
These bars are so good! Filled with oats and peanut butter then all of your favorite candies. Does it get any better?! They are chewy and delicious. Just make sure that you don’t over-bake them. That is always the hardest part with cookie bars I think. You want them cooked but not too cooked (does that make sense). Take them out when the edges are just starting to turn a light brown color. If you bake them for too long, they won’t be chewy, they will be dry. And that my friends, is a real big bummer.
I first made these last year when we were having some friends over. Not only did my kiddos have way too much candy in their halloween bags, but I also had some leftover candy that we passed out to other trick or treaters. Since our kids are at the perfect age for trick or treating, we don’t get to stick around at home much to pass out candy. We usually leave a bucket and a sign while we are out with our kids. But we still had a bunch leftover.
What do I do with all the halloween candy I have leftover from Halloween?
So back to these bars! They are the perfect solution to all that candy. Don’t you kinda just get “over” the halloween candy? Even me with a total sweet tooth, it doesn’t even sound good after halloween. Cut up the candy and throw them in these peanut butter oat bars! Now that is a treat worth splurging on.
You can cut them into 12 large squares or go smaller like 16 or 24. Either way, you will want to share these, cause they are addicting!
I’d rather have a cookie than a candy bar any day! With these cookie bars, you are getting the best of both worlds. Have your kids help you pick out the ones they want in the bars and chop, chop, chop!.
I also like to press some candy pieces on top of the bars. It makes them look delicious
I hope you enjoy these bars! We sure did! And I’d love it if you followed Baked in AZ on:
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If you make this, be sure to tag me on Instagram @bakedinarizona and use the hashtag #bakedinazrecipe so I can see! I love seeing what you are up to in your kitchens!
- 1/2 cup butter (salted)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (I use creamy)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg (large)
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 1/2 cups flour (7.5 ounces)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 /2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 2 cups chopped up candy bars (see note)
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips or butterfinger candy pieces (optional)
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Heat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13" pan with cooking spray and set aside. Pick out the candy bars you want to use from your leftover halloween candy and chop them up till you have 2 cups, then set aside.
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In a stand mixer beat the butter, peanut butter and sugars together till creamy. Add the egg, egg yolk and vanilla. Mix till creamy.
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Add the flour, soda, salt & oats and stir just until combined.
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Stir in the candy and chocolate chips. Press into prepared pan. Press additional candy on top if you wish.
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Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until they are lightly brown around the edge. (Don't over bake them!) Let the bars cool for 30 minutes before cutting into bars. Enjoy!
I have made these adding mini chocolate chips (in addition to the chopped up candy bars) and also with adding some chopped up butterfinger candy pieces. (You buy them by the chocolate chips!) We LOVED them with the butterfinger pieces in addition to the chopped candy. If you have a bunch of leftover butterfingers, be sure and add those in!
Source: adapted from Together as Family.
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